Player Profile – Harry Viggars

James Grayson

4 years ago

Harry Viggars has spent nearly the whole of Non League career with Hemsworth Miners Welfare

Harry Viggars has been one of the best Northern Counties East League Premier Division centre-halves for the past five years.

Apart from a brief stint with Ossett United in 2020, he’s been with Hemsworth Miners Welfare for almost forever after coming through their under 19s and he’s played a key role in their rise from the lower reaches of Division One to Premier Division promotion contenders. He’s the subject of this week’s Player Profile.

Name

Harry Viggars

Current Club

Hemsworth Miners Welfare

Age

Previous Clubs

Ossett United, Pontefract Collieries

Day Job

Greenkeeper

Best Mate in Football

Harry Viggars celebrates scoring for Hemsworth. Picture: Peter Murden

Met too many good lads over the years through football. Grown up playing with local lads though Nash Connolly, Cameron Clark and Adam Wilson.

Team you support

Barnsley

Football Idol

Steven Gerrard

Biggest Influence on footballing career

Former Hemsworth Miners Welfare manager Wayne Benn has been a major part of Viggars’ Non League career

Benno/Chick/Harty (Wayne Benn, Andy Hayward, Andy Hart) for well over 7 years. Shaun Pugh as well, he brought a great set of lads through at Hemsworth (as under 19s manager).

Career Highlight

Being at Barnsley academy for three years.

Lowest Moment in Football

Harry Viggars (left) gestures at his Hemsworth team-mates after Kieran Ryan’s goal in a defeat at Emley in 2016. Picture: Mark Parsons

Tearing my ligaments away at Penistone or when Ponty Colls pipped us to promotion (in 2015). They beat us at home to more or less seal it.

Most Memorable Match

Defender Harry Viggars won two of three trophy at Hemsworth’s end of season party following their 2016 promotion to the NCEL Premier Division

Hemsworth defender Harry Viggars battles with Ossett Albion striker Jimmy Eyles

Ossett’s second goal-scorer Jimmy Eyles attempts to hold off Harry Viggars in 2016

Harry Viggars (right) in action for Hemsworth in 2016

Harry Viggars in action for Hemsworth at Knaresborough. Picture: Craig Dinsdale

Had so many great wins/days but getting promoted (NCEL Division One) away at Dronfield (in 2016) and the last minute winner against Liversedge in Danville/Harty’s first game in charge.

Funniest Moment in Football

Chicks retirement game was quality. Hemsworth took a bus full of fans all wearing a Chick face mask. Luke Danville was in the net and Benno was wearing an elephant costume in the stands. Somehow we won 2-1.

First semi-professional manager and club

Brendon Ormsby at Pontefract

Former Leeds United captain Brendon Ormsby was Viggars’ first Non League manager at Pontefract Collieries

Non League Debut

Weirdly enough it was against Benno’s Goole in a pre season friendly (circa 2013).

First Red Card (at semi-professional level)

Playing away at Irlam in the FA Vase (2018/19). My mate Eddie Cass’ first game at Hemsworth. Late tackle and a few handbags with one of there lads and we were both off.

First Goal (at semi-professional level)
Bottesford away 2013 (for Hemsworth). Skipped through a few and went round the keeper, I was a striker at the time.

What do you want to achieve in football in the future

Harry Viggars briefly played for Ossett United in 2020

Obviously as everyone else I want to play as high as possible. It was hard leaving Ossett because they were a great set of lads and a great club but it just wasn’t right for me. I think I’d like to get into scouting eventually.

Favourite Non League Ground I’ve played at (barring your own club)

Bishop Auckland sticks out. Great setup and pitch was a carpet.

If you want to take part in our weekly Player Profile, get in touch via social media, either on Facebook or Twitter.

Take a look at our previous Player Profiles HERE