IT is certainly the end of an era to many Harriers supporters with the closure of The Bill Greaves Terrace or Cowshed, as it is more fondly known by many, for the building of a new all-seater stand.

While appreciating the need to progress and abide by the league's ruling to have more seating in the stadium, many fans feel there should have been more consultation with them as regards the make-up of the new stand.

They feel it could have been split evenly between seating and standing areas as it was in the old main stand, thus giving many loyal supporters the choice.

With the stand being all-seater no doubt admission prices will be increased and I hope on this issue chairman Colin Youngjohns shows his appreciation to the fans for their loyalty over the years.

I began my association with the Harriers and the cowshed just over 40 years ago - it contained both seating and standing areas then.

The club was at one of the lowest points of its illustrious history, bankrupt and relegated from the Southern League.

Under secretary Ted Gamson, coach Stan Lloyd and hard-working committee members, the team established itself in the West Midlands League.

During the mid-60s to mid-70s, we won the league, league cup and other cups many times to become one of the top Midlands non-league clubs of that time.

I recall players like Tony Wilcox, Stuart Logan, Fred Buxton, Harold Cox, Tony Eden, Jimmy Henderson, Dave Gilbert, John Henderson, Vic Cockcroft, Bobby Watson and the brilliant Wassalls, Brendan and Peter.

During the late 70s, the club went through another bad patch due to finances but were resurrected by chairman Dave Reynolds who appointed John Chambers as manager and then Graham Allner.

Over the last 20 years the club has continued to rise with Conference triumphs, FA Trophy finals, an FA Cup run and, to cap it all, Football League status. It's a record everyone can be truly proud of.

A final tip from the Cowshed for manager Ian Britton - keep up the good work, revert to a back four and we'll make the play offs.

A NORTH (Cowshed boo-boy)

Windsor Drive

Stourport

In the 1920s I was born and bred in a house, which has since been demolished, in Hoo Road close to Aggborough.

As a lad I became friendly with the Blake brothers whose family lived in the house in the Aggborough complex.

Their father was Billy Blake, the then-Harriers captain, a painter and decorator by trade.

He formed a team, including his two sons and myself, and we repainted the outside of the old Cowshed in the Harriers colours in the late 20s or early 30s.

I became a regular supporter, home and away, in the Birmingham League days and often used the Cowshed as a shield against the elements.

FJ WHITEHOUSE

Berkeley Crescent

Stourport

The Cowshed was a place with seating up until the early 1950s.

Terraced by virtue of having wooden shuttering on an earth base, it had planked, back-less benches.

Cinder or grass-track motorcycle racing was a feature pre-war and post-war at Aggborough. I remember the Sneads who rode in white overalls.

The Cowshed would have been a good vantage point, allowing one to watch without getting showered with dirt.

When the cycle track was built in about 1951, it was never banked steeply enough so it was a white elephant.

At one of the few cycle races, I was stood in the Cowshed when a horrendous crash occurred. There were smashed bikes and many riders injured.

For some years you could still see the coloured marks on the tarmac track following the crash.

It certainly housed a pretty vocal crowd on football match days.

BRIAN GITTINS

Chaddesley Road

Kidderminster