NOT many people know this ... but West Ham United manager David Moyes has crossed swords with Kidderminster Harriers before ... and finished up on the losing side!

Moyes was a budding young central defender with Preston North End at the time who took on the Harriers in their epic FA Cup Fourth Round tie at Aggborough prior to the headline clash with West Ham that was to follow.

Legendary Harriers striker Paul ' Ocker ' Davies remembers it all too well.

He recalls, "Preston were managed by John Beck at the time, who was regarded by many as a bit of a 'madman'

"Beck preached long ball football, route one if you like. Launch the ball at every opportunity!"

Moyes had the task of marking both Ocker Davies and Delwyn Humphreys during that fateful contest for Preston.

And Moyes would have been all too aware he was in for no easy ride that afternoon as the Harriers had already knocked out Birmingham City at St Andrews in the previous round.

Davies claimed: "When the draw was made to play Birmingham, I remember their director Karren Brady claiming 'Kidderminster Harriers - who are they? 

"We beat them 2-1 and people began to sit up and take notice of us"

Harriers followed up by knocking out Preston in the Fourth Round.

Davies adds: "We had a fair idea of what to expect and the tactics that Preston would employ to the point that manager Graham Allner devised a training session prior to the game where we just launched balls at the defence.

"Preston arrived at Aggborough on the Friday night before the game. They didn't ask permission, but just went straight on to the pitch.

"True to form, Preston just launched everything when the game started. I said to David Moyes, don't you lot ever pass the ball. He replied, 'You get fined if you do that!'

Harriers went onto beat Preston 1-0 but Ocker insisted: "To be fair, David Moyes was alright. He was a bit old school, but he was one of those players you could speak to and we had the odd exchange during the game. I do remember that after we'd beaten Preston, he was very magnanimous in defeat.

David Moyes meteoric rise through the managerial ranks is well documented - but whatever happened to Ocker Davies after that.

Kidderminster born and bred, Davies remained with his home town club.

The striker had previously spent several years with Cardiff City without ever really making the breakthrough into first team football and finished up out on loan with Trowbridge Town.

Brought back to Cardiff City by manager Len Ashurst, he was finally released by the Welshmen and had the chance to play in Holland.

But it's Kidderminster Harriers where he is best remembered and revered.

Strike partnerships with Kim Casey and Micky Tuohy  remain entrenched within  Harriers folklore to this day.

Davies reveals: "I had offers to go back into full time football. But I was an England Non League international and I was getting well paid at the time.

The prospect of playing in the Third and Fourth Divisions didn't really appeal to me.

"Harriers had a great side at the time and we still keep in touch today through our What's App group.

"We also played in front of some big crowds at the time. We must have attracted a gate of 4,000 just in the Fourth Qualifying Round.

"I've no regrets!