Rams Heritage Trust, in partnership with Field Lane Football Club, announced the launch of a memorial campaign for Derby football legend, Reginald ‘Reg’ Harrison, with the full support of his family and Derby County Football Club back in 2020.
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 bronze bust of Harrison, produced by celebrated sculptor Andy Edwards, now proudly sits at the top of a five-feet tall brick pillar plinth after it was installed at Pride Park Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
The plinth itself was provided by local construction entrepreneur Ian Hodgkinson with bricks from the Rams’ former Baseball Ground home.
Edwards was commissioned to produce the Brian Clough and Peter Taylor Statue, Steve Bloomer Bust and Dave Mackay statute at Pride Park Stadium in recent years and once again delivered a truly fitting tribute to an individual that contributed so much to the local community.
A private unveiling ceremony took place before Harrison’s family, as well as Derby’s first-team squad members Max Bird and Craig Forsyth, Chief Executive Officer Stephen Pearce and Club Ambassador Roger Davies, in the Main Reception at Pride Park Stadium.
Rams Heritage Trust was conceived in late 2019 as a result of a series of collaborations during the Club, City, Community exhibition at Gallery 5 in Derby Guildhall. Created by Derby County supporters and memorabilia collectors, the Trust is dedicated to promoting the club’s heritage through exhibitions, events and projects and involving fans and local community groups throughout.
They set up a fundraising campaign to raise the monies required to have the bust commissioned and they staggeringly smashed through the barrier in just four weeks.
Funds arrived from supporters in their droves as well as kind donations from Derby first-team pair Curtis Davies and Louie Sibley, former midfield duo Craig Bryson and Mason Mount and ex-Rams manager Frank Lampard.
Others to play their part included former Rams players Martyn Waghorn and Rory Delap, as well as various supporters’ groups and individuals associated with the club.
Rams Heritage Trust were determined and passionate to recognise the work of Harrison and his importance to football in Derby and plans to initially have the bust installed at Field Lane Football Club, one of the clubs he founded in 1982 and close to the family home in Alvaston where Reg resided until his passing, were shelved in order to bring the fitting tribute to a local legend to Pride Park Stadium.
Despite that decision, a fitting tribute to Harrison is due to be installed at Field Lane Football Club in the coming months and details will be shared by Rams Heritage Trust in due course.
Derby County would like to congratulate Rams Heritage Trust in seeing their dream become a reality and for their continued efforts to promoting the heritage of their football club.
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.