Zak Brown ready to use his National League experience to get Kidderminster Harriers flying again

Kidderminster Harriers won promotion from the National League North in 2026 and will take their place back in the fifth tier for the first time since 2015. 

It's a long overdue comeback from the former Football League club, and as they take their place among the National League sides, they'll have a returning face of their own to aid their new season cause. 

Zak Brown will form part of Harriers' squad for 2026-27, having spent last season at Brackley Town in what was a disappointing season that saw Brackley relegated to the National League South. 

However, the midfielder believes the experience has been a learning curve for him as a player and one he takes into the new campaign back at 'his' club. 

"It was tough. It was gruelling. But I think you gain valuable experience from it," Brown exclusively tells DAZN News when looking back at last term.

"I'm 25 now, turning 26, so I feel like I'm turning the stage in my career where I can add valuable experience and hopefully help some of the younger lads.

"When you're in a relegation scrap, it's tough, you know. It's tough mentally. It's tough physically.

"But, you know, it's all about using that and using that to my advantage, and hopefully it's better this time around.

"I'm just raring to go, to be honest. I'm buzzing to be back at Kidderminster. I love the club. So it's just all gearing towards a successful season, hopefully." 

KHFC

Their play-off win over South Shields was masterminded by Adam Murray, but after taking the club back up, Murray vacated his post for the job at Barrow, and instead Harriers go into the new season under the watch of Paul Wotton. 

Wotton has experienced the highs and lows at this level with both Truro and Torquay, but he has already impressed Brown in his early weeks at Aggborough Stadium. 

"I think he's been excellent, to be fair. He's brought the group together, and everyone's looking really fit and hungry and ambitious.

"And I think you need that blend in a group. And I think, yeah, we're all really positive, and we're all just looking really forward to the season to start.

"When you're a footballer, and you know exactly what you have to do for the manager and for your teammates."

Together, Brown and his new boss's first aim will be to keep Kidderminster in the division this season, after such a long time away. 

KHFC

However, as was evident last season, the promoted teams used their momentum and surprised many of the teams' so-called bigger names, with both Boreham Wood and Scunthorpe among the promotion contenders for most of the campaign. 

And while no one at the club is suggesting a push in the upper echelon of the league, Brown isn't ruling it out.

"When you look at what those teams did, yeah, 100 per cent, it makes you want to try and do the same.

"But I think it's important just to take it game by game and you never know what you can achieve with a good group and good momentum.

"And I think, yeah, I think it's definitely possible. It's just having the belief in the group and the execution to come with it.

"I just love winning; that's the most important thing. I think that my target is just winning games and being a part of it. And hopefully we do that."

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