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    Britt Assombalonga explains decision to sign for National League North newboys Harborough Town

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    Britt Assombalonga explains decision to sign for National League North newboys Harborough Town

    Experienced former EFL player Britt Assombalonga explains the decision to sign for National League North newboys Harborough Town.

    He’s already got going for them, having been a triallist in their pre-season fixtures this summer, following his time at Barnet coming to an end last season.

    His career started back in 2010 for Watford, and had loan spells with Wealdstone, Braintree and Southend, before turning out for Peterborough, Nottingham Forest, Middlesbrough, Adana Demirspor, returned to Watford, went back to Turkish football, playing for Antalyaspor and Amedspor, then more recently at Barnet.

    He’s scored 173 goals across 486 appearances between 2011 and 2026, his best goalscoring season came at Peterborough in 2013/14, finding the net 33 times in 58 games. He also scored 30 goals in 69 appearances with Forest, and 47 goals in 161 appearances for Boro.

    Harborough Town said in a statement on their website: “The 33-year-old arrives at the Beehive boasting an outstanding professional career spanning more than 500 senior appearances, with the majority coming in the Championship and League One.

    “A powerful, pacey forward renowned for his goalscoring record, Assombalonga has represented clubs including Watford, Braintree Town, Southend United, Peterborough United, Nottingham Forest, Middlesbrough and Adana Demirspor, before most recently playing for Antalyaspor in Turkey.

    “Across spells with Peterborough United, Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough, Assombalonga established himself as one of the Championship’s most feared forwards, scoring more than 180 senior career goals and consistently performing at the highest levels of the English Football League.

    “The DR Congo international now joins Mitch Austin’s squad ahead of Harborough Town’s first-ever season in the National League North, bringing a wealth of experience and proven quality to an already established and exciting group at the Beehive.

    “His arrival represents another significant milestone in the club’s remarkable journey, adding one of the most recognisable names in recent English Football League history to the Bees’ squad.

    “Everyone at Harborough Town Football Club would like to welcome Britt to the Beehive and wish him every success for the season ahead.”

    Speaking after completing the move, Assombalonga told Bees Media:

    “After speaking to the Gaffer and hearing the way he spoke about the club, the staff and the players, the move made perfect sense for me at this stage of my career.

    “From the minute I stepped into the building, everyone has made me feel welcome, and it was those experiences during pre-season that helped me make up my mind.

    “We will take every game as it comes, and I, along with the rest of the lads, will give everything we have to help the club succeed.”

    Speaking on the signing, 1st Team Manager Mitch Austin added:

    “We had connections through the coaching scene and, with Britt moving locally, we had the opportunity to bring him in for pre-season and see whether he still had the bit between his teeth.

    “Since he walked through the door, he has shown himself to be a really enthusiastic person who loves football. He is very different from some former professionals you come across, and he is someone we are really excited to work with.

    “I’m going to be on him because I want him to have a high-scoring season with us. We want to get the best out of him while making sure he enjoys his football.”

    INTERVIEW WITH BRITT:

    Interviewer: Britt, welcome to the Beehive. Delighted to have you here, but why now, and why The Bees?

    Britt: The way he spoke about the club, about the team, about the players, about the staff, everything just sounded good to me. Especially now that I’ve moved away from down south and come close up to the Midlands. So for me, it makes sense.

    Interviewer: Honest question, were you aware of Harborough Town before this season? Obviously, were we on your radar at all? Or is it club that’s gone from a very small place of time in a very quick period of time? Was it someone you knew about?

    Britt: Honest answer, no. I didn’t know. But I remember when I was in Nottingham I used to see Market Harborough. I was going down on the train.

    Interviewer: The reason why I ask that what it leads me into is you came here pre-season but what’s that you’ve been with us obviously triallist A, no more, triallist A becomes Britt Assombalonga but what was your experiences through pre-season and you know the few games you’ve been with us what’s those been those first experiences while you’ve been here?

    Britt: It’s been good and obviously for me I’m still trying to get my fitness back up. I’ve been doing a lot of individual stuff and obviously playing my first game here at Harborough. So it’s been good and obviously to get a couple of goals. It’s the icing on the cake. But it’s been really good from the minute I stepped in, not just the footballing side of it, the boys, the staff, everyone’s just welcomed me and it’s just been nice and sometimes it’s stuff like that that takes things over the line.

    Interviewer: Obviously your career, you’ve had a fantastic career across the professional game. What do you feel, you’ve mentioned the lads, a very tight-knit dressing room, it’s a dressing room that’s been really strong last year. How do you feel you can help that? Are there any of experiences you feel you can bring into that that obviously will help us at this first season at the National League North?

    Britt: No, definitely. it’s been a long time since I’ve played non-league but it was enjoyable times when I was at Wealdstone and Braintree when I went there on loan. Obviously there’s some that I’ve forgotten about, like for example today, I don’t have my red t-shirt because I put it back in the washroom and I was supposed to take it home.

    Interviewer: Welcome to non league.

    Britt: You know, stuff like that, you learn and the boys have a laugh about it. And I think my experience in the game, I’ll bring a lot to the boys. A lot of the lads here are really good players as well so it’s not just like I’m bringing experience just from other footballing places. Everyone here knows how to play.

    Interviewer: From your professional career, you don’t mind just me asking, can you pick out a highlight from that? You’ve obviously had a really, really good career but anything in your career that maybe people that maybe if they don’t know you then maybe been living under a rock but from that professional career, you could pick out?

    Britt: The highlight for me will probably be scoring for my country at the African Nations to get us to go to the Round of 16 and on Congo Independence Day. So was just surreal and obviously seeing my Dad crying in the crowd, was unbelievable. So that’s my highlight.

    Interviewer: Obviously now looking ahead, two final questions, looking ahead, starting season strong, King’s Lynn in the way, Morecambe at home, want to hit the ground running?

    Britt: Yeah, no, of course. Why not. Just get my fitness up and be ready for the start of season.

    Interviewer: Final message. Bees fans watching this, obviously the crowds have been growing, I know everyone’s excited for the season but your message for those Bees fans going into that first game?

    Britt: We’ve got to take every game as it comes, every game is going to be different but everyone will work their socks off. That’s fine, we’ll try it, we’ll maybe have to that one out but work their socks off.

    Here’s the social media reaction as Britt Assombalonga explains decision to sign for National League North newboys Harborough Town…

    @tomhooley: Unreal this. £15 million he was once worth.

    @K1ngEricCantona: Gonna bag a fair few for me on FM 2027

    @CCFCFan1927: Longevity in football is so strange. Players like Assombalonga and Michael Hector were top, top Championship players just over 5 years ago. In their early-mid 30s, they fall into non-league. You get others who never go above L1/2 and stay there until 40

    @Georgeturnerutb: Anyone know if we had a sell on clause? #boro

    @rio_woolf: Crazy quickly football changes. Assombalonga has gone from Championship to NLN in 3 years. Rhys Healey has gone from Championship to relegated to the NL, within 2. #watfordfc

    @JJSavils2005: What a signing at that level

    @lloyd_215: Do not be surprised if they are up there again, history of sides promoted from the same division going up again

    @SamMartinFPL: Haha that’s wild, fair play to Harborough because their rise has been ridiculous.

    @StevenHumbles: Another standard day this summer in National League North. It’s like 7 or 8 clubs are having their own mini-competition to see who can outspend the rest.

    @SteveTheFoxFM: Harborough Town is now 100% going to be my #FM27 save when it comes out. One of my local sides as well!

    @silkmenarmy: This is our league. So many teams mean serious business. 🔵⚪️

    @Wallsy1871: Wow what a signing



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