Growing Dynasty

Harborough Town 1-1 Spalding United (Southern League Central Division)

I’ve spent the day ranting on X to Miguel Delaney of the Independent about Crystal Palace and their administrative failings which has prevented them from playing in this seasons Europa League. He thinks Palace have been treated with unjust by UEFA and CAS (the Court of Arbitration). I think they have been idle, ignorant, arrogant and only have themselves to blame.

We’ll move on.

Harborough Town had a magnificent FA Cup run last season. A modern club built upon youth foundations has only appeared in current name since 2007, they reached the second round of the famous old competition before losing a thriller, 5-3 at Reading in December.

That cup money has helped a side that were Northants Combination fodder as recently as 2010, to become a thoroughbred at the level, they have been backed by the Football Foundation and have an ‘everything new-new’ type modern day set up on the outskirts of town, United Counties League promotion to their current tier, seven on the pyramid, has taken just four years, and last season, their first in the Southern Premier Central, they finished a commendable fifth, before losing in the playoff semi-finals on penalties at Kettering Town.

Spalding United I remember from my own coaching days, back in the Northern Premier League South Division ten or so years ago, they were chucking around some dough but never quite made the step up, despite some good seasons, they finally made the break in 2023/24 winning the ‘revised’ Northern Premier League Midland Division, thus gaining step 3 status for the first time in the clubs history. Last season they finished seventh and like Harborough Town, have spent to strengthen in what looks a real competitive squad for the level.

The Tulips, formed in 1905, have long played at their Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field ground (named after a local MP) which is currently under renovation to install a brand-new artificial playing surface. That work has overlapped the start of the season and because of that, the original tie which had Spalding to host Harborough, has been reversed.

The Venue

I’ve driven directly through the quintessential Market Harborough centre to the outskirts of town where this modern facility lays. There’s a new build estate and retail units opposite the Northampton Road, Market Harborough Rugby Club is here, as well as Harborough Leisure Centre, and there’s pitches everywhere, parking is plenty but already full, I’m able to pop my car by the Busy Bees Day Nursery just a short walk away, before trotting through the car park towards the clubhouse where the turnstiles are beside.

It's £15 contactless, as I enter behind the goal, a crowd gathered around the pitch perimeter, the sun is beaming down as it dusks slowly behind the seated stand which I’m about to head for, after a quick wee, I grab a coffee from the clubhouse and notice outside, a pop up real ale bar which I’m very tempted by, not tonight though, as I have some work to do.

I’ve sat down in one of two new seated tin stands, around five levels high it offers a great view compact, the pitch in front flat 3g, the thud of the ball clashing against mesh fences in the warm up, each end is fenced but open, opposite has a couple of low standing areas which are roofed, either side of the dugouts. Everything is new, perfect, pristine, I had low expectations on coming here, but I must admit I’m very impressed with the facilities. It has ‘community hub’ feel about it. Wealth a plenty, you get the feeling of ‘start up business with rapid growth’ which is very much the Harborough Town story.

The Game

The bees in all yellow are buzzing around the pitch from the off. They show intent, managed by Mitch Austin they look a bloody good side. Striker Riley O’Sullivan, tall, leggy, is powerful and direct. Josh Walsh in midfield has lovely feet, right winger Dempsey Arlott-John who I rated when at Ilkeston Town is attempting to take on his full back every time he gets the ball. Spalding don’t know what’s hit them, but somehow, they cling on.

The pace is frightening, both sets pressing hard, but there’s moments of real quality, mostly from the home team who pen in Spalding with some flashes across the goal, but Jimmy Dean’s side have ability too, Jamaica international Liam Moore is in defence, they have Dion Sembie-Ferris playing right back, he’s usually a winger but looks to be doing a good job defensively. A lad I watched play for St Albans City last season, whilst on loan from Colchester United, Alfie Bendle has recently signed, and he whips a wonderful ball into the box, where the bald-headed James Clifton heads home, a great goal, completely against the run of play, Spalding, are somehow, in the lead.

The Score

If anything, United improve after that goal, and look to use the speed they have on the break, in wide areas they are dangerous, as Yusifu Ceesay and Jack Roberts become more prominent. Roberts on the right is brilliant, he takes the ball down and shoots low inside the box, Elliott Taylor on his 200th appearance making a good save to deny him, it should really have been two.

After the break, it’s mostly Harborough attacking, but Spalding are clever, they look for their out ball in wide areas and you don’t really know how the remainder is going to evolve? The better team, with stronger personnel is clearly the home side who might have had a penalty when Moore got himself in a tangle, but the visitors have some bloody good players in attack, and give them space, they look to have enough quality to make you pay.

Spalding do actually have the ball in the back of the net, but offside is rightly called, before their Manager Jimmy Dean is red carded for an outburst at the official.

By now the darkening skies have seen substitutes below, the glowing green pitch has yellow pressing against white, former Brackley Town striker Danny Newton is now on for Harborough, so to is Brady Hickey, signed from Barwell where he's a local legend, whilst Jutorre Burgess on the left has also came off a bench filled of quality, but it’s a mainstay in Josh Walsh, who’s been brilliant today, who glides inside towards the edge of the box, his low shot right footed finally piercing Spalding resistance, to put Harborough level, they’ve probably deserved it, but you feel for Spalding who have been great in defending their lead.

Late on, you feel there’s more to come, but it seems a point is also fair reflection on both efforts, and although there’s chances at each end, the winning goal alludes both boxers, now fighting without the energy they had in the earlier rounds, after nine or ten minutes of injury time, I think everybody is just relieved that the point shared, is probably for the best all around.

The Stars

The game was littered with high quality from both goalkeepers to what each team had on their bench. I was impressed with a number of Harborough players, right back George Carline who they signed from Brackley Town, did well against a tough opponent in Yusifu Ceesay, who Spalding have signed from Hereford.

Eliot Putman on the opposite side was also solid, dependable, reliable, their defence lead by Connor Kennedy and the evergreen slightly barrelled Liam Dolman who looked to be their achilles heel, but at times shown maturity can sometimes outweigh pace, in midfield, Josh Walsh was my star performer, a player with real quality, who got his goal, but Devon Kelly-Evans in the 'Makelele role' kept them ticking, he played the ball simple, backwards, sidewards, and shown up in areas voided by others.

In attack, Riley O’Sullivan started well, but drifted, Dempsey Arlott-John was a constant menace until he took an elbow off Spalding enforcer Josh McCammon, who’s a player previously of Peterborough Sports and King's Lynn Town, who I really like for the level (and above).

For Spalding, I was mightily impressed with the finesse of their right winger Jack Roberts, good feet, quick, positive in his play, whilst defensively Connor Johnson beside Liam Moore did well.

The Verdict

I might just be three matches into my league season, but this was by far the best game I have seen so far, two very good sides, one I think, has the potential to go all the way, in Harborough Town, one I think, could push for playoffs, in Spalding United.

The town of Market Harborough should be very proud of this team right now, a growing dynasty which all feels very new and modern, I certainly think there’s room for further growth, a feel good factor in this Leicestershire football club, and there’s probably more still to come.

The Teams

Harborough Town: Elliott Taylor, George Carline, Elliot Putman, Liam Dolman, Connor Kennedy (Brady Hickey 62), Alex Morris, Devon Kelly-Evans, Josh Walsh, Riley O'Sullivan (Luis Rose 79), Ben Stephens (Danny Newton 57), Dempsey Arlott-John (Jutorre Burgess 55).

Spalding United: James Dadge, Dion Sembie-Ferris, Matthew Bondswell, Liam Moore, Connor Johnson, Alfie Bendle (Lamine Sherif 58), Jack Roberts (Jordan Nicholson 90), Dan Lawlor, Josh McCammon, James Clifton (Bart Cybulski 68), Yusifu Ceesay.

7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 12th August 2025, Bowden Park, Market Harborough (att: 650).