Kidderminster Harriers Supporters Team

FRIDAY

An 18 strong party departed Kidderminster on the 18th July for a weekend of fun and football at Leeds University. The Harriers had entered the World Net tournament, containing 64 teams for the first time with hopes of building relations with new teams, renewing acquantancies with old friends, playing a few games of football and having a good time. Supporters teams from Nigeria, France, Ireland and Britain competed for the annual World Net trophy in the two day event.

The squad started as they meant to go on by meeting up in the Uni bar on the friday afternoon for a few pre match beverages followed by a few more! Rumours are yet to be confirmed that Sam managed to tour all the universities in the north of England in one night!

SATURDAY

Bex just about managed to get all the 15 man squad out of their beds in preperation for the group stages of the tournament, although some looked a bit worse for wear (must have been the food).

Harriers Supporters Team 3 Ipswich Town 0

Sporting their new Brazil type tops the Harriers started strongly despite missing Sam Flory who was suffering with a hangover, sorry knee injury. With the games lasting 15 minutes each way the Harriers took some time to adjust to the pace of the games and after missing a few chances went in to half time level. Soon after the restart though Jarra sent Dave Pountney clear who made no mistake one on one. This settled the side down who hit Town on the counter attack twice through Richard Hall and Lewis Pountney to give the side a great start.

Harriers Supporters Team 3 Dundee United 4

The management made a few changes to the side and Sam sobered up, sorry knee recovered for the second game of the group. The side suffered a terrible start with Dundee scoring three goals in three minutes, including maybe goal of the tournament from 35 yards!
Credit to the Harriers though who showed great team spirit to come back with three goals through an own goal, Lewis Pountney and David Goode. Right at the death though Dundee United scored through a quick free kick to win the game despite the Harriers being the stronger side. It was a fantastic game against a great set of lads played in the right spirit.

Harriers Supporters 1 Milwall 3

Kiddy went into the last game of the group needing a win to finish in the top two and qualify for the Cup knockout stages. Milwall raced into a two goal lead within ten minutes and the Harriers never really looked like staging a comeback. David Goode pulled a goal back only for Milwall to add a third. Milwall with a larger, more experienced and organised squad proved to be too strong for the Harriers.

After the first day's play the Harriers finished third in their group to qualify for the Plate knockout tournament. (teams who finished third and fourth in the group) and were drawn to play Preston North End 'B' at 8am on the sunday morning!

Despite the early start the team headed into Leeds city centre on the saturday night for team bonding. Ian Danby was spotted throwing some shapes on the dance floors of Leeds and scaring Lewis's girlfriend to death whilst Goody managed to attract some unwanted attention and Ollie Sewell auditioned for the fire brigade.

SUNDAY

The Pountney's awoke at 7am and spent the next half an hour desperatly trying to get 10 players out of their beds! Rumours were that some of the squad were still out at 4.30am and thus giving the management major selection problems.

Harriers Supporters Team 3 Preston North End 'B' 1

Unsuprisingly only 10 players made it down to the pitch and only after frantic last minute phone calls did we manage to get a full eleven. Despite numerous door knocks and phone calls Ian Danby, Marc Vaughan, Adam Matthews and Ollie Sewell remained under their covers!

After all this unbelievably Harriers raced into a three goal half time lead through the Pountney's, Lewis and Dave (twice). Preston pulled one back in the second half but Harriers managed to hold on to progress to the last 16.

With over three hours until the next game the squad returned for breakfast and then bed!

Harriers Supporters Team 0 Sheffield United 1

Following extra time in bed the 'missing four' returned to the squad for the game against last years winners of the Plate competition. Harriers made a terrible start though conceding a fluke goal after only two minutes, with the ball looping over the stranded Ackers in goal.

Despite having more chances in the game the Harriers can count themselves unlucky to go out of the tournament. The side piled on the pressurre and David Goode was unfortunate to see his header to come off the underside of the bar.

It was a great weekend and i know everyone that took part had a great time. We had a friendly game against our friends from AFC Halifax, had some interesting drunken late night discussions with Queen of the South and just generally met supporters from throughout the country. I hope we can take a side up to Leeds next year and were proud to have represented Kidderminster Harriers at such a prestigous event.

For more pictures of the weekend click here