STOURBRIDGE lad Colin Gordon is hoping Kidderminster Harriers will ensure a happy homecoming in Saturday’s mouth watering FA Cup fourth qualifying round clash.

Gordon, who is Kiddy’s director of football development, knows the Glassboys well.

As a local boy he grew up watching his heroes and at the end of a successful Football League career, which took him to a host of clubs including Swindon, Wimbledon and Birmingham, he even turned out in a handful games for his hometown side.

He then took over as Glassboys manager in the Southern League Midlands but after a mixed start to the 1995-96 season he parted ways when chairman Morton Bartleet took control of team affairs.

"I was very young manager, I was only 31 and I was also doing some coaching at Walsall and Wolverhampton Wanderers,” said Gordon.

"Stourbridge were in the Midlands Division and we were doing okay but the chairman Morton Bartleet wanted to go a different way and that was it.

"But I was too inexperienced, you need a big contacts book and you only get two nights a week in training, or less if there's a midweek game.

"I was better off coaching but after that I went into representing players, although it has come full circle in many respects coming back to Harriers."

While Harriers are two divisions above Stourbridge, who play in the Northern League Premier, fans are anticipating a close game.

Kiddy are bottom of the Vanarama National League and have yet to win a game, while the Glassboys boast a host of experienced ex-professionals in Brian Smikle, Justin Richards and Karl Hawley and are flying high.

Gordon said: "It's going to be very close to be honest, Gary Hackett has done a great job and they are going very well.

"I am a Stourbridge lad and I know him very well, we used to play against each other in our school district sides and were at Bromsgrove Rovers at the same time.

"We are in transition at the moment and Stourbridge have a very experienced team but it's going to be a great game for the fans."

Harriers have already sold all of their 300 ticket allocation for the big game. Fans queued up from before 9am to ensure their place at the FA Cup clash.