The team hailing from Aggborough defied the odds to sink a rampant South Shields side away from home with a 2-0 victory in the North East in May.
Goals from Kieran Donnelly and Charlie Cooper preceded an indomitable defensive display to keep the league’s second highest scorers at bay, resulting in them celebrating a return to the fifth tier after a two-year hiatus.
A former Football League club and a National League regular in the early 2010s, the Harriers will be hoping their recent success is the first step towards a reunion with the EFL in the not too distant future.
After falling to a heavy defeat on opening day away to National League South play-offs victors Hornchurch, Kidderminster bounced back with a triumph on the weekend over Eastleigh.
History
The first-ever Worcestershire-based club to reach the Football League, Kidderminster are currently the highest ranked team from the county in the pyramid.
A club steeped in history, the Harriers first reached the Football League at the turn of the millennium, spending five seasons in the league before being relegated in 2005.
Notable FA Cup runs have also featured throughout the years, including reaching the fourth round in the 1994/95 season, 2006/07 campaign and as recently as the 2021/22 term, welcoming West Ham United to Aggborough and only losing following a stoppage-time equaliser from Declan Rice and a 121st minute winner from Jarrod Bowen.
The Carpetmen have tasted domestic success – lifting the FA Trophy once – complementing their Conference title win in 2000.
Manager – Paul Wotton
After leading one of the Rebels’ title rivals last season in the National League South, Paul Wotton will have a chance to take on Adam Hinshelwood’s side with a different team this season.
While at Torquay United, the man celebrating his 49th birthday today competed against the Reds five times, winning both games at Plainmoor, losing twice at the Sussex Transport Community Stadium and drawing 2-2 in February 2025.
A 3-1 defeat against Worthing back in February ended up being his penultimate match as Torquay manager, with the subsequent 5-0 home thrashing against Chelmsford sealing his fate following a five-game winless run.
After spending the remainder of the season recharging the batteries, Wotton was chosen as the successor to former Eastbourne Borough Head Coach Adam Murray at Aggborough, who left to join fellow National League outfit Barrow AFC.
On the weekend, the Kidderminster gaffer recorded his first three points at his new club, courtesy of a slender success against Eastleigh.
Wotton has previously managed Truro City and was the Assistant Manager at Plymouth Argyle, with his new role being his first as a National League manager.
Previous Meetings
Worthing have played Kidderminster Harriers once, losing away to them in an FA Trophy second round tie in way back in 1986 – a competition the Carpetmen. would go on to win a few months later.
Stadium – Aggborough Stadium
Located on the outskirts of England’s second biggest city, the classic Aggborough Ground has been the home of the Harriers since the late 19th century.
Approaching the 140th year of hosting Kidderminster matches, the arena is a compact and old-school stadium, which required extensive modernisation in recent history to accommodate the club entering the Football League.
Both North and South stands are covered terraces, with the opposing sets of supporters positioned at opposite ends of the ground.
The record attendance is 9,155, with the large crowd witnessing an FA Cup match against Hereford United in 1948, with the official capacity in line with modern safety measures approximately 6,000. Aggborough has a place amongst the English football history books, as its renowned for the hosting the first floodlit tie in the FA Cup.
Distance from Sussex Transport Community Stadium: 172 miles.
Originally published by Worthing FC ↗