Harvey Read Saunders (born 20 July 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for club Northampton Town.
Early and personal life Saunders is from Staindrop. He is nicknamed "Rooster".
Career Early career Saunders joined local club Barnard Castle at the age of 6 or 7, leaving at under-14s after the club folded. He occasionally played rugby for a local club and then began working full-time in an Indian restaurant. The restaurant entered a team into a football competition, which they won. Saunders then began playing Sunday League football, before signing for Darlington Railway Athletic, initially at under-18 level but then for the senior team. He then played for Bishop Auckland and Durham City. He then signed for Darlington, making his debut in January 2017. Whilst at Darlington he had loan spells at Ryhope Colliery Welfare and Dunston UTS. In total he scored 11 goals in 66 league games for Darlington.
Fleetwood Town He signed for Fleetwood Town in January 2019 for an undisclosed fee, on a -year contract, and was immediately loaned back to Darlington.
He made his first-team debut for Fleetwood on 3 September 2019 in the EFL Trophy. He scored his first goals for Fleetwood when he scored twice in an EFL Trophy tie against Carlisle United on 1 September 2020, and his first league goal followed in a 2–1 defeat to Rochdale on 3 October 2020. On 6 October 2020, Saunders scored a hat-trick in the EFL Trophy against Aston Villa U21s.
He signed on loan for Hartlepool United on 22 April 2021.
At the end of the 2020–21 season, Saunders was released by Fleetwood Town.
Bristol Rovers On 25 June 2021, Saunders agreed to join Bristol Rovers on a two-year deal from the expiration of his Fleetwood contract. Saunders joined former Fleetwood teammates Paul Coutts and Sam Finley in joining former manager Joey Barton that summer. On 7 August 2021, Saunders made his debut for the club in a 2–1 opening day defeat to Mansfield Town, playing the full match as he was the club's only fit striker. On 17 August 2021, Saunders scored his first goal for the club with the only goal in a victory over Oldham Athletic, the club's first win of the season, heading home a cross from Harry Anderson via a deflection. After suffering an injury during an aerial collision in a match against Bradford City on 16 October, Saunders was ruled out until the new year with torn ankle ligaments. On 29 January 2022, Saunders made his return to action from the bench as he assisted Rovers' late winner to defeat Walsall.
Tranmere Rovers On 27 January 2023, Saunders signed for League Two club Tranmere Rovers for an undisclosed fee on an eighteen-month contract. The club had previously tried to sign him in the summer.
In August 2025 he moved on loan to Eastleigh.https://www.tranmererovers.co.uk/news/2025/august/29/harvey-saunders-joins-/ On 12 May 2026, Tranmere announced he would be leaving in the summer once his contract expired.
Northampton Town In June 2026 it was announced that he would sign for Northampton Town on 1 July 2026.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsFleetwood Town2019–20League One601000501202020–21League One213103045298Total273203095418Darlington (loan)2019–20National League North16100—00161Hartlepool United (loan)2020–21National League2000—0020Bristol Rovers2021–22League Two2120010112332022–23League One120201052202Total332202063435Tranmere Rovers2022–23League Two1930000001932023–24League Two3830010204132024–25League Two3711031304422025–26League Two0000100010Total9471051501058Eastleigh (loan)2025–26National League38921—124112Northampton Town2026–27League Two6000101080Career Total2162271111221025634
Honours Bristol Rovers League Two promotion: 2021–22
References