Assombalonga swaps Championship football for sixth-tier Harborough Town at 33

Britt Assombalonga, who scored 45 goals in 152 appearances for Middlesbrough and 30 in 65 for Nottingham Forest, is now playing sixth-tier football for Harborough Town in the National League North at the age of 33. The striker, who came through the ranks at Watford before rising through Southend and Peterborough, has returned to non-league for the first time since his teenage years.

“The last time I played non-league football, I was still a teenager — at Wealdstone and Braintree Town — so it feels like coming full circle and the right time for me to come back to this level,” Assombalonga told FourFourTwo. “It’s still hard, don’t get me wrong — it’s no walk in the park.”

After his time at Middlesbrough, Assombalonga spent spells at three clubs in Turkey before returning to England with Watford and then Barnet. The move to Harborough, who earned promotion to the National League North last season, fits alongside a coaching role he has been developing at Peterborough.

“I’ve also been coaching at Peterborough, learning my craft there, and this was an opportunity that aligned with that and allowed me to do both,” he said. “There are good players in this league and some great teams. I’ve been really enjoying myself so far.”

Assombalonga made an immediate impact after joining, contributing two goals and two assists across three games in August. However, Harborough have since managed just one win from their last six matches, leaving them 17th in the table. The striker remains optimistic about the club’s prospects in their debut season at this level.

“It’s the club’s first season at this level, after promotion last season, but the aim is to push for promotion again,” he said. “That’s the thing about this level — the margins are fine and a good run can take any side into contention.”