Yet another game against a Manchester club this weekend for the Harriers and this one must be the biggest of all. Yes we're up against Manchester Utd (FC of).This is that fan formed club that began as a protest against the takeover of their club by the Glazer family back in 2005. Many thought it wouldn't last and the fans would soon start drifting back to Old Trafford and some did but since then, down to the one's that stayed, they have gained an identity of their own and have risen through the leagues to reach the Conference North. There is still that deep down feeling amongst opposition fans that it is still a fad and one day they'll all go back.
It doesn't help having a red and white kit, like Salford, and it all seems a little false. Maybe if they began to form their own identity by wearing: blue stripes or claret and blue, people might change their opinion of them and believe they are not one and the same.
Although this is the first meeting in anger between the two clubs we have actually played each other before back in July 2007 when we played out a pre-season friendly that ended all equal. They were then in the North West Counties League.
They arrive at Aggborough not in the best of form and at the moment they sit in sixteenth place in the league with just three wins in fourteen games. Last time out in the league they lost 1-0 at Telford and the week before that they beat Alfreton 4-3 at home to record only their second home win of the season when the beat Stockport at the start of August.
They'll be without a couple of players tomorrow after Rory Fallon announced during the week that because of an on-going injury he was leaving the game to concentrate on other aspects of his life while on loan James Hooper was sent back to Rochdale and then promptly back out on loan to Stockport.
They'll be without both Dale Johnson and Harry Winter tomorrow with them serving suspensions: Johnson for three and Winter for one. Also out is Nathan Lowe and Keiron Glynn with injuries while Sam Sheridan will play if passed fit.
We'll be without Elton N'Gwatala (above) for the game after he injured his shoulder in the first half against Weymouth last Saturday. Luckily the loss didn't affect the scoreline with the Reds running out 6-0 winners and a trip to Blackpool our 'reward'. Elton is expected to be out for the next couple of weeks but hopefully back in time for the trip to an empty stadium beside the sea.
Jared Hodgkiss will also continue to be out waiting for a groin hernia to be operated on.
Even after missing league action last week to compete in the FA Cup we still stayed in fifth place in the league and I expect us to remain there or go higher by the end of the game tomorrow.
Photo © KHFC
Teams:
Harriers from:
Hornby, T Palmer, K Lowe, T Williams, Carter, Thomas, Tunnicliffe, Clarke, Francis-Angol, Evans, Croasdale, Stambolziev, Gnahoua, Truslove, Austin, A Brown, McQuilkin, Dieseruvwe, Waite.
FC Utd of Manchester from:
Carnell, Frith, Forth, Musangu, Ashworth, Corbett, Chantler, Eckersley, Smyth, Tonge, J Williams, Brown, Kay, Hill, Sheridan, Thomson, Wright, Gilchrist, Greaves, Walwyn, Wolfenden, Pratt.
Talk about the game here
Links to FC Utd of Manchester websites here
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