3/1 To Win
On Tuesday 11th July, Derby County will get their pre-season campaign up and running against Kidderminster Harriers at Aggborough Stadium.
And ahead of the contest, dcfc.co.uk has taken a look back over Kidderminster decorated history to provide an in-depth profile of the Rams’ first pre-season opponents.
A Moment in History…
The defining moment for Kidderminster came at the end of the 1999/2000 season, where the Harriers achieved Football League status for the first time in their history.
Under the guidance of former Liverpool legend Jan Molby, Kidderminster finished comfortably at the top of the table, nine points ahead of second-placed Rushden & Diamonds.
Marking as the first team of the new millennium to gain promotion out of non-league, Kidderminster maintained their Football League status for five seasons and in the 2001/02 campaign, achieved their highest ever placed finish in 10th.
What Happened Last Season?...
Following relegation from the Vanarama National League at the end of the 2015/16 campaign, the close season of 2016/17 represented a period of change for Kidderminster.
In came new owners, new players and a new manager to successfully spur on the Harriers as they mounted a promotion charge.
Despite this, an impressive season, which saw Kidderminster finish in second position, ultimately ended in heartbreak as they bowed out of the play-offs in the semi-finals after suffering a 2-1 defeat against Chorley over two legs.
The Stadium…
The home of Kidderminster is Aggborough and it has been since the Harriers’ formation back in 1886.
Aggborough has a capacity of 6,444 and was originally opened as a running track.
Who’s the Boss?...
Kidderminster’s manager is John Eustace and he has been since the 1st June 2016.
Eustace is a man who needs very little introduction to Derby County supporters after he won over the hearts of many during the 2013/14 season where he played an integral part in helping the Rams to the 2014 Championship play-off final under Steve McClaren.
The former defensive midfielder has played an instrumental part in the Harriers’ rebuild and is highly regarded by his supporters in Worcestershire.
Who To Look Out For…
Although he has only made a few appearances since signing from Nuneaton Town in March 2017, Joe Ironside has made a bright start to life as a Harrier.
From nine appearances, the 23-year-old forward has found the back of the net on six occasions and featured for England C over the summer as a reward for his fine form.
After coming through the youth ranks at Sheffield United, Ironside made 16 appearances for the Blades and was loaned out on four separate occasions to Halifax Town, Harrogate Town, Alfreton Town and Hartlepool United.
Ironside was released by United in 2014 and played for both Alfreton and Nuneaton before being snapped up by Eustace’s side.
Did You Know?...
During the 1951/52 campaign, the revolutionary use of floodlights by the club gave the Harriers the distinction of staging the first floodlit game in the history of the FA Cup at Aggborough.
