Saturday morning saw me watching my grandson lose a match at the great facilities on the University of Northampton Campus. Unfortunately he lost but after some sustenance we made our way to Market Harborough to see their home team play.
I have been here before but they have since moved up a League and further developed their ground. Market Harborough is a pleasant Market town that has grown unbelievably since I lived nearby at Desborough many moons ago. The electrification of the rail link to London has increased its appeal as a computer town for London and the building of the nearby A14 east west link makes it easier to reach the West Midlands and the East.
The ground on the outskirts of the town is part of the Harborough Leisure complex which has been recently updated to feature a brand-new, 115-station gym, three swimming pools, a group fitness studio, a dedicated group cycling studio, a wellness studio, a spacious sports hall, an indoor bowls hall, tennis courts a café and outdoor pitches for sports including rugby and football.
There is great parking, all on the flat, and it is an easy walk to the Football ground. It is an all weather pitch that has had some surrounding hard surface update and two new covered seated areas on one side adjacent a previous existing one. The facilities are now easily ready to enable the club to move up to higher levels and is able to host higher attendances as per their 1813 for the midweek FA cup game. There is a large club house and changing rooms which have solar panels on the roof, which we did not go in.
As we passed through the turnstiles we were handed a token for a Spanish beer. It’s relevance became clear as soon as we were in the stadium with one of the three covered stands down one side crowded with fans from Spain . There was also a clue in a Spanish language insert in the programme. Harborough Town FC’s Spanish connection is due to a friendship with La Media Inglesa. The partnership has grown a large Spanish fan base with live-streamed matches on YouTube to all spanish speaking countries. Harboroughhave also been on a pre-season tour of Madrid. The Spaniards were making themselves known well before the start of the game.
Although a grey overcast afternoon the 13 degrees felt quite pleasant, probably because there was little wind. We debated wether the artificial pitch had a slight slope on it from one end but couldn’t make up our minds if this was an optical illusion.
Harborough Town are a new team, although there have been previous clubs in the town. In 2007 it progressively merged three teams, Harborough Town Juniors, Harborough Town Spencers and Harborough Minis and with the local council developed playing facilities that have benefitted all ages and sexes to create many teams that can use the artificial pitches. After 3 seasons in local Northamptonshire football they gained promotion to The United Counties League again stepping up a league two years later. In 2022 they won the Premier League moving nto the Northern Premier League. In 2024 they won the League play offs and now play at the higher level.
Bromsgrove Sporting FC was founded in 2009 after the demise of Bromsgrove Rovers, saved by local supporters. A restriction of a maximum ten percent shareholding in the club has been introduced to keep a community involvement. The club has gained promotion in local and midlands leagues in a very short time to be now competing in the 7th tier of English football. They reached this level in 2019.
Harborough Town 1 v Bromsgrove Sporting 0
Saturday 18th October 2025 Southern League Premier, Central Division.
Harborough Town Community Football Ground, Northampton Road, Market Harborough , LE16 9 HF.
The Bees v The Rouslers. 1st v 14th
Harborough, all yellow kit with the goal keeper in all green. Bromsgrove, Red shirts with some white vertical stripes on the front and back, and dark blue shorts. The goalkeeper in all green.
Harborough were on top throughout the first half gaining numerous corners and long throws that caused concern foy the visitors. The home sides tall defence were very effective but Bromsgrove did manage a few chances.
The game seemed very stale with perhaps Harborough suffering the after effects due to extra-time in their FA Cup match the previous Tuesday. The game changed for the Bees on 66 minutes when their goalkeeper hoisted a free kick from their half into Sporting’s penalty area. The ball was chested down by Riley O’Sullivan, who had just been introduced as a substitute minutes earlier. He turned and volleyed it into the roof of the net for a well taken goal. Unfortunately his game time only lasted 2 minutes, when a challenge on him in the penalty area was given as simulation, and he was shown a yellow card. He picked up his discarded boot, which looked as if it had come off by the defender treading on his foot. He ran to the official to show him the boot but was waived away. His frustration was shown by him throwing down his boot to which the referee showed a second yellow card and then a red due to the dissent. This all seemed harsh and this added to him being sent off in the seventh minute of Tuesday night’s FA Cup replay.
Bromsgrove saw their chances and pushed forward but the home defence stood solid and saw out the game. It was more like grinding out a win,and not a classic, but Harborough were happy to retain their top spot in the league. After the extra time on Tuesday they were relieved to not have had a reaction.
After missing a few weeks it was back to some chips, and they were hot, tasty, golden, not greasy, crispy outside with a soft middle and a score of 73. Because I was with family I was talking and forgot to get a picture of them until after I had finished. As I continued eating them they became a little dry, perhaps due to the large portion.
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