Derby County Community Trust’s new hub at Pride Park Stadium, the Community Corner, will be named after Derby County legend Reg Harrison, as ‘Harrison’s Hub’.
The name was suggested unanimously by fans when the request was put to supporters on social media earlier this week, with many citing his community work, alongside his outstanding playing career, as the perfect reason to pay testament to him through the new community venue.
Before his death in 2020, aged 97, Harrison was the last surviving member of Derby County’s 1946 FA Cup winning team and he rightly holds a proud place in the club’s long and illustrious history.
The hub, for the short-term at least, will be pop-up venue for the Community Trust, who are looking to expand their work this winter to help participants through the cost-of-living crisis.
‘Harrison’s Hub’ is set to open on Monday 14th November, where several the Community Trust’s projects will then operate from.
This includes Team Talk - male mental wellbeing support, Extra Time Hub - older people’s coffee morning, Sporting Memories - dementia support, Active Choices - drug and alcohol rehabilitation support, Menopause Matters - the new female support programme, and the food donation hub, which ran throughout COVID-19 lockdowns, will be reintroduced.
Harrison’s family will attend the hub’s opening and there will be commemorative memorabilia installed in the venue for supporters to find out more about his community work.
About Reg Harrison
Born on 22nd May 1923 in Normanton, Reg Harrison is perhaps best known for his appearance in Derby County’s victorious 1946 FA Cup Final, where his beloved team defeated Charlton Athletic 4-1 as they lifted the trophy for the first and only time.
Harrison played for Derby from the age of 16 as an amateur and signed his professional papers in 1944 whilst serving in the Royal Engineers during the Second World War. He remained at the Rams until 1955 before moving onto Boston United and later Long Eaton United.
A right winger by trade, he played 281 games for Derby at first-team level and scored 59 goals during his 11 years with the Rams. During World War Two he served with the Royal Engineers, serving as an Army training officer based in England. He guested for Sheffield United, Notts County, Charlton Athletic and Hartlepools United during the war.
After hanging up his boots, Harrison remained in football for a few years as a manager before focusing his career on setting up centres for young people in Derby.
Harrison started in the Derby Leisure Services as a leader at Stockbrook community centre before moving to Chesapeake and later Field Lane. As well as his exploits for the city’s premier footballing side, he also dedicated much of his life to developing grass roots football in Derby and established football teams at each of the community centres where he worked.
Many of those who fondly share memories of Harrison today remember a humble and passionate man who gave assistance and support on and off the pitch while dedicating his life to improving local communities. His achievements were honoured by Derby City Council in 2019 when he was awarded the Freedom of the City of Derby.
A great testament to his legacy is that all of those clubs established by Harrison are still flourishing today.
Rams Heritage Trust, in partnership with Field Lane Football Club, oversaw a fundraising campaign during COVID-19 to have a bronze bust of Harrison created. It was installed at Pride Park Stadium earlier this season and proudly sits at the top of a five-feet tall brick pillar plinth.