Reg Harrison joined Long Eaton United in the summer of 1957 as both player and coach and it was hoped that the qualities and experience he gained as a professional player would enhance the ambitions of the club. Doubtless, the officials responsible for his recruitment were as equally thrilled by him joining the club as the Grange Park regulars, who were all well aware that eleven years earlier he was helping Derby County win the FA Cup at Wembley for the only time in their history.

The Manager at the time Reg joined the club was Albert Hitchin, who had previously been the club secretary for both United and the former Long Eaton Town outfit and had succeeded Arthur Jepson in 1957, with some reluctance. By mid-February of the following year Hitchin stood aside and Reg Harrison became the club's third Manager, and possibly the best equipped to move Long Eaton forward. Harrison himself continued to play for United for the remainder of the 1957-58 campaign, presumably to assess the talent within the club and plan for the Central Alliance campaign that lay ahead.

Two of the key players he introduced to United in the close season of 1958 were both to make their own mark in the club's history. Dennis McQuillan, once of Derby County and the first player to play one hundred consecutive games for the Long Eaton, and 26 year-old Ken Jordan. Jordan remained at the club for many years and became the first Long Eaton United player to play two hundred games. McQuillan became Joint Manager with Reg Harrison until his departure in 1962. Both signings scored on their debuts for United in a resounding 4-1 win at Kettering Town on the opening day of the 1958-59 season. Jack Barker and John McKinley were two other stalwarts who Harrison enticed to Grange Park with the promise of success.

As both a tactician and a man that was respected by all his players, Harrison quickly bought the hoped-for success. In early May of 1959 the club secured the Central Alliance title with a 3-2 victory against Stamford at Grange Park, with Ken Jordan the scorer of the winning goal. United had lost only four games during a thirty-two match league campaign and to some, the title success provided Long Eaton United with their most prestigious ever league season.

Reg Harrison remained at the club for the next three seasons but financial restrictions prevented a repeat of his first full campaign at the helm. Other Midland League clubs were able to pay players a little more than the budget allowed at Long Eaton and although a fourth place followed in the 1959-60 season, it became more and more difficult for one of United's most popular Manager's to recruit the right quality of player. Understandably, Reg was disappointed that one of the regions most populated town's was unable to support his own ambitions and he finally left the club in May of 1962.

As a Long Eaton United player he played his final game a few weeks before his 39thbirthday in a defeat against Worksop Town in April 1962 when injuries to key players forced him to play his second game within week. He scored his final goal for the club on the last match of the previous season against Spalding United at Grange Park on 26thApril 1961.

Professionally, Reg Harrison played 254 games (52 goals) for Derby County between 1945 and 1954 and was considered to be a cultured and skilful right winger. When he left the Baseball Ground in 1954 he became part of the non-league Boston United side that established itself in FA Cup folklore as a member of the team that inflicted the heaviest home defeat a non-league club has ever achieved against the established order. The Lincolnshire outfit defeated Reg's beloved Rams 6-1 at the Baseball ground in front of 23,357 bewildered spectators. One of the scorers for Boston that day was Johnny Birkbeck, who later played for United, and future Long Eaton manager Geoff Barrowcliffe wore the number two shirt for Derby County.

After leaving United in 1962 Reg went on to manage both Wilmorton & Alvaston and AlfretonTown.

Today, he lives in Derby with his wife of 55 years.