Latest news with #Harborough
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Proposal to build 170 homes on edge of Fleckney
Developers have submitted plans to build 170 homes on the edge of Wilson Homes wants to construct the properties on a 18.6 acre (7.5 hectares) area of farmland to the north of the officers at Harborough District Council are considering the scheme for a site off Long Grey and Garner Way. Documents lodged with the authority said the company proposed 40% of the homes would be affordable properties. They also said the new estate would include areas of green space, including allotments.A decision on the planning application is expected to be made later this planning application has been submitted for a further 170 homes on an adjacent field, off Leicester Road, which officers are considering.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shootout win keeps Kettering promotion hopes alive
Two clubs, just 12 miles apart, both made headlines this season by reaching the FA Cup second round. But on Wednesday night it was Kettering Town who came out on top against Harborough Town in the most dramatic of circumstances to keep their Southern League Premier Central play-off hopes alive. Advertisement The Poppies won 4-3 on penalties following a goalless draw, despite failing to score with either of their first two spot-kicks, and will now host AFC Telford United in the play-off final on Monday, May 5 (15:00 BST) with a place in the National League North or South next season at stake. "I didn't watch it - I had my back turned. I did see one go in [but that's all]," Kettering manager Richard Lavery told BBC Radio Northampton. "We did practice penalties but that was in front of no crowd. This was a big occasion, nearly 3,000 fans, and nobody in that entire ground - Harborough fans included - can say we didn't deserve to win that game. "We had plenty of chances and you've got to take one of them - it wasn't to be. Extra time we had a few more chances, then it goes to penalties and the first ones weren't great, we missed a couple, but it doesn't matter - we're through to the final." Advertisement Kettering, who knocked out League One neighbours Northampton Town in the first round of the FA Cup, had home advantage at Latimer Park by virtue of finishing second in Southern League Premier Central. But their opponents were boosted by the return of former Tottenham and Brazil midfielder Sandro, who appeared for Harborough in their 5-3 FA Cup defeat by Reading after a chance meeting with manager Mitch Austin. Sandro came out of retirement to play for Harborough in the FA Cup [BBC Sport] It proved to be an unhappy evening for the 36-year-old who was one of four Bees players who failed to score in the shootout. "It was amazing to be here with the boys. We need to be proud of ourselves because they gave 100%. Penalties, it's unlucky," Sandro told BBC Radio Leicester. Advertisement Asked why he had returned for the play-offs, the Brazilian said: "We created a very good connection. It was amazing to be part of the FA Cup game and I said 'let me be involved again'. For me it was a dream to come here and play in front of the fans again." The score was 3-3 when Sandro stepped up for his penalty, but he shot wide and Connor Johnson eventually settled the tie with Kettering's seventh spot-kick. "I didn't feel the pressure, I just tried to put it in the corner and it was a little bit out. I'm not good on penalties. But it will always be in my heart, this experience," he added. Kettering are hoping to return to the second tier of non-league football for the first time since being relegated in 2023, but face tough opposition in Telford who went through by beating Halesowen 3-2. Advertisement Lavery was assistant to Marcus Law the last time Kettering won promotion to National League North in 2019. He returned to the club in February last year as their third manager in four months and his appointment was followed three months later by the arrival of the ambitious George Akhtar as Kettering's new owner. They took four points from their two games against Telford in the regular season, but Lavery is taking nothing for granted before Monday's game, also at Latimer Park. "Telford are a good side - I don't underestimate anybody. That was a tough one [against Harborough], but we'll regroup again. We've got one more game to go - nothing's won yet," he added.
BBC News
01-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Shootout win keeps Kettering promotion hopes alive
Two clubs, just 12 miles apart, both made headlines this season by reaching the FA Cup second on Wednesday night it was Kettering Town who came out on top against Harborough Town in the most dramatic of circumstances to keep their Southern League Premier Central play-off hopes Poppies won 4-3 on penalties following a goalless draw, despite failing to score with either of their first two spot-kicks, and will now host AFC Telford United in the play-off final on Monday, May 5 (15:00 BST) with a place in the National League North or South next season at stake."I didn't watch it - I had my back turned. I did see one go in [but that's all]," Kettering manager Richard Lavery told BBC Radio Northampton."We did practice penalties but that was in front of no crowd. This was a big occasion, nearly 3,000 fans, and nobody in that entire ground - Harborough fans included - can say we didn't deserve to win that game."We had plenty of chances and you've got to take one of them - it wasn't to be. Extra time we had a few more chances, then it goes to penalties and the first ones weren't great, we missed a couple, but it doesn't matter - we're through to the final."Kettering, who knocked out League One neighbours Northampton Town in the first round of the FA Cup, had home advantage at Latimer Park by virtue of finishing second in Southern League Premier their opponents were boosted by the return of former Tottenham and Brazil midfielder Sandro, who appeared for Harborough in their 5-3 FA Cup defeat by Reading after a chance meeting with manager Mitch Austin. It proved to be an unhappy evening for the 36-year-old who was one of four Bees players who failed to score in the shootout."It was amazing to be here with the boys. We need to be proud of ourselves because they gave 100%. Penalties, it's unlucky," Sandro told BBC Radio why he had returned for the play-offs, the Brazilian said: "We created a very good connection. It was amazing to be part of the FA Cup game and I said 'let me be involved again'. For me it was a dream to come here and play in front of the fans again."The score was 3-3 when Sandro stepped up for his penalty, but he shot wide and Connor Johnson eventually settled the tie with Kettering's seventh spot-kick."I didn't feel the pressure, I just tried to put it in the corner and it was a little bit out. I'm not good on penalties. But it will always be in my heart, this experience," he are hoping to return to the second tier of non-league football for the first time since being relegated in 2023, but face tough opposition in Telford who went through by beating Halesowen 3-2. Lavery was assistant to Marcus Law the last time Kettering won promotion to National League North in returned to the club in February last year as their third manager in four months and his appointment was followed three months later by the arrival of the ambitious George Akhtar as Kettering's new took four points from their two games against Telford in the regular season, but Lavery is taking nothing for granted before Monday's game, also at Latimer Park."Telford are a good side - I don't underestimate anybody. That was a tough one [against Harborough], but we'll regroup again. We've got one more game to go - nothing's won yet," he added.
Reuters
19-04-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Non-league game in England attracts 100 Spanish supporters
April 19 (Reuters) - Harborough Town's humble ground in Leicestershire became a destination for more than 100 Spanish fans who made the trip to watch the seventh-tier club take on St Ives Town. Harborough Town fans were stunned last Saturday when the foreigners, donning the team's yellow shirt, joined them in the stands and chanted in Spanish throughout the game, despite Harborough's 2-1 defeat. The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here. The group were subscribers to the Spanish YouTube channel La Media Inglesa (LMI) dedicated to English football, which has previously taken fans to games at Brighton & Hove Albion and Sheffield United, but this time they brought an unexpected twist to the UK's soccer tourism. "Our aim was to transform a small local English club into a small local club with a global fanbase," LMI founder Ilie Oleart told the BBC on Friday. "We thought they were the perfect club with the right values to share with our audience. It was certainly the best trip we have had so far." Alvaro Sanz, another fan from Spain, added: "Quite a few local fans joined us, and we even taught them some chants in Spanish." According to marketing agency Two Circles,, opens new tab 80.2 million fans attended professional sports in the UK in 2023. Soccer made up two-thirds of that number, with the Premier League (15.8 million) accounting for one in five of all sports attendances. Harborough chairman Pete Dougan said a partnership with LMI was an "opportunity to grow our fanbase and income" and added the team would visit Barcelona and Madrid for a pre-season tour in July.
