Following their flying start to the season, the Harwich and Parkeston 1st XI have won the Thurlow Nunn League’s team performance award for August and September.
The award was presented prior to Saturday’s home game against Whittlesey Athletic which saw the Shrimpers win 8-0.
The club received £150 in prize money with the league also donating £100 to a charity of the Shrimpers’ choice. Club officials nominated the Ark Family Resource Centre and its manager Claire Bridges was on hand to receive a cheque from league chairman Peter Hutchings and Thurlow Nunn’s regional parts manager Paul Tavinor at the Royal Oak ground.
The first team won eight of their nine league games during August and September and after Saturday’s victory sit third in Division One North.
Matt Carmichael’s side are facing a crucial next 10 days which begins with Tuesday’s home Essex Senior Cup tie against Benfleet (kick-off 8pm).
The Shrimpers then return to league duty on Saturday with a trip to Framlingham, a game which is followed by a top-of-the-table clash at home to leaders Haverhill Rovers on October 22 (kick-off 7.45pm).
The Ark Centre has been supporting families in the town for more than 70 years but relies on grants and donations to survive. Services provided include:

• A nursery that cares for children from birth to 5 years old
• Counselling services for children & adults
• Outreach service support for families in crisis at home
• Special Educational Needs support for parents, plus respite clubs for SEN children, aged 2-8
• Stay and play group for under-2s
• Youth group for 6-11 year olds

Some of its children recently created HPFC-related artwork which featured in Saturday’s matchday programme (available on this website from Wednesday) and on the club’s social-media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and X/Twitter.
If you would like to donate to the Ark Centre, you can do so by clicking here.

• Pictured (left to right) are Claire Bridges (Ark Centre manager), Terry Francis (club president), Paul Tavinor (Thurlow Nunn regional parts manager) and Peter Hutchings (league chairman).