Our History
Queen's Park Harriers was founded in 1887 and members still compete in the original Danebury red and white hooped vests.
The beginnings of the club can be traced back to when a group of boys from St. Judes Institute, Queen's Park, decided to form a sports club which included among its activities both athletics and football.
The football section apparently disagreed with the Vicar and broke away to form a club which eventually became Queen's Park Rangers.​
​The club is a founder member of the Middlesex County and the North of the Thames Cross Country Association, founded in 1894, and is affiliated to the Race Walking Association.
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Originally, the Harriers had no running track on which to train, and races were held along Ilbert Street, Queen's Park, and later along the rural Harrow Road. Housing developments forced the club to repeatedly move its headquarters, but this did not prevent it expanding and growing in stature.
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The colours of the club are the well known red and white hooped vests known as the 'Danebury Hoops'. These were presented by Mr Tom Cannon, whose horse racing colours they were during his Presidential Year in 1902-03.
​Queen's Park Harriers organises the Liddiard Trophy Cross Country race every year at which clubs from all over London compete for the famous prize. The trophy commemorates Mr E.J. Liddiard, who was the longest surviving founder member. ​The first Liddiard Trophy was won by Shaftesbury Harriers in 1947.
Among the Harriers' international athletes have been Eddie Toms, who captured a bronze medal in the 1924 Olympic 4x400m relay; Bert Ives, 1 mile and cross country; Mike Lindsay, shot and discus; his brother Chris at 440 yards; and throwers Tony Cunnew and Peter Tancred.
​Norman Futter (second from right in the nearby photo) ran the first leg of the 4x440 relay in the first Great Britain v USA meeting, held at White City on July 21-22, 1961. The team of Adrian Metcalfe, Barry Jackson, Norman Futter and Robbie Brightwell overhauled the Americans in the final 20 yards and finished in 3 mins 7 seconds to win the race and set new Commonwealth and European records.
​Derek Cole, Alan Lerwill (both long jump) and Maurice Pugh (middle distance running) have also competed at international level. Recent internationals have been Marion Bell (long jump) and Diane Smith, world junior 200m champion, Rupert Charles (high jump) and John Willoughby (veterans' cross country).