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Aggborough Stadium
(Kidderminster Harriers)
Address: Hoo Road,
Kidderminster,
Worcestershire,
England,
DY10 1NB
Capacity: 6,238 (3,140 Seated)
Image Source: https://harriers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/04-2.jpg
One of the institutions of English football that is perhaps lesser known, and deserves more attention.
Aggborough is a stadium that dates back to the late 19th century, opening somewhere in the region of 1884 and being the home of Kidderminster Harriers Football Club since their founding in 1886. It initially began life with just a single grandstand to the west and a banked running track around it. A new 460-seat grandstand would be in place by 1935 and within ten years there were covered stands in place to both the east and south.
The last few decades have seen plenty of growth to Aggborough, but it has been a place which has held the Harriers back in the past. When Kidderminster won the Conference title in 1994, they were denied entry into the Football League as their ground did not meet seating capacity requirements. The Main Stand would be replaced that summer, and left Aggborough in a suitable condition for when Kidderminster won the Conference title again in 2000, this time earning a promotion up into the Football League where they would spend the next five seasons. A new East Stand would be built in the summer of 2003 and it is the stand that remains in place today.
Alongside Kidderminster Harriers, Aggborough Stadium would be the temporary home of Worcester City Football Club between 2013 and 2016. The Non-League side would terminate their agreement and move to Bromsgrove ahead of the 2016-17 season. Aggborough since 2020 has been in regular by Wolverhampton Wanderers’ U23 squad, though they do also play on occasion at their Molineux Stadium home.
Location and Getting There
Aggborough Stadium takes its name from the area of Kidderminster it is based in, around one mile southeast of the Town Centre. Kidderminster Town Station, one of the end points of the Severn Valley Railway, is to the north of the stadium. The Kidderminster Golf Clubs is over to the east of Aggborough, and Kidderminster Hospital is around one mile away to the west.
There should be no real hassle reaching Aggborough Stadium by car. There are two main car parks outside the stadium, to the north and the south with the north one being the larger and more popularly used. They are reasonably priced to park at, but can be tricky to get out of after games given the tight access roads off Hoo Road to the west. There is an alternative option to park at the Severn Valley Railway Station to the north, which should cost around the same price. With so many streets around however, finding free, legal street parking should not prove a serious issue.
Aggborough is also a great location for those coming by rail. Kidderminster Train Station, served by West Midlands Trains, is around half a mile away to the north and walking from here to the stadium takes less than 10 minutes. Head out of Station Approach and briefly onto Comberton Hill (A448). Turn left onto Comberton Place and continue all the way along it past Kidderminster Magistrates’ Courts. Down at the far end will be a narrow footpath between the Courts nearby houses. Follow this footpath alongside Pannier Close and then head along another narrow, fenced path between two large brick houses. This will lead you onto Stadium Close which rings around the North Car Park and leads you to the North Stand at Aggborough Stadium.
For buses, best make use of the 303 Service which stops right outside Aggborough’s southern end at the ‘Football Ground’ stop. The 303 Service runs all the way from central Worcester to central Kidderminster.
Outside the Ground
Those approaching Aggborough from Kidderminster Train Station should first arrive at the North Stand.
The exterior here is very simple in design, consisting of a brickwork base with a yellow corrugated iron roof higher up and the words KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS FOOTBALL CLUB displayed along it.
Entrance into this side of the stadium is via Turnstile Block B which can be found at the western end of the stand. The turnstile block at the opposite end is for those in the neighbouring East Stand.
There is plenty of open space immediately outside of the North Stand, with the stadium’s North Car Park located on the other side of Stadium Close from the stand.
Heading around in a clockwise direction will bring you to a good-sized brick building. This is the Kidderminster Harriers Social & Supporters Club and is detached from the stadium itself.
Continuing round brings you to the East Stand.
The exterior here is again simple in design, consisting of a brickwork base with dark orange corrugated iron higher up.
There are two entrances for this side of Aggborough Stadium, and which one you use depends on whether you are a home or away supporters. Home supporters make use of Turnstile Block C, which is located outside the adjacent North Stand and requires you to walk around the fenced off corner once inside. Turnstile Block D is at the southern end of the East Stand, and is in use for away supporters when blocks of the East Stand are allocated to travelling fans.
There are two rows of car parking spaces immediately outside the East Stand which is normally taken up by private vehicles.
Provided the southern end gates are open (they may be closed as part of home and away fan segregation), then you can continue round from the East Stand to the South Stand.
Much like the North Stand opposite, its simple exterior contains a brickwork base with yellow corrugated iron higher up.
There are two turnstile blocks on this side of the stadium, located at either end of the stand. Turnstile Block E is at the eastern end of the stand, whilst Turnstile Block F is at the western end. Turnstile Block F tends to be closed unless very large crowds are expected on a matchday.
The South Stand Car Park is in place outside the South Stand, a much looser road surface than the North Stand opposite. The buildings out beyond the South Stand, including a Church and a Day Nursery, often make their car parks available on a matchday for a reasonable price. These car parks can be accessed from off Hoo Road.
The West Stand is the Main Stand at Aggborough Stadium and runs alongside Hoo Road. You will need to get back out onto Hoo Road in order to walk all the way along it as its southern end is fenced off.
It follows the exterior design of the rest of Aggborough Stadium, a brickwork base with corrugated iron higher up. The Main Stand includes the Harriers Arms, Aggborough’s very own public house which is open to the general public on non-matchdays but only open to home supporters on matchdays because of limited space. Expect this place to be busy in the build-up to kick-off.
A set of black gates further along Hoo Road lead into the Main Stand Car Park for private and VIP vehicles, and it is through here that you can also reach the Hospitality Entrance, Main Ticket Office, and Kidderminster Harriers Club Shop. There is a small black gate at the northern end of this car park which enables you to slip out and get round to the North Stand without having to go back onto Hoo Road.
Entrance for fans into the Main Stand comes via Turnstile Blocks G and A.
Inside the Ground
The North Stand consists of a single tier of standing terrace, split into two similarly-sized sections by a central walkway. Red metals bars run across the stand at the front of each section for fans to lean on.
The absence of supporting pillars in this stand provides you with a perfectly clear view of the pitch from anywhere inside. Large windshields at either end in turn provide excellent protection from the wing and rain for those inside.
The East Stand is a single tier of red seating which has the letters HARRIERS spelt out in white across it. The area holding the matchday camera can be found up at the back of the stand, in line with the highest-up seating row.
The absence of supporting pillars in this stand provides you with a perfectly clear view of the pitch from anywhere inside. Windshields are not in place at either of the East Stand however, due to the stand not being the full length of the pitch. Small walls here are in place to add minimal sideways protection.
The South Stand follows a very similar design to the North Stand opposite. It consists of a single tier of standing terrace, with red metal bars running across it for fans to lean on. The main difference however is that the stand is split into two sections by vertical bars around half-way. A scoreboard can be found up above the roof of the South Stand.
The absence of supporting pillars in this stand provides you with a perfectly clear view of the pitch from anywhere inside. Large windshields at either end in turn provide excellent protection from the wing and rain for those inside.
Aggborough’s Main Stand consists of a single tier of red seating which does not go up as high as the East Stand opposite. The letters KHFC are spelt out in white across the four outermost seating blocks. The space behind the Main Stand’s back row is taken up by executive boxes, the stadium control box, and the press box. The substitute benches are built into the base of the Main Stand, with the tunnel in-between and the changing rooms located inside.
The absence of supporting pillars in this stand provides you with a perfectly clear view of the pitch from anywhere inside. Windshields are not in place at either of the Main Stand however, due to the stand not being the full length of the pitch. Small walls here are in place to add minimal sideways protection.
Away Fans
Away fans are mostly housed in the South Stand, a single tier of standing terracing which provides clear views of the pitch and good protection from windshields at either side. This South Stand is split down the middle by vertical red bars, creating two terraced sections. When smaller away crowds are expected, only the easternmost section is available for use. The westernmost section is opened when larger away crowds are expected.
Kidderminster Harriers in turn allocate a number of seats in the neighbouring East Stand as an alternative to standing. The southernmost blocks of the stand, alongside the adjacent South Stand, form the away section at Aggborough Stadium and can accommodate crowds of varying sizes.
Those based in the East Stand seating make use of Turnstile Block D for entrance. Turnstile Block E is for those in the South Stand, and Turnstile Block F is opened when the entire South Stand is in use.
Matchday Pubs
Pubs available to supporters on a matchday include:
-The Bear and Wolf (Worcester Street, DY10 1ED) (Typically Home and Away Supporters) (Located near Kidderminster Town Centre)
-The Boars Head (39 Worcester Street, DY10 1EW) (Typically Home and Away Supporters) (Located near Kidderminster Town Centre)
-The Harriers Arms (Hoo Road, DY10 1NB) (Home Supporters Only) (Located outside the Main Stand at Aggborough Stadium)
-The King & Castle (Station Drive, DY10 1QX) (Typically Home and Away Supporters) (Located inside the Severn Valley Railway Station)
-The Railway Bell (Comberton Hill, DY10 1QN) (Typically Home and Away Supporters) (Located near to the Severn Valley Railway Station)
-The Station Inn (Farfield, DY10 1UG) (Typically Home and Away Supporters) (Located near Kidderminster Train Station)
Overview
One of England’s longest-running football grounds, home to one of England’s longest-running football clubs. Aggborough carries a great reputation in the Non-League scene and is a very good standard stadium. Simple but practical, this is a place that offers standing behind the goals, seating on the side of the pitch, and an away section that can cater for crowds of varying sizes.
Many visitors to Aggborough are not only complimentary of the ground, but also complimentary of the food on offer both inside and outside. Your experience on a matchday often comes not just down to the football, good food and good drink can make a big difference. Aggborough ticks all those boxes and more.
A absolute must for your football ground bucket list.
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