Harpenden Town

[petethegreek]

From the Non-League Paper.
https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/latest-news/fa-competitions-more-news/30475/harpenden-town-are-on-a-charity-mission-to-reach-every-league-ground/?utm_medium=onesignal&utm_source=push_notifications&utm_campaign=web_push

Harpenden Town are on a charity mission to reach every league ground!

 

 

[Rhodes]

Some links from when anoraks have visited Harpenden Town's Rothamsted Park over the years:

 

https://footygrounds.blogspot.com/2015/02/harpenden-town-rohamsted-park.html

https://dannylast.wordpress.com/2010/09/07/non-league-day-at-harpenden-town-fc/

https://worldgroundhop.blogspot.com/2009/06/harpenden-town.html

https://europeanfootballweekends.blogspot.com/2010/09/non-league-day-at-harpenden-town-fc.html

https://www.botp.co.uk/blog/ball-games

https://weallstandtogether.blogspot.com/2019/01/late-harpenden-goal-secures-herts-derby.html

http://pieandmushypeas.blogspot.com/1995/05/harpenden-town-fc.html

http://thecoldend.blogspot.com/2017/04/harpenden-town-secure-all-important.html

http://thecoldend.blogspot.com/2013/01/controversy-at-rothamsted-park.html

 

[Rhodes]

An interesting article from the Hertfordshire Advertiser on Harpenden Town's aborted 2019/20 season:

https://www.hertsad.co.uk/sport/football/harpenden-town-fc-report-card-for-voided-season-1-6631216?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social_Icon&utm_campaign=in_article_social_icons

[Rhodes]

Coming back to the first post of this thread and what a wonderful way to raise some money for a good cause, namely Rennie Grove Hospice Care, it's not a million miles between each SSML Premier Division ground, well 926 apparently and I didn't think it was anywhere near that many. The article does state that there are 20 other football grounds in the SSML Premier Division which isn't entirely accurate as Baldock Town and Arlesey Town share as do, or did, Harefield United and Broadfields United however maybe Mr Motyczak, the Harpenden Town Chairman, and other Club participants are going to Rayners Lane as well where Broadfields United will share next season:

Harpenden Town Football Club members are putting their spare time off the pitch to good use by raising much-needed funds for Rennie Grove Hospice Care. They will be covering 926 miles, either on foot or by bike, to show their support.

926 miles is the distance from their club to the other 20 football grounds in the Spartan South Midlands Premier division including London Colney FC, Colney Heath FC and Leverstock Green FC. They hope to raise £1,000 for our services.

Roman Motyczak, chairman at Harpenden Town FC, said: “As a football club we are part of the community and we want to give back in some way. It has been a tradition since I have been involved with the club that for the final game of the season we give the gate proceeds from our final home match to a charity and this season it would have been Rennie Grove. We would hope to get the 926 miles done between us by the end of May.”

He added: “To other Sports clubs, why not follow our example and get all of your members who are out there completing other exercise activities to club together and complete all of those activities for worthwhile purpose?”

Claire Redrup, Community & Events Fundraising Manager at Rennie Grove said: “We are so grateful to Roman and everyone at Harpenden Town FC who is taking on this epic challenge for Rennie Grove. Our hospice at home nurses are working tirelessly in west Herts and Bucks to care for patients and their families. We need to raise £20,000 per day in order to keep our vital services available to local patients and their families so any support from the community is hugely appreciated.”

She continued: “If your sports team feels inspired by Harpenden Town FC and would like to take on a challenge too, our fundraising team will be on hand to support you. Please email community@renniegrove.org or call 01442 890222.”

If you would like to support the Harpenden Town FC fundraising challenge you can visit the JustGiving page here.

https://www.renniegrove.org/about-us/news/detail/2020/05/18/harpenden-town-fc-calls-on-clubs-to-support-rennie-grove

Edited June 29, 2020 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Over 100 photographs from a 2016/17 SSML Division One fixture between Baldock Town and Harpenden Town, at Roker Park on Monday 2 January 2017, resulting in a surprising and impressive 4-0 win for the visitors. Baldock Town had been on an impressive run of league results prior to that and finished the Division One campaign in third place, one point behind Harpenden Town who were promoted back to the top flight after eleven seasons away along with Champions Biggleswade FC:

https://issuu.com/baldocktownfc/docs/harpenden_town_02012017

Edited July 31, 2020 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Delightful YouTube footage of Rothamsted Park and nice commentary from anorak Chris White on his visit there from Saturday 24 August 2019 when Harpenden Town beat Baldock Town 2-1:

 

[Rhodes]

It looks like Harpenden Town mean business this coming season:

https://www.hertsad.co.uk/sport/football/harpenden-town-fc-ahead-of-season-start-1-6768246?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social_Icon&utm_campaign=in_article_social_icons

[Rhodes]

A Harpenden Town programme from a 1991/92 South Midlands League Premier Division encounter with Leighton Town, at Rothamsted Park on Saturday 9 November 1991, Leighton Town actually won the Premier Division that season gaining promotion to the Isthmian League Division Three. It was the campaign after the Centenary stand was built at the ground and floodlights installed following a significant and welcome investment in the Club at that time (see history below):

http://www.harpenden-history.org.uk/page/a_brief_history_of_harpenden_town_football_club

[Rhodes]

Over 50 photographs and match report from Harpenden Town's pre-season friendly fixture last month at Hitchin Town on Thursday 10 September resulting in a 5-0 win for the Top Field Club:

Harpenden Town line up: Mackenzie Taylor, George Naismith, Dan Westmore, Connor Perlmutter, Miles Habashi, Sion Hardy, Steve Wade, Sam James, Lanre Balogun, Sam Ruff, Owen Tizard. Substitutes (all used): Curtis Dibley, Jack McConnell, Matthew Crook, Ollie Seeby, Lilian Puscasu and Dan Martin

https://hitchintownfc.club/event/hitchin-town-harpenden-town-10-sep-2020/

 

[Rhodes]

Harpenden Town celebrated their Centenary in 1991 with a fixture against then League side Barnet on Wednesday 9 October 1991 that drew a good crowd to Rothamsted Park, I believe the Centenary Stand was officially opened that evening:

A brief history of Harpenden Town Football Club | Sports Clubs | Clubs and societies | Topics - from Archaeology to Wartime | Harpenden History (harpenden-history.org.uk)

Edited January 13, 2021 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Harpenden Town's FA Cup and FA Vase records which are nothing to write home about are they:

F.A. CUP

1998-99   PRE   BURNHAM                             H    3-2
          1Q    BANBURY UNITED                      A    1-3
1999-00   PRE   HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN                A    0-4
2003-04   EP    WOODBRIDGE TOWN                     H    6-1
          PRE   ST MARGARETSBURY                    H    1-3
2004-05   EP    ROYSTON TOWN                        A    0-3
2005-06   EP    SAWBRIDGEWORTH TOWN                 H    2-1
          PRE   MARCH TOWN UNITED                   A    1-4
2016-17   EP    COCKFOSTERS                         A    2-1
          PRE   CHALFONT ST PETER                   A    0-2
2017-18   EP    SOUTHALL                            A    1-5
2018-19   EP    EDGWARE TOWN                        H    1-0
          PRE   LEVERSTOCK GREEN                    H    0-6
2019-20   EP    STOTFOLD                            A    1-3
2020-21   EP    REDBRIDGE                           A    2-0
          PRE   AVELEY                              H    0-3

F.A. VASE

 

1975-76   1     AYLESBURY UNITED                    A    1-3
1976-77   PRE   OLNEY TOWN                          H    1-0
          1     STOTFOLD                            H    3-2
          2     TRING TOWN                          H    1-3
1977-78   PRE   BOWERS UNITED                       H    1-1
          PREr  BOWERS UNITED                       A    0-1
1978-79   PRE   SHILLINGTON                         H    1-2
1979-80   PRE   LETCHWORTH GARDEN CITY              A    1-3
1980-81   PRE   SAWBRIDGEWORTH TOWN                 A    0-5
1981-82   PRE   SELBY                               A    4-4
          PREr  SELBY                               H    1-1
          PREr2 SELBY                               H    4-2
          1     EDGWARE                             H    2-1
          2     GRAYS ATHLETIC                      H    2-4
1992-93   EP    THE 61 F C                          H    6-0
          PRE   MILTON KEYNES BOROUGH               A    2-5
1993-94   EP    RAYNERS LANE                        A    1-2
1994-95   EP    BRENTWOOD                           H    1-0
          PRE   LONDON COLNEY                       A    0-1
1995-96   1Q    WARE                                H    1-4
1996-97   2Q    AVELEY                              A    0-2
1997-98   2Q    WARE                                A    2-3
1998-99   2Q    STANWAY ROVERS                      H    3-0
          1     RAMSGATE                            H    0-1
1999-00   1Q    CORNARD UNITED                      H    0-2
2000-01   1Q    DOWNHAM TOWN                        A    1-2
2001-02   2Q    HAREFIELD UNITED                    A    4-5
2002-03   1Q    STOWMARKET TOWN                     A    2-4
2003-04   1Q    STANSTED                            A    2-3
2004-05   2Q    BRENTWOOD TOWN                      A    1-2
2005-06   1Q    A F C WALLINGFORD                   H    1-2
2006-07   1Q    NORTHAMPTON SILEBY RANGERS          A    4-3
          2Q    WOOTTON BLUE CROSS                  H    2-1
          1     HALSTEAD TOWN                       H    2-3
2007-08   2Q    THRAPSTON TOWN                      A    3-1
          1     ROYSTON TOWN                        A    1-2
2008-09   1Q    SOUTHEND MANOR                      A    1-3
2009-10   1Q    HARINGEY BOROUGH                    H    0-0
          1Qr   HARINGEY BOROUGH                    A    2-1
          2Q    HADLEY                              A    0-2
2015-16   1Q    BROADFIELDS UNITED                  A    4-2
          2Q    NORTHAMPTON SPENCER                 A    2-3
2016-17   1Q    ILFORD                              H    1-3
2017-18   1Q    NORTH GREENFORD UNITED              A    4-3
          2Q    HILLINGDON BOROUGH                  A    3-0
          1     CRAWLEY GREEN                       A    0-3
2018-19   1     STOWMARKET TOWN                     A    0-5
2019-20   1Q    EYNESBURY ROVERS                    A    0-2
2020-21   2Q    COGENHOE UNITED                     A    1-2

[Rhodes]

Photographs from Harpenden Town v Arlesey Town in a 2019/20 SSML Premier Division fixture, at Rothamsted Park on Saturday 5 October 2019, resulting in a 1-1 stalemate after the hosts had trailed at the interval:

Edited January 23, 2021 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Photographs from Arlesey Town v Harpenden Town in a 2019/20 SSML Premier Division fixture, at Hitchin Road on Saturday 14 September 2019, resulting in a 1-1 stalemate as was the case at Rothamsted Park the following month, Harpenden Town might well have won the game had then player boss Martin Standen disappointingly not seen red: 

Edited January 29, 2021 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

A programme from Harpenden Town v Langford in a 1994/95 South Midlands League Premier Division fixture on Saturday 19 November 1994, does anybody recognise any of the players:

[Rhodes]

There is a lot of hard work going on at Rothamsted Park to prepare the ground for the start of next season. Also Under 18's Coaches Jes Reilly and Chris Renwick have been talking on the Club's YouTube channel which is interesting, the team play in the Southern Counties Floodlit Youth League in partnership with Harpenden Colts where Jes and Chris are also involved: 

Harpenden Town Football Club, Harps ready for busy off-season (harpendentownfc.co.uk)

 

[Rhodes]

There's some sterling work going on at Rothamsted Park at the moment in preparation for next season:

Work starts on improvements to home of Harpenden Town | Herts Advertiser

Edited March 22, 2021 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

An interesting interview with Harpenden Town supremo Micky Nathan:

Harpenden Town Football Club, Manager predicts big things for ‘gem of a club’ (harpendentownfc.co.uk)

[Rhodes]

Harpenden Town travelled to Combined Counties League Premier Division CB Hounslow United this afternoon (3 April) for a pre-season friendly fixture, drawing 1-1 in an exciting and hard fought contest, Micky Nathan's men had trailed for some time having conceded a spot kick very early on however they finally managed to find an equaliser and almost won it right at the death. They will now travel to Essex Senior League St Margaretsbury for an interesting looking friendly next Tuesday evening, kick off 7.45pm, followed by a visit to Codicote next Saturday (10 April), kick off 2.00pm: 

[Rhodes]

Here we go, the line ups from Royston Town v Harpenden Town in a 1952/53 Herts County League Division One fixture, at Garden Walk on Saturday 30 August 1952. Harpenden Town won the Championship that season, indeed between 1949/50 and 1955/56 the Club did not finish out of the top three, winning the Championship on three occasions:

[Rhodes]

Back in the day arriving at Rothamsted Park for a fixture could sometimes be a bit of a 'drab' experience but not anymore: