Harriers and Stourbridge paid tribute to former Manager, Alan Grundy, prior to the 2018 FA Cup clash between the two teams at the War Memorial Ground.
Grundy sadly passed away days before the tie, and is fondly remembered by both clubs, with whom he held the post as manager during the 1970s.
The Glassboys flourished under Grundy’s management in the Southern League, winning the Division One North in 1974 as the division’s most prolific goalscorers – an accolade in itself worth an additional trophy, the Merit Cup, in those days.
He arrived at Aggborough in the autumn of 1977 and steered the club, after a difficult start, to a very respectable eighth-place finish on 40 points. The following close season, he secured the signing of striker Ray Haywood from Northampton Town who, alongside one Phil Mullen, provided to be deadly to say the very least. In the 1977/78 campaign, Haywood alone notched 30 goals in 40 games as Harriers went on to finish seventh in the Southern League (North) and reach the finals of both the Worcestershire and Staffordshire FA Senior Cup, in addition to a Welsh Cup Fifth Round double against Cardiff City, the Bluebirds eventually triumphing in a replay.
There was then a ninth-place finish under Grundy and a new Chairman and Board for Harriers in 1978/79, after the club were rocked by the sudden and tragic death of Chairman, Bill Greaves. The following term began with unsettled form for the Reds, who were indifferent at the start of a maiden Southern League (Midland) campaign and suffered early exits from the FA and League Cup. That led to Grundy’s departure, as he was replaced at the helm by his assistant, John Chambers.
Under his stewardship, both clubs enjoyed memorable periods at much-celebrated times in their respective histories, and as such his loss was keenly felt.