Bees buzzing for upcoming season
For many people, Harborough Town Football Club has become much more than somewhere to spend a Saturday afternoon. It has turned into one of the town’s greatest success stories.
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The past half-decade has seen Harborough Town climb from the United Counties League to the National League North, just two divisions below the Football League. Three promotions in five years is no mean feat for any football club, at any level. With that said, the Bees, as their supporters affectionately refer to them, have shown exactly what an ambitious community can achieve when everybody pulls in the same direction.
Despite the huge step up in competition this season, the excitement doesn’t stop – with former Football League clubs such as Chester, Darlington and Macclesfield all set to visit the Harborough Town Community Ground (Beehive). Interest in the club is at an all-time high and attendances continued to rise throughout last season, topping 1,000 on no less than five occasions and almost hitting 2,000 on three of those. The growing support reflects how the town has fully embraced the team as its sporting ambassadors. It goes without saying that the players, and manager Mitch Austin, deserve the lion’s share of the credit for the recent success – however, there is also an army of passionate volunteers who make everything achieved on the pitch possible. From the stewards to the hospitality staff, the media team to the groundskeepers, everyone at the club plays their part in making the on-field dreams a reality. If you’ve never been to the Beehive before, I’d encourage you to give it a go and see what all the fuss is about. Whilst the day is centred around what happens on the pitch, it’s the community spirit, unity and sense of belonging that make Saturday afternoons so much fun. Whether you are a sports fan or simply a proud Harborian, there’s never been a better time to make your own Harborough Town debut. Words: Ben Monti |
Issue 30
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