A THIRD season in the Football League will mark an action-packed 10 years for Kidderminster Harriers.

In that time, the Aggborough men won the Conference twice, reached the FA Cup fifth round and flirted with relegation to the Dr Martens League.

The non-league drama has been put behind them, yet there have been few quiet moments as they bid to establish themselves as a Division Three club.

For many, the dream of Kidderminster becoming a full-time professional outfit was prematurely dashed in 1994.

That was when Harriers, managed by Graham Allner, were denied promotion after failing to meet a deadline for the required number of seats at Aggborough.

Harriers, able to host West Ham United in the FA Cup last 16 but not Third Division games, were left demoralised.

Three years later, the Worcestershire side bounced back but were pipped to the post by Macclesfield.

After two huge body blows, it all started to turn sour for long-serving Allner who had turned Harriers into one of non-league's top clubs since taking over in 1983.

They were not far from joining Worcester in the regional leagues in 1998, evoking memories of a last-day relegation escape six years earlier.

Allner did not survive the following season and with him went his trademark 4-3-3 formation.

Harriers stayed afloat in 15th position under former player Phil Mullen's temporary spell.

But fans were in for a treat as ambitious chairman Lionel Newton's money ensured the arrival of Liverpool legend Jan Molby and later a key leader on the field in Mike Marsh.

Kidderminster romped away with the title in 2000 after a slow start and larger-than-life Molby was an instant hero.

They would have to admit to various mistakes during the first two years of Football League consolidation.

But Harriers still coped admirably at the higher level and promised a play-off push on occasions.

They finished 16th in 2001, mainly due to poor form from January onwards.

Molby's men started brilliantly, Stewart Hadley's goal making history as the club beat Torquay 2-0 in the Division Three opener at Aggborough.

They only lost five times in the league before Christmas with impressive wins at Brighton and Darlington.

But the players, many new to regular action at this standard, ran out of steam at times and found goals hard to come by.

Harriers recovered from a bad start to their second Football League season to mount a play-off challenge, sparked by a 4-1 thrashing of York in October.

But the loss of Molby to Hull City, along with assistant Gary Barnett, was a bitter blow for fans who were unhappy with events surrounding his departure.

And there were few cheers when reserve and youth team chief Ian Britton took his place as "the best value for money".

But the reality was cash-strapped Harriers were now without Newton's money and also lost out through the ITV Digital cash row.

Newton, upset with big businesses, stay-away supporters and Wyre Forest District Council, resigned from the board before Molby left.

New chairman, Aggborough stalwart Colin Youngjohns, and his board had to sort out the cash leak that had set in over previous years.

The financial strains have hit hard with both office and playing staff axed alongside the loss of the long-running reserve team.

It promises to make the third season in Division Three one of the toughest yet.

But Harriers still have plenty of talented players at their disposal and should have little to fear unless an injury crisis strikes.