CUP fever has gripped the town after tickets for Kidderminster Harriers’ big match against neighbours Stourbridge FC sold out in quick time.

Supporters have snapped up the Reds’ total allocation of more than 400 away tickets for the FA Cup clash at the War Memorial Ground, in Amblecote, which kicks off at 3pm on Saturday.

The club were initially handed just over 300 tickets for the game, which sold out in less than four hours after they went on sale to season ticket holders last Saturday (October 17).

But, after Harriers’ chiefs requested more tickets from Stourbridge to cater for demand, 105 went on sale on Wednesday (October 21) morning – selling out in around 20 minutes.

Club bosses said they were delighted with the backing from supporters, particularly given their tough start to the season which has seen them winless after 18 games in the Vanarama National League.

Matt Paddock, Kidderminster Harriers’ Communications Manager, said: “This is a fantastic response from our supporters who clearly want to get behind the team.

“Knowing the support we have, we politely requested more tickets from Stourbridge because we were confident we would be able to take more than the 300 or so originally allocated.

“We were delighted when they agreed and released more tickets for us. It has been incredible and it is a privilege for the club to have such supporters.

“The 300 sold out on Saturday in around four hours and then the extra tickets on Wednesday were gone in just 20 minutes.

“People in Kidderminster are well up for this game, especially as we have not played Stourbridge competitively since the mid-1980s. There is also the novelty of them being our neighbours from just eight miles down the road so it is very much a local derby.”

He added that, given Harriers’ struggling start to the season, the reaction from the public was even more remarkable.

“The chairman and the board made it clear from the start that this would be a difficult season but the supporters have been very patient and understanding of what we are trying to do by stabilising off the pitch and trying to get results on it.

“But this match is a change from the league and, if we could get a result on Saturday, it could be the springboard we need for our season.

“Given the league we are in, some people might think we are favourites and that it should be easy but nothing could be further from the truth.

“Stourbridge have been playing well, especially at home, so it is on a knife-edge. Anything can happen in the FA Cup.”