Jan Molby has tipped the Harriers to be among the Third Division leaders, if they can steer clear of injuries.
He says we will be "a very good team" after seeing them climb to third place in the Third Division following yesterday's 2-0 victory over Brighton.

The injuries are to Tim Clarke and Scott Stamps.
Clarke didn't travel with the team yesterday so he could rest his knee, injured when he fell awkwardly near the end of Saturday's defeat of Halifax.
Clarke is expecting to be fit for Saturday.

Stamps hurt his right knee just five minutes into the game at Brighton, after he fell awkwardly just outside the Brighton penalty area.
Scott has been booked in for a scan.

"I have got a lot of faith in the team if we avoid injuries," said Molby.
"We now know what the Third Division is all about and I don't think we will be far away from being a very good team.
We have players who not only have the ability to work hard but they can also play. How many players could have played the pass that Ian Bogie played for Benno to score?
We have built a strong squad rather than a big squad and beat a team a lot of people fancy for the title without our first choice keeper and with Andy Ducros and Paul Webb sitting on the bench."

Harriers chairman, Lionel Newton, has commented on the poor attendance at Saturdays game at home to Halifax.
And he has asked the public of Kidderminster to prove they can sustain a Football League club.

Saturday's gate of 2,956 against Halifax was the third lowest in all four divisions and Mr. Newton is concerned that the club will lose money if it becomes the norm.
It was also a staggering fall of 42 per cent on the opening fixture and dipped below the club's 3,000 break-even figure.

"I was delighted with the 5,000-plus who attended our first home game against Torquay," said Newton.
"And I accept that there were people who came just to see us because of the novelty factor.
But we need it on a regular basis. How can you explain a drop of 2,000 people from one match to another?"

He admits that the club are particularly hit by the Bank Holiday weekend with some fans away. But only Barnet (2,264), Rochdale (2,561) and Macclesfield (1,795) attracted lower attendances on Saturday.
Mr. Newton is baffled at the fall in gates. Harriers are unbeaten in 19 matches in the league at Aggborough stretching back to September last year.

"I am hoping it's a one-off because of the Bank Holiday - but if not I will be bitterly disappointed," Newton added.
"We haven't lost here since last September, we have a great manager, we are playing super football and have good players, what more can we do?
We have budgeted on crowds of 3,000, that is the minimum we can survive on for every home game otherwise we lose more money.
Towards the end of last season we attracted gates of 3,500 to 4,000 but we haven't stopped winning."

Midfielder Andy Ducros returns to the squad for the game against Halifax tomorrow after being rested for the trip to Walsall.
But there are still doubts as to whether Paul Webb will play any part, after picking up a badly bruised shin at Scunthorpe last week.

Jan Molby said:
"We'll have to wait to see if he'll be fit, but the bruising is coming out and he has a 50-50 chance of being ready in time."

Ducros has been battling for full match fitness following his record £80,000 move from Nuneaton Borough.

Talking about tomorrows game,Molby said of Halifax:
"They have had an okay start in the league with two draws and they have played well in both games, so it will be another tough one for us.

They are a strong side, well organised and they aren't going to make the mistake Torquay did when they came to Aggborough by under-estimating us. But, although it's going to be tough, we are looking forward to it.
We know how they play as we've had them watched a couple of times. They get it forward very quickly and use their wing backs.

They have got two very good wing backs especially Mark Jules on the right, so they are not a bad team. They've got a big target man up front like Scunthorpe had last Saturday so the idea is to keep them away from goal to make them not as effective.
They are going to come to Aggborough trying to frustrate us and make it as difficult as they possibly can."

Harriers (from):
Clarke, Clarkson, Hinton, Shail, Stamps, Bennett, Horne, Bogie, Foster, Bird, Hadley, Webb, Ducros, Smith, Pope, Davies, Corbett, Brock.

This was found on the Sun's website.
Make of it what you will!!

Jan Molby is preparing for the visit of Halifax this Saturday and says that it will be a tough test.

"Halifax are a good team. They are very organised and very strong. They play 3-5-2 and have two very good wing-backs.
"They have a big target man in Gary Jones but you could see that some of the Scunthorpe players still had Second Division pace in their legs last week and Halifax won't have that."

It's now been 18 games since we were last defeated at home, by Nuneaton on September 13, and he knows we need to preserve our unbeaten record at Aggborough.

"Let's hope the home advantage serves us well," said Molby. "Last season that was a big source of confidence and let's hope it continues against Halifax."

According to press reports Crewe defender Chris Lightfoot is being targeted by Kidderminster Harriers.
Lightfoot has lost his place in the first team to Steve Macauly, Steve Foster, Efe Sodje and Dave Walton at Gresty Road.

30 yr old, Lightfoot has one year remaining on his contract but has been told by Dario Gradi that he can leave on a free transfer if he finds a new club.
Jan Molby is said to be interested in Lightfoot and could offer him a trial, with a view to a permanent contract, in the near future.
Jan says he needs to strengthen his defence and his squad in order for his club to survive their first ever season in the Football League.

Paul Webb insisted there was no bad feeling between him and Nigel Pepper after his challenge left the Scunthorpe United skipper with a double leg break.
Pepper punched Webby in the groin after the 50-50 challenge, but Webb distanced himself from the incident after the game.

"I don't know what happened, it came about that quickly, but as far as I was concerned it was just a 50-50 challenge.
The thing that happened after was a bit naughty though, he threw a full-blooded punch at me so there was no question about it, that's what he's been sent off for.
I didn't go into the tackle to hurt him and I wish him a speedy recovery. I have never done anybody in my life, I'm not that type of player."

Pepper was so incensed by the tackle that, lying in agony on the ground, he still had the energy punch Webby.

"I think it was just a bit of frustration that he threw the punch because the challenge was worse from him than it was from me".

Paul was taken off in the second half and was due for X-rays today because of a possible broken shinbone.

Jan slammed the Reds defending after the 2-0 defeat at Scunthorpe on Saturday.

"It was shocking defending for the first goal" said Jan.
"Defending from corners and set pieces are part of the game and we didn't do enough."
"We probably had 75-80% of possession but had to wait until 10 minutes from time before we put a decent cross into the box"

"We knew it was going to be tough though. a lot of people got carried away after the 2-0 win against Torquay last week but I didn't".

Harriers were awarded the 'Scottish Mutual Performance of the Week' award for last Saturday's historic 2-0 victory against Torquay.

Jan Molby commented:
"It is always very satisfying when an achievement is recognised by other people, especially when those people are as distinguished as the panel who made their decision."

Harriers new signing Ian Bogie is in the squad for the tomorrows trip to Scunthorpe United.
Ian is likely to start the game on the bench but if he does make it onto the pitch he will be wearing shirt No 19.

Despite being relegated from the Second Division last season, Scunthorpe, who beat Macclesfield 1-0 last Saturday, are amongst the favourites to return back to the 2nd division after being relegated last season.

Harriers keeper Tim Clarke is expected to be fit to face his old team mates following a recent back injury.
Harriers squad from:
Clarke, Brock, Clarkson, Stamps, Shail, Hinton, Smith, Horne, Webb, Bogie, Bennett, Hadley, Bird, Foster, Ducros, Corbett, Davies.

Jan Molby has confirmed that he has snapped up the services of midfielder Ian Bogie who was released by Port Vale at the end of last season.
Ian has agreed a two-year deal and will sign on Wednesday morning.

Molby said:
"We are obviously delighted to have signed Ian. He is a tremendous player with a wealth of experience. He will be a fantastic acquisition for us."

He is expected to train with the team tomorrow and will be in contention for a place in Molby's side for the game at Scunthorpe United on Saturday.

Harriers boss Jan Molby has denied stories linking him with Lincoln City defender Steve Holmes.
29-year-old Holmes has interested Molby before.
Jan says that he does not want to add to the squad at the moment.

He said: "I tried to sign him when I was at Swansea, but there is nothing in it now.
I think the current squad, if everybody is fit and available, is good enough. I am not rushing about trying to sign people just for the sake of it."

I'd just like to mention here that there is a new forum for Harriers fans. It's hosted on a local evening paper "The Express and Star".
I know that our own forum is very popular but it does seem to be abused by fans from other clubs.
You have to register to post on it but this, I think, would be a good thing.

Click on the link here
"Vertical Take-off".

Have a look and see what you think but please still use the official forum.

          Phil.

Jan Molby is telling the lads to keep their feet firmly on the ground after making their debut in Division Three with a 2-0 win over Torquay.

"We need to build on it and we're now looking forward to our game on Saturday at Scunthorpe who made a good start by winning at Macclesfield," he said.

"It was a nice comfortable win, but one of the things that pleased me as much as anything was the fact that we kept a clean sheet.
There were one or two deficiencies people were trying to point out to me prior to the season where we would struggle in certain areas, but I think we proved on Saturday that we can deal with whatever they feel we are not particularly good at."

Molby said that Saturday's match had not been mentioned until an hour before the kick-off.
"We kept it very relaxed. It was only another game.
I know that's a boring phrase but that is a fact. There are another 45 games to go and plenty more tougher than Saturday's.
Whether our first goal was off-side I'm not sure, but I think we created enough chances.
Not as many as I would have liked, but Barry Horne's goal in the second-half was a tremendous way to get his Kidderminster career off to a flying start.

"Our starting point at this football club is work rate and the ability will come after, but we did look fit on Saturday."

I am making no apologies for using this piece from FootballNow.
It's too good to cut down and it's too bloody long...Phil.

CLARKY & CO MAKING HISTORY WITH KIDDER

Kidderminster’s former Birmingham full back and footballNOW! correspondent Ian Clarkson gets set to help the Nationwide Conference champions acclimatise themselves to life as a Nationwide League club.

"It truly is great to be a Kidderminster player right now. History is about to be made with our first ever Football League game and there really is a fantastic buzz around not only the club but the whole town.
The club’s season ticket sales record has been smashed to smithereens and I know from talking to the fans that they can’t wait for the season to get underway.
That goes for the players too. I can tell you that footballers love to whinge, and pre-season training is usually where the bleating is the loudest - but these past few weeks have been a refreshing change from all that, with no grumbling whatsoever despite an arduous schedule.

Early-morning swimming stints, three training sessions a day and a tour of Denmark have all been been crammed into three weeks.
Our first seven pre-season games were played in the space of only 12 days, our journey taking us from such exotic haunts as Burton-on-Trent and Stourport through two of the three islands that make up Denmark (education as well as football!).
It's certainly been a toughie but, as 80% of the lads have come straight from combining full-time employment with part-time football, they are thoroughly enjoying every minute of their new lifestyle.
As Paul Webb, 32 years of age and for 10 years a Warehouse Manager, says to me every day "Is that it. I won't know what to do with myself for the rest of the day from now on!"

Our manager Jan Molby is very shrewd and the idea of taking us away on a pre-season trip to Denmark was inspired.
It gave us all a chance to become acquainted with one another and, as well as playing five games in a week, there was also the obligatory bonding session in Copenhagen!

So the novelty value for a lot of the players is still there and it seems to be one big adventure for a lot of them.
The usual cynicism that envelops seasoned pros has not yet hit home - they can't believe, for instance, that we've got a daily paper covering us as well as all the national media taking an interest in our historic first game.

As a seasoned (and perhaps cynical) pro myself, all I can say to the lads is to enjoy it - because with increased publicity comes increased expectations, and if we don't deliver then they can expect to see the flip side of the coin!
Our chairman Lionel Newton seems to have got caught up in the fervour as well, smashing the club’s transfer record to sign former Coventry player Andy Ducros for £100,000 as well as bringing in Welsh international Barry Horne.

Without wishing to sound like the harbinger of doom, however, I would say we need to add one or two more players to our squad as the Nationwide League third division is very tough league and strength in depth is crucial.
I know that whatever happens I'll get the same welcome from our kit man Nigel Clement every morning. Nigel is a 25 stone ex-bouncer from the Black Country who, as well as following the Harriers, also supports Aston Villa.
For my sins I played for and support the blue half of Birmingham, so every morning I am greeted with Nigel’s dulcet tones pronouncing:
"Clarkson you am useless, always have been and always will be you blue nose loser!" As you can tell he's a bit of an orator, but it all adds to the daily banter that makes football such a superb profession.

It's amazing how quickly pre-season has passed and we are now set for the great day, when Torquay come to a packed Aggborough. The atmosphere will be incredible and, when I run out and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, I’ll know that all those 8.30 am swimming sessions really were worthwhile."
©FootballNOW

The good news is that clearance for Torquays new signing, Frenchman, Jules Mendy has not been forthcoming and he will not play tomorrow.

And the bad news, Habib Sissoko, who also comes from France, has signed and is now a TUFC player.

Scott Stamps says he is delighted to be facing his former club Torquay tomorrow.
Stamper, who spent six years at Torquay, is confident of Harriers chances of promotion from the Third Division.

"I think we'll do well. The Third Division is a hard, physical league...but I think we can finish in the top five. We can play some nice football and if we steer clear of injuries, well who knows?"

Last season's top scorer Ian Foster has admitted life will be hard in the league but the club are ambitious to continue their upward trend. "We really want to get in the Second Division but first and foremost we just want to stay in the Third."

Jan Molby has named a 17-man squad for tomorrows game against Torquay Utd.
The only doubt seems to be goalkeeper Tim Clarke. He has injured his back in training and is under treatment in an effort to be fit for tomorrow.
Defenders Ian Clarkson, Scott Stamps and Craig Hinton have shaken off injuries and should be fit for tomorrow.

Choose from;
Clarke, Brock, Clarkson, Stamps, Shail, Hinton, Smith, Horne, Webb, Bennett, Hadley, Bird, Foster, Ducros, Corbett and Davies.

Saturday's game against Torquay may be Harriers' first game in the Football League but we have met before.

In November 1994, the Harriers drew 1-1 with Torquay in the FA Cup, first round proper. Delwyn Humphries put Harriers ahead but Ian Hathaway equalised.
Torquay won the replay at Plainmoor 1-0 with a freak goal by former Stourport Swifts player Richard Hancox.
In the last few minutes he attempted a speculative shot on goal and watched in disbelief as the ball trickled through the legs of Harriers keeper Kevin Rose.

Harriers will be without defender Steve Pope, because of a one-match suspension, when they kick off their Nationwide League Division Three campaign against Torquay United at Aggborough on Saturday.
Steve was sent off in Harriers' final Nationwide Conference game last season at Altrincham.

Also missing will be goalkeeper Brendan Murphy because of a muscle injury.

Jan Molby has today announced that defender Ian Clarkson has been appointed as Team Captain for the coming season.
Reports on this website that Mark Shail would be Jans choice as captain were totally wrong, and I hang my head in shame..

Molby said "We had a number of possible skipper's to choose from here but Ian just had that edge. I know he'll do an excellent job."

Tickets for the Worthington cup game against Walsall go on general sale on Friday 11th August.
But there is to be a special offer for season ticket holders of up to £3 off on the normal league price of a seat ticket for this game.

Tickets will be on sale after the Torquay game on Saturday.

Non-Season Ticket Holders.

Seats Adults £10.00
Concessions £5.00

Terraces Adults £8.00
Concessions £4.00

Season Ticket Holders

Seats Adults £9.00
Concessions £4.00


Terraces Adults £7.00
Concessions £3.00

Jan Molby says he would love to sign midfielder Ian Bogie who was released by Port Vale at the end of last season.
Bogie, 32, played in Harriers' 1-1 draw at Boston United and Molby has he would like to bring him to Aggborough.

"There are a number of clubs interested in Ian and we are one of them. We have made him an offer and I'm hoping we will here something positive very soon."

Bogie, a former England schoolboy, signed for Vale in 1995 for £50,000. His previous clubs include Newcastle United, Preston, Millwall and Leyton Orient.

I did mention this at the weekend, but it's official now!..Phil

Harriers drew 1 - 1 at Boston Utd today.
The goals came from Dick for Boston in the first few minutes and then a goal from Ian Foster, a rebound off the crossbar.

Ian Bogie ex of Port Vale made a surprise appearance on trial.
If he joins the Harriers it should be on a free transfer because I believe he left Vale before the end of last season when his contract finished.

Port Vale midfielder, Ian Bogie, is playing at Boston Utd today.
In his career he has played for Newcastle Utd, Preston, Millwall and Leyton Orient.
Known as the "new Gazza" in his Newcastle days, Ian signed for Port vale for £50,000 from Leyton Orient.
Ian is a skilful, passing midfielder who was transfer listed by Vale in 1999.

Marcus Bignot is in further talks with Bristol Rovers after refusing to sign a new two-year contract with Crewe.
The ex Kidderminster Harriers defender has been training and playing with the club in pre-season but missed last night's 4-0 win at Moor Green.
Bignot, who traveled down for talks with Rovers boss Ian Holloway this morning, insists his decision to quit Crewe has nothing to do with money.

He has been out of contract all summer but has only attracted interest from WBA.

An announcement is expected soon that Mark Shail will become Harriers first captain as a Football League club.
The former Bristol City defender is expected to take the dual role of Harriers first team skipper and club captain and will lead the side out for the historic first match against Torquay in nine days time.

Shail captained Bristol City for most of his seven years at Ashton Gate and he has been captain in every one of the games he has played since joining Harriers this summer.
"There's some captains who come to life when they skipper a side and Shail has exceptional physical strength," said Molby.

Jan Molby wants to encourage the country's top clubs to send their young stars to Aggborough on loan.
Molby is hoping for the temporary arrival of a promising youngster, possibly with Premiership pedigree, if either Scott Stamps or Craig Hinton are not fit for the start of the season.
Neither Stamps or Hinton have joined full training since receiving thigh and hip injuries on the club's tour of Denmark.

"We always have the loan system on our side if we need it," said Molby. "It's not just something we will use in an emergency, if the right player comes along then we will look at it."

With Jan's connections in the game it could mean that Harriers fans could be in for a treat.

"Look at when David Beckham was loaned to Preston from Manchester United, it was never going to be permanent but he went there to gain experience of playing first-team football", said Jan, although refusing to reveal any possible targets.

In a report out today in a tabloid newspaper, Harriers' Aggborough Stadium has been voted among the best stadia in England.
Out of a maximum 100 marks, the Harriers Aggborough ground managed an impressive 78, beating several Premiership grounds including Liverpool, Chelsea and Everton.
Sunderland's Stadium of Light heads the list with a score of 97 marks out of 100.

It is not known exactly how the report was compiled but it rates the biggest and arguably the best stadium in England, Manchester United's Old Trafford, as low as 15th.

Harriers beat Stourport Swifts, 3-0, in their friendly at Walshes Meadow tonight.
With Swifts battling hard to beat their illustrious neighbours, and Harriers players not wanting to risk injury to themselves, the first half turned into a dour midfield battle.
A goal from Tony Bird and a speculative shot from Barry Horne that hit the bar was all Harriers had to show for their efforts.
In the last few seconds of the first half Swifts almost equalized after a moment of panic from the Harriers defence as the ball was cleared off the line.

The second half started much the same way with neither side giving much away.
It took until midway through the half for Harriers to get their second goal after good work from Andy Ducros, playing his first full game since signing a few weeks ago.
In the last few minutes Ducros coolly slotted home to send the fans home with a smile on their face, but disappointed that they had not seen the exhibition football that they had expected.

Harriers line-up:
Murphy (Clarke, 46), Clarkson (Corbett, 56), Bennett, Webb, Shail, Pope, Davies, Horne, Bird, Foster, Ducros

Barry Horne has been told by Chairman Lionel Newton to hurry up and sign the contract that has been offered to him.
38 yr old Horne was expected to sign on Monday (31st July) but has not yet done so.

"Our offer is on the table and it is in Barry's hands. The offer is final and we are not prepared to budge anymore - we are not Huddersfield or Sheffield Wednesday and we have to be sensible" said Mr. Newton.

"Barry is a big player and there's a few roles Jan sees him doing for us. But there's a price we can pay and after that it's a false economy."

"There's a limit I have to go to and this is the clubs final offer" said Newton.

Hornes contract at Sheffield did not expire until Monday.
This means that Harriers were paying him at the same time as he was being paid by Wednesday.

"Jan feels he has the quality but not enough depth in the squad, if Barry does not sign Jan knows he needs those extra players" finished Newton.