KIDDERMINSTER Harriers Football Club has issued a statement to its supporters ahead of a busy and important bank holiday weekend of football, writes Neil Gordon.
The club said it wants to remind all those who attend games of their responsibility to support Harriers in the right manner, and that it will not hesitate to take action against anyone committing acts of antisocial behaviour.
The statement comes as Harriers prepare to play crucial fixtures against Rushall Olympic at Dales Lane on Good Friday and Hereford at Aggborough Stadium on Easter Monday, with the team second in the Vanarama National League North and chasing top spot and automatic promotion.
The club said that it knows and maintains that 99.9 percent of their loyal fan-base follows the team home and away with incredible dedication, passion and loyalty but that there is a small minority of individuals who claim to be Harriers supporters when they are not, and let themselves down with acts of antisocial behaviour.
Small Minority
It is this small minority of ‘fans’ who are not welcome at Aggborough Stadium with some of them already banned – including some banned for life, with Harriers making it clear it will not hesitate in taking action against anyone who crosses that line.
The club added it continues to share information with police and opposition clubs.
However, while it has no control over their attendance at away matches the club remains responsible for the action of their fans wherever games are played, as stipulated by FA Rules.
As such, actions of this minority of individuals have already resulted in the club facing FA investigations into the use of flares and other pyrotechnics, encroachments on to the pitch and the throwing of objects.
The club added these acts are dangerous to the safety and health of those around it and that the FA has powers to issue fines, deduct points and limit the capacity of clubs who fall foul of its rules.
‘Blown away by support’
Kidderminster Harriers chairman, Richard Lane said: “I have been blown away by the support shown to this football club – our football club – in my time here. FA Cup runs, a promotion, a relegation, so many highs and lows. As a Chairman I have given so much but, equally, every player and supporter has given so much.
“What is important now is that this isn’t tainted or jeopardised, so I would ask that every single individual who purports to be a Kidderminster Harriers fan keeps in mind the importance of their actions and the good and bad those actions can do to the team, the club and the people around them.
He continued: “Support us loudly, passionately, but within the confines of the law – that’s only common sense. We have the best fans in football, I truly believe that, and we cannot, and will not allow anything to change that.
“At Kidderminster Harriers we are a family football club at the heart of the community, and we must remain a place where, regardless of age, gender, disability or faith, everyone feels they can enjoy spending time safely.”
Easter double-header preview
UPBEAT Kidderminster Harriers go into an Easter bank holiday double-header which will go a long way to determining how their season finishes.
Phil Brown’s men will face Rushall Olympic at 3pm tomorrow (Friday, April 18) at Dales Lane and then take on Hereford at Aggborough at 3pm on Easter Monday (April 21).
Harriers go into the matches in second place in the Vanarama National League North, just one point off the leaders Scunthorpe.
Last weekend, Ashley Hemmings hit another superb hat-trick as Harriers beat Curzon Ashton 3-0 to keep up the pressure on The Iron.
A crowd of 3,028 watched Brown’s men return to winning ways and secure their ninth win and eighth clean sheet in 11 games, while also completing a double over the visitors.
In his post-match interview, Brown praised his players after what he said was a tough encounter.
On Hemmings’ hat-trick he said: “That’s his fourth match ball of the season and he’s only got five in his career so that tells you where he’s at.
“He’s had a fantastic season but it’s not finished. We’ve got three more matches and I need three more hat-tricks if I can get them.”
On this weekend’s matches Brown added: “We’ve got to take them one game at a time but if we can get six points, we’ll give ourselves a chance (of promotion).”
Phil Brown held his pre-match interview ahead of this weekend’s matches earlier this afternoon. Click the video below to watch it.
Meanwhile, tickets for Harriers’ clash against Hereford are selling fast with over 4,100 already sold. The main stand is now sold out and there were just a few tickets for the East stand seats remaining, while availability remains in the North Stand.
Visit www.harriers.co.uk for more.
