Nickname(s) The Harps Founded 1891 | Chairman Paul Naismith | |
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Full name Harpenden Town Football Club Ground Rothamsted Park
Harpenden 2015–16 Spartan South Midlands League Division One, 4th League Spartan South Midlands Football League Division One | ||
Harpenden Town Football Club is a football club based in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, England. It was established in 1891 and was the founding member of the Herts County League in 1898. It has reached the Second Round of the FA Vase twice in its history. It is currently a member of the Spartan South Midlands League Division One.
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History
The club was established in 1891 as Harpenden F.C. and became founder members of the Herts County League in 1898. However, the club left after two seasons, and changed its name to the current one in 1908.
The club rejoined the league in the Western Division for the 1908–09 season, winning the league in 1910–11, but losing the playoff against the Eastern champions. The following season the club repeated their league win, but this time won the playoff to become overall champions. In 1912–13, the club finished runners-up in the Western Division, and in 1920–21, won the league but finished third in the playoff. The club left the league in 1922, only to return in 1948.
Upon their return into the league, Harpenden Town was placed in Division One, which they won in 1950–51, 1952–53 and 1954–55, while finishing runners-up in the years between. The club was placed in Division 1A in 1955–56 for a transitional season, and finished runners-up before being placed into the Premier Division the following season due to a reorganisation of the league. In 1957, Harpenden left the Herts County League to join the South Midlands League Premier Division.
The club won the South Midlands League Premier Division in 1961–62 and 1964–65, and finished runners-up in 1969–70, but were relegated to Division One in 1973. However, this lasted only one season as the club finished third and were promoted back to the Premier Division. Harpenden were relegated again in 1982, and returned only after winning Division One in 1989–90.
In 1997–98, the club became founder members of the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division North. They were relegated to the Senior Division in 2000 (the league was renamed Division One in 2001). The club spent three seasons in the Premier Division after finishing runners-up in 2002–03, but returned to Division One in 2006.
During the Summer of 2013 Steve Fakes took over as Chairman and Simon Andrews was appointed first team Manager. The Club announced their plans to redevelop the infrastructure at Rothamsted Park to ensure that the facilities were adequate to support the push for promotion to the Premier Division. In December 2013 Danny Plumb took over as First team Manager having previously been assistant manager to Simon Andrews.
Ground
The club's home ground is Rothamsted Park.