Penn, 37, played in an FA Trophy final for Kiddy, won eight caps for England C and spent seven seasons in the EFL with Burton, Cheltenham and York.
As manager of the Harriers, he also enjoyed a run to FA Cup fourth round last season, coming within 60 seconds of scalping the mighty West Ham.
Yet all of that will pale into insignificance if Kidder-minster can overcome Brackley Town in today’s National League North promotion final to end a long-standing play-off hoodoo and return to the top flight for the first time in seven years.
“This would be my biggest achievement in the game, on and off the field,” said the former Gateshead midfielder, who took charge in 2020.
“We’re not there yet. We’re one game away and we’ve got to give it everything. But yeah – if this happens, it would top anything I’ve done before.”
Penn’s caution is understandable after the heartbreak of last May, when Kiddy were bundled out at the Eliminator stage by Boston United.
It was the club’s fourth play-off defeat in as many attempts, none of them yielding a final and all coming within the last decade.
Denne historien er fra May 14, 2023-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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Denne historien er fra May 14, 2023-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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WRAGGY WILL BE SORELY MISSED
MACCLESFIELD FC have led the tributes to “colossal” former manager Peter Wragg, who has passed away.
BURY & RAMMY HIT BIG STAGE!
BRYANLY’S late penalty kept Bury top of the tree in front of another record-breaking crowd at Gigg Lane on Boxing Day.
BRAVE BERKO ARE ON TRACK
Ducks demolition maintains title tilt
OWLS THAT! CLEE GLEE ON TOP OF THE TREE
CLEETHORPES Town maintained their four-point lead at the top of NPL East with a hard-fought 2-1 derby win over North Ferriby at the Myenergi Stadium.
HAWKS SWOOP IN FOR DERBY GLORY
REUBEN AUSTIN hailed Havant & Waterlooville teammate Leon Maloney’s wonder goal as ‘a hell of a strike’ as the Hawks continued their promotion push with a 3-1 local derby success over Gosport Borough.
JULIUS DICTATES - BUT FANS MIST IT
JULUS Ndene handed Leek Town a famous victory in the mist – not that any of the fans got to see it!
GOLDEN BROWN BACK AT THE TOP
PHIL Brown gave his Kidderminster Harriers players Christmas off – and was rewarded with a climb to the top of the tree.
BRENNAN'S BOYS SALVAGED IN 'KAMIKAZE' YEAR END
STRAIGHT talking Dean Brennan lamented ‘kamikaze’ defending despite seeing his Barnet nick a dramatic late point to end 2024 at the National League summit.
FIVE-STAR PIRATES PUMMEL ROVERS
IN the final game of the year at the Ledger Stadium, second-placed Real Bedford faced off against fourth-placed Barton Rovers, who arrived as the league’s in-form side.
MOORE'S LATE GOAL SEALS BIG REDS WIN
GEORGE Moore was the hero grabbing a stoppage-time winner to sink Kingstonian and take Uxbridge to third in the table in what is becoming a fascinating promotion race in the Pitching-In Isthmian South Central.
