14-12-20 – Preview – Stamford AFC Vs Kidderminster Harriers

In this quickly arranged FA Trophy 2nd qualifying round tie the Harriers will be facing Stamford AFC of the Northern Premier League. Quickly arranged because Stamford didn’t know who they would be facing either until the ninetieth minute of their 1st round qualifying game at Kidsgrove Athletic on Saturday. They got through that one 2-0 and they now have to get ready for the visit of our good selves.

This will be the first time that we have ever come face to face with Stamford although quite a few Harriers fans must have stopped off in their impressive town on the way to a FA Cup game at nearby Deeping Rangers back in September 2017. We did and liked it so much we went back again a year later for a short break.

In their game against Anthony Malbons’ Kidsgrove the goals came from Tom Siddons and Harry Vince while following the game Sean Wright was sent off following an altercation with a Kidsgrove supporter. He’ll be available to play tomorrow before his ban cuts in.

Their squad contains mostly journeymen locals but they do have a couple with a bit of pedigree. Jon Challinor lists Aldershot Town, Exeter City, Rushden & Diamonds, York City and Chester FC amongst his former clubs while Joe Burgess has previously played for Boston United, Ilkeston Town, Histon, Fleetwood Town, Peterborough Utd. Earlier today they bought in the former West Bromwich Albion keeper Luke Steele in an emergency after the usual custodian, Dan Haystead, got injured.

Stamford, nicknamed the Daniels after an overweight late Georgian celeb named Daniel Lambert (why they should choose that as their nickname defeats me), play their games at the modern Zeeco Stadium built in 2014. It’s a tidy ground with a proper seated stand and also a proper terrace behind one of the goals. Think Harriers North & South stands rather than Tamworths bus stop stand. 

We come into the game on the back of a hard fought 1-0 win at Gateshead on Saturday. Our late goal came off Lewis Montrose who is probably still trying to work out what part of his body it deflected off. We came through the game unscathed (hopefully) and should be at full strength once more. The only doubt will be surrounding the whereabouts of second string goalie Tom Palmer. His place on the bench was taken by rookie Leon Phillips at the International Stadium.

Jim Kellermann was also mysteriously missing.

If we get through this round then our next foray in it won’t be until January 16th next year due to the bonus of having a bye through the 3rd round. That’s all down to the demise of Macclesfield Town a few months back so at least some good has come out of that terrible episode.

As for us having the choice of watching the game live on stream or being forced to listen in on Steve Miller mumbling away to himself on H&W Radio then it’s looking like the latter will be the only choice we’ll get due to Stamford not having any streaming facilities set up. We can only hope that KHFC will offer to do it for them.

Once I get more info it’ll be published on here and other platforms available. UPDATE: and here it is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5SY4x6J7Ww

Below are the dates for the further rounds: 

Third Round Proper Saturday 19th December 2020
Fourth round proper Saturday 16th January 2021
Fifth round proper Saturday 6th February 2021
Quarter-final Saturday 27th February 2021
Semi-final Saturday 27th March 2021
Final Saturday 8th May 2021

Photo © KHFC

Teams:

Harriers from:

Simpson, Palmer, Phillips, Richards, Austin, Lowe, Moyo, Penny, Arthur, Maxwell, Taylor, Montrose, Tolley, Prosser, Kellermann, Martin, Freemantle, Hemmings, Morgan-Smith, White, Sterling-James.

Stamford AFC from:

Haystead, Steele, Peverall, Swan, Tarris, Armstrong, Bartle, Blunden, Cooke, Wright, Burges, Challinor, Matwasa, McGovern, Morgan, O’Hare, Vince, Bayly, Chiteza, Duffy, Hicks, Limb, Siddons. 

Referee: Mr Richard Holmes. Preston

Talk about the game here

Links to Stamford AFC websites here

Find Pubs around Kidderminster here