KIDDY AIM TO SETTLE AN OLD SCORE
THE last Kidderminster team to tackle West Ham in the FA Cup might be enshrined in folklore but the players are still pondering what might have been 28 years on.
Midfield maestro Richard Forsyth was a key part of the Harriers side that conquered all-comers in the Conference and saw off Birmingham City and Preston North End before bowing out to the Hammers in the fifth round in 1994.
Graham Allner’s heroes were lavished with praise despite Lee Chapman deciding the tie 1-0 but that has not stopped a nagging sense lingering for more than a quarter of a century.
“We got together recently, the lads from that team, and I have to say our memories are tinged with a little bit of disappointment because we had the opportunity to win the game,” said Forsyth.
“Dare I say it, it was actually a pretty boring 0-0 until they scored. Being the underdogs we were happy with that at the time but looking back, if we had performed as well as we could have, we might have got something more out of it.
“It was one of those games, there was nothing in it for a long time. Even when they scored, Jon Purdie went through and should have had a blatant penalty.
“We gave a good account of ourselves but we still wonder whether we might have got a bit more from it, at least a draw to take them back to Upton Park.
“West Ham had a top team but we had a good side, we were top of the league and at home so we always felt we had a chance.”
Who could blame them after that run, including seeing off a Preston side that featured current West Ham boss David Moyes.
“They were a horrible side,” added Forsyth.
“They would just lump it in behind, typical John Beck (Preston manager at the time) type of football, but we had done our homework and to be honest we were comfortable in that game.
“The side had a good balance and it was used to winning. It was a young side as well, there were not many players over 30.
“The Birmingham game at St Andrew’s was the big one, a really big memory for everyone.
“When you look at it all, there are so many links. (West Ham owners) David Sullivan and David Gold owned Birmingham at the time, you have David Moyes and then there is Mike Marsh who played for West Ham who then came to Kidderminster and won the Conference.”
Kiddy’s current crop scalped Championship Reading to tee up a fourth-round showdown with the Hammers this time, following on from defying National North status to topple National League promotion chasers Grimsby Town and FC Halifax Town.
Forsyth points out that the Premier League has also moved on to a different stratosphere, making for an even bigger chasm for Russ Penn’s men to bridge but he is keen to see them take a leap of faith.
“Football has moved on massively,” he said.
“West Ham can now get some of the best players in Europe with the money spent in the Premier League.
“It is a very tough game for them, no question, but I just hope they give a good account of themselves like we did.
“Russ has got a good, entertaining side and if they can give them a game you never know. This is the FA Cup.
“The surface at Aggborough is absolutely fantastic. When we played the pitch, like many others, was not great at that time of year and it was a leveller.
“West Ham will look at what is there now and think it is decent but one advantage the current side has over ours is being full-time, having that time on the training ground.
“That was evident against Halifax and Reading, neither of them could break Kiddy down and that was credit to the discipline of Russ and the team. If they can get a goal and do that against West Ham, fitness levels will not be a problem.”