Today we feature Bobby Harding who joined the club in September 1980, making his debut against Wycombe Wanderers, in a match played at Epping Town’s Stonard Hill ground as our Sportcentre ground was unavailable.
Harding started his career at Arsenal and was a member of the England Youth squad in season 1970-71. He remained with the Gunners’ until the end of the 1974-75 season, although he never managed to break into the first team. However, he was a non-playing substitute in Arsenal’s European Cup quarter final against Ajax in 1972. Injury cut short his professional career and he went on to play for Ilford and then Enfield, from who he joined the club.
Harding was a tremendously popular player who scored his fair share of goals from the wing, often in a poor Harlow side. After the club’s relegation in 1981-82 he remained with the club and his experience was used to great effect as the young side won promotion at the first attempt. On a personal note I can remember talking with Bobby after our relegation and he made me a promise that he would help get us promoted the next season and it was therefore very fitting that it was Harding’s solitary goal at Hampton that finally clinched our promotion the following April.
Bobby stayed with the club for a further two seasons before moving on to local rivals Bishop’s Stortford in March 1985. He later had a spell with Hendon before going into management with Essex Intermediate League outfit Ongar Town. He has since been assistant manager at Tilbury before taking over as manager of Witham Town.
In total Bobby made 165 appearances for the club, scoring 47 goals.
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