Harrowby United: The Forgotten Saviours

There are moments in football history when the bright lights of success cast shadows over the men who first fought to keep the flame alive. At Harrowby United, before the rise of the Nick Anderson and Kevin Davies years, there was a period where extinction stared the club in the face. It was in that critical moment that three names must never be forgotten: Steve Joseph, Adam Nugent, and Kevin Davies.

Back then, Big Steve stood at the helm as manager. He was more than a gaffer—he was the backbone, the anchor of belief when the club’s future looked perilous. Alongside him was Adam Nugent, then a young and rising coach from Peterborough United (the Posh), who brought a modern eye to grassroots football and refused to let Harrowby slip into oblivion. And shoulder to shoulder with him was Kevin Davies, not yet the celebrated Harrowby figure but already sharpening his coaching craft at Lincoln City.

Together, this trio formed an unlikely but formidable guardianship. They battled off-field struggles, rallied dwindling resources, and built a culture of togetherness. They weren’t just protecting a football club—they were protecting a piece of community heritage. And in that era of survival, Nicky Egan shone brightest on the pitch. A performer with flair and fight, he embodied the spirit of Harrowby’s determination, turning hard times into memorable moments for the faithful few on the touchlines.

It is easy, in hindsight, to celebrate the successes that followed under Nick Anderson and the later Davies reign. But history must be honest: without Joseph’s leadership, Nugent’s vision, and Davies’ grit during those dark days, there might have been no Harrowby United left to celebrate at all.

At The Dale Blues, we salute the forgotten saviours. Their story is the bedrock on which today’s successes were built.

Harrowby United lives because they refused to let it die.