Kiddy Are No-one's Fools! Penn Writes His Own Special Harriers Chapter
April 1st. Or as Kidderminster Harriers call it, April no fools day.
Sitting stranded in 14th in the National League North with a few weeks to go, it’s the date they decided to get their season going and knock the nincompoopery on the head.
Incredibly, a few weeks later, their players are dancing back at Aggborough still in their kits they proudly wore eight hours earlier as they beat Brackley Town, sealing their National League return after seven years away.
It was their first promotion in 23 years. For those still standing at last orders at the Harriers Arms come kicking out time, it was worth the wait.
Russ Penn, their manager, was in a “very dark place” earlier in the season.
Only owner Richard Lane really knows how close the club came to pulling the trigger on the guy who grew up in the club’s academy and pulled the midfield strings in two spells.
Maybe we shouldn't be surprised by anything the division threw up this year.
After all, we went into the bonkers final day where it was mathematically possible for 12th place Spennymoor to overtake 4th place Brackey.
They do say watch the form side, and six wins from six saw them come up on the inside to eventually cross the finishing line.
Total non runners just a few weeks ago, the Harriers have flight and then some.
Penn said: “A couple of weeks ago the chairman and I were talking about budgets for next season. We only spoke about the National League North.
“How quickly things can change in this game, the turn-around has been incredible. Nine wins in a row? Wow.
“It has been a difficult few years for the club, but I think we’re back where we belong now.”
He reserved plenty of praise for two goal Promotion Final hero Ashley Hemmings.
“He’s been outstanding and in the last six or seven weeks he’s scored some very important goals,” he added.
“I just can’t believe where we are, it’s all very surreal. We’re going to enjoy it, bring on the National League!
“I never got promoted as a player, never won anything as a player. These past two years have been mind-boggling.”
Where next?
Match centre
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