Welcome to our History page, where
you can learn all about Harwich and Parkeston FC right from when it was formed
in 1877, to the present day.
Harwich and
Parkeston F.C. was formed in 1877. The Shrimpers, as they are known, reached
their first final in 1890/91 when they lost to Clapton in the Essex Senior Cup.
They played at several difficult locations in the early days by, in 1898, they
purchased and moved to the present Royal Oak ground.
Harwich first came to fame in 1898/99 when they were runners up to Stockton in
the F.A. Amateur cup. During that same season the first major trophy was won
when they beat Leytonstone in the final of the Essex Senior Cup in front of a
crowd of 7,000.
The club again became prominent nationally in the 1930s. In season 1934/35 they
reached the first proper round of the F.A. cup losing 3-0 to Bristol Rovers at
Eastville. The following season, they joined the newly formed Eastern Counties
League, winning the League and Cup double. That season also saw a record
attendance at the Royal Oak - 4,700 in the derby against Ipswich Town.
After the war, it took a few seasons to rebuild but, eventually, in 1952/53 came
Harwich's finest hour when they appeared at Wembley in front of a crowd of
100,000 in the final of the F.A. Amateur Cup. Unfortunately, the injury hit side
could make no impression on the famous Combined Universities side, Pegasus, and
they went down 6-0.
The first proper round of the F.A. cup was reached on three more occasions
losing to Headington United (now Oxford), Torquay and Crystal Palace.
In 1965-66 they joined the Athenian League and after only two seasons reached
the Premier Division and were back in the top rank of non-league football.
However, further success proved elusive and in 1973/74 they moved to the newly
formed lsthmian league. In 1976/77 the first proper round of the F.A. cup was
again reached, going down 3-0 to Enfield after a 0-0 draw. The team continued to
struggle and in 1984/85 it was decided to return to the Eastern Counties League.
There was no immediate improvement in fortunes until 1989/90 when manager Richie
Powling led the side to victory in the Essex Senior Trophy and the Harwich
Charity Cup. The following season, the last eight of the F.A. Vase was reached
going down 2-0 to eventual finalists Gresley Rovers.
Harwich continued under the managerships of both Martin Head and Tony Kinsella
but despite playing attractive football, success proved elusive. In 1995/96,
Colin Hill took over the reins and in 1996/97 they achieved their first Eastern
Counties honours in 50 years when they won the league cup beating Haverhill
Rovers 2-0 in the final. In that same season, despite a strong challenge for the
League Championship, they could only manage to finish third behind Wroxham and
Wisbech.
A new Dressing-rooms and Boardroom complex was jointly opened in January 2003 by the President of the Essex County F.A. Mr Jack Hayward and Joe Royle, manager of Ipswich Town. At the end of that season, despite a late rally under the managership of Mitchell Springett, the team was relegated. However, after a few years exile, the Club regained its place in the Premier Division . By May 2005, a creditable mid-table position was achieved. Season 2005/06 Harwich finished second from bottom (21st) but were spared from relegation. Mick Formoy was subsequently appointed Manager for an initial two year term but has stood down to be replaced by Robbie May, with Mark Sharpe as coach.
