Holyhead Harpies

The Holyhead Harpies are an all-female Quidditch team that plays in the British and Irish Quidditch League. The team is based in the town of Holyhead, which is located in the northwest of Wales. The team was founded in 1203, making them the second-oldest team in the league.

The Harpies playing robes are dark green with a gold talon emblazoned on the chest. They are unique among Quidditch teams in that they only hire women to play for them. With the exception of Valmai Morgan, all known members of the team have either first or last names that begin with the letter 'G'.

1203
The team was founded.

1953
One of the highlights of the Harpies History occurred in 1953, when they defeated the Heidelberg Harriers of Germany in a match that lasted seven days. At the end of the match, the Captain of the Harriers, Rudolf Brand proposed marriage to his opposing Captain, Gwendolyn Morgan, who subsequently concussed him with her broomstick.

1998
The Daily Prophet claims that nobody dares to disagree with Harpies' "brilliant but dangerous" Captain Gwenog Jones.

1999
Early in the year, the Harpies were scheduled to play the Wimbourne Wasps in Exmoor.

Valmai Morgan, the replacement Chaser for Wilda Griffiths who joined Puddlemere United, scored ten goals in one game, helping the Harpies to victory (presumably against the Wasps).

The Harpies played Puddlemere United at Ilkey Moor. Wands were confiscated at the gates, as crowd trouble was anticpated. Many fans handed over dummy wands, however. Puddlemere's Chaser Wilda Griffiths disappeared midway through the match. A riot broke out and fans of both sides used their wands. Gwenog Jones was held in custody after the game.

On October 1st 1999, the Harpies were 9th in the League.

Behind the scenes

 * One famous Beater Gwenog Jones was once a member of the Slug Club at Hogwarts and gave Horace Slughorn free tickets to any game upon request, although he had not been in contact with her for over a year upon his return to Hogwarts.
 * The Holyhead Harpies is Ginny Weasley's favourite Quidditch team.
 * Ginny Weasley played for the Holyhead Harpies before having children and becoming senior Quidditch Correspondent at the Daily Prophet.
 * This is the only all-female Quidditch team mentioned in the series.
 * In Greek mythology, "Harpies" were monsters that were part woman, part bird. The literal meaning of the word seems to be "that which snatches". In modern times, "harpy" is an unflattering term for a woman.

Appearances

 * Daily Prophet Newsletters
 * Quidditch Through the Ages
 * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game) (Gwenog Jones )
 * Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game) (Gwenog Jones )
 * Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game) (Gwenog Jones )
 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows