Harpenden Rovers F.C. - Founded 1928

News Headlines

Harpenden Rovers success over recent years continues in 2002 with 4 of the teams in the club reaching a total of 5 Cup Finals and winning 4!

The Saturday First team WON their first Bingham Cox Final in 40 years at St. Albans City ground, Clarence Park, on Easter Monday, beating much fancied Colney Athletic 2-0. As defending champions of the Mid-Herts Premier Division, they finished a respectable if somewhat disappointing 3rd this year, one place behind Colney.

The Sunday First team WON the Knockout Cup Final beating three teams from the Premier Division along the way. In the top half of the first division at the time, they came back to beat Premiership challengers London Road Social 3-1 in the semi-final. This following an incident after only 15 minutes, resulting in Rovers having a player sent off and going 0-1 down to a penalty. They then went on to beat the eventual Premier Division runners-up Parkwood United 1-0 in the final. They will be playing these teams again next year, but this time in the league, having won promotion as Division One runners-up.

The Saturday Reserves reached and WON two Cup Finals. The divisional Benevolent Cup took place on the 23rd March against the eventual division runners-up The Baton. A very close game ended 2-2 aet (1-1 after 90 mins), and was won 3-1 on penalties. The Reserve Charity Shield on the 6th April was a more comfortable victory winning 2-0 in normal time against Division Two side Elizabeth Allen 'A'. The Reserves finished 4th in Division One.

The Saturday 'A' (3rd) team reached their divisional Cup Final, the Charity Cup, for the second year running. Unfortunately they also lost for the second year running, losing 5-4 on penalties to London Colney 'A' following a 1-1 draw after full and extra time. They should have won the game in normal time, but for a series of excellent saves, mainly with his feet, from the opposition keeper frustrating the Harpenden side. They almost reached the Reserve Shield final as well but lost out to our Reserve (2nd) team in an enthralling semi-final between the two sides which finished 5-3 (3-3 at half-time). A strong run in the 2nd half of the season saw the team finish a very worthy 3rd place in Division Two.