Jack Muldoon’s 65th-minute goal sent Harrogate Town to Wembley for a historic play off final next Sunday.

Town beat Boreham Wood 1-0 at the CNG Stadium this afternoon in the National League play off semi-final.

Despite not playing in the league since March 7, Town dominated the game and looked the much sharper of the two teams.

In the social distancing era it was a low key experience watching Town’s biggest game in its 101-year history.

Walking up Wetherby Road, there was not the usual congregation of Town fans wearing yellow and black, discussing predictions for the game or excitedly planning which pub they might go to might go after the game.

But Town’s fans were here in spirit — with the supporters club organising a 20ft X 10ft flag covered with fan’s faces. And there were over 100 cardboard cut out ‘crowdies’ sat in Town’s new family stand.

A lot has changed in the world since Town last played and both teams took a knee before kick-off in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Town started the game sharply and swarmed the opposition several times in the first twenty minutes.

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An impressive attacking move saw on-loan winger Jack Diamond, who was a threat all game, through on goal but his shot was saved comfortably by Boreham Wood goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore.

After 25 minutes, Jack Muldoon drilled a shot low that was pushed wide for a corner.

Lloyd Kerry nearly put Town ahead five minutes later when his shot was again turned wide by Ashmore.

The physically imposing Boreham Wood began to put some pressure on Town towards the end of the first half, with two chances.

After half time, Boreham Wood came out strong and a Keiron Murtagh shot was well saved with his feet by Town keeper James Belshaw.

Boreham Wood almost took the lead when a Matt Rheed header led to desperate scramble before the ball was ultimately cleared off the line.

But it was Jack Muldoon on the 65th minute who sent Town fans watching at home into dreamland when he scored after a corner.

The final whistle sent Town players in ecstacy, cheering and embracing each other in an eerily quiet CNG.

Town players left the field to their makeshift changing rooms in the 1919 bar and could be heard singing “We’re off to Wembley” – almost making up for the lack of supporters.

They will play the winner of Notts County vs Barnet which kicks off later this afternoon.

Today’s figures showed there was only one recorded death in the Yorkshire and North East region with none in the Harrogate district.  The total number of deaths at Harrogate District Hospital of patients with coronavirus is 82 — this is the 10th consecutive day without a reported fatality.

A further 25 people, who tested positive for coronavirus have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 29,272.

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Patients were aged between 52 and 93 years old. All had known underlying health conditions.

Harrogate Town is gearing up for the biggest game in the club’s 101-year history.

At 2.30pm today at the CNG Stadium, Town will play Boreham Wood in the National League play-off semi-final. If they win, Town will head to Wembley on August 2 for the chance to play in the English Football League for the first time.

The game today will be a bittersweet occasion for Town supporters who are not allowed into the ground due to social distancing guidelines.

However, fans will be able to watch the game from the comfort of their own home as the game will be broadcast live on BT Sport.

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Town finished the season in 2nd place after the league was curtailed due to the coronavirus pandemic and decided on a points-per-game ratio.

Simon Weaver’s men will be hoping to quickly shake off any ring rust as they have not kicked a ball in the league since drawing with Bromley 1-1 on March 7.

Boreham Wood, who finished 5th, beat Halifax Town 2-1 in their first playoff game last week.

This season the Hertfordshire side has the best away record in the league and Town has the second-best home record.

The two teams played to a 0-0 draw at the CNG Stadium in September. In December, Boreham Wood beat Town 2-1 at Meadow Park.

Writing in today’s programme, manager Simon Weaver said he hoped the game will be a day to remember for the fans.

He said:

“Today is a huge game for both sides. We haven’t got the advantage of having our fans with us but we will be making every attempt to get the win that they are hoping for.

“Many will be glued to the television and watching the game live on BT Sport. We owe it to them to give it 100% effort to reach the final”.

The winner of today’s game will play the winner of Notts County vs Barnet on August 2 at Wembley.

This article is written for the Stray Ferret by Harrogate employment lawyer Richard Port. Richard is Principal Solicitor and Founding Director at Boardside legal. Over the next 3 weeks he will explore the issues raised for employers and employees returning to work post furlough. This article is not legal advice – more a look at the complexities of the current situation. 

Recent government announcements have suggested that the current furlough guidance might shortly be changed and that those who can go back to work safely should now do so. It is worth noting that it is currently a criminal offence for a person to go to work, when such work can reasonably be done from home.

However, if the changes are made, I’m sure that many people will want to return to work straightaway, but there will be many who do not. Indeed, I have dealt with a number of company clients in the last few weeks who are having to grapple with the conflict between ending furlough and dealing with reluctant returners: in my case a food production business (ABC Ltd) and the reluctant ‘Fred’.

First and foremost, the place of work needs to be covid safe, to reduce the potential for transmission as much as possible. This means providing adequate PPE and having a robust hygiene system in place, and compliance with social distancing rules.

Imagine that ABC Ltd has done it all; it is the paragon of compliance and hygiene. Nonetheless, despite his employer being an essential service, Fred is reluctant: he is worried, claiming that he has a ‘new’ medical condition (understood to be asthma) for which he must take steroids. Fred considers himself to be clinically vulnerable, though he does not have any form of medical certificate signing him off work. ABC Ltd has kept in touch with Fred during furlough and is now asking him to return to work. Sometimes getting hold of Fred has been quite difficult, despite being “house-bound”. We understand that Fred enjoys his golf.

Of course, there will be a wide variety of reasons (supported by various legal protections) why employees may be reluctant to return to work which should be taken seriously. In other cases, like Fred, employees may have no good reason for refusing. Leaving this aside, what options does ABC Ltd have in relation to Fred? As difficult as it might be, ABC Ltd needs to tread carefully. Employers should work on a case-by-case basis and ensure that they have carried out thorough risk assessments and implemented relevant covid safety measures.

Ultimately, ABC Ltd may seek to stop paying Fred in the circumstances, or even to dismiss him, but both of these courses of action for refusing to return to work are fraught with danger and could lead to employment tribunal claims being raised, particularly if the employer’s health and safety processes are short of what is reasonably practical to put in place.

It is a complicated subject, but my experience is that many organisations are now reviewing their working practices and looking at ways to create a more adaptive, innovative and resilient workforce. If ABC Ltd gets this right, it will ensure its long-term viability and the health and well-being of its workforce, with better morale and higher productivity.

Next week, Richard looks at the rights of the employee and looks at the case of Fred.

The owners of a bohemian-style cafe in Harrogate will open a farm shop today after the demand for groceries soared in the coronavirus lockdown.

Kyrensa Bentley set up 53 Bo’Grove Cafe, based on Grove Road, just under a year ago and it has been growing ever since.

The grand opening is tomorrow.

Following in the footsteps of the antique shop, the refill shop and the garden centre, the new rustic farm shop also has an environmentally-friendly focus.

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53 Bo’Grove Farm Shop will officially open its doors today at 10.30am with a selection of fruit and vegetables as well as oils, chutneys, jams, bread, cakes, and more.

The farm shop is based at 53 Bo’Grove.

The shop will have a mix of Yorkshire-based suppliers as well as some continental offerings. Ashley Johnson is taking up the reins as manager and said:

“We’ve got balloons, we’ve got banners and we’re giving away some big fruits and cheese hampers. It will be a great day to celebrate, we are still in the coronavirus lockdown but we can enjoy something a bit closer to normal.”

It will sell fresh fruit and vegetables.

The cafe had set up a cart out front to sell fruit and vegetables and it went so well they decided to set up a more permanent offering in the farm shop.

Kyrensa Bentley, the owner of 53 Bo’Grove also told The Stray Ferret:

“We started planning for a little farm shop about halfway through lockdown. This project didn’t start out with a lot of money, we have just saved up as it has grown. It has grown quite organically.”

Today was the first day wearing face masks is mandatory when visiting shops in England.

The Stray Ferret has been asking people how they feel about having to wear face masks in shops.

Kate Baker is a nurse and said:

“I can’t understand it, it makes me said. I think people think its finished and all over and they aren’t realising what can happen. We don’t know whats going to happen in the next few months.

I think we should absolutely be wearing them in shops but for how long is up to the scientists. As a nurse it feels wrong not having one on because I’m used to wearing them at work.”

A nurse from Harrogate said she feels “sad” when she sees people not wearing masks in shops.

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Mask wearing has been called for by some people since shops reopened on last month.

The government has introduced this mandatory rule which could leave people with a £100 fine if they choose not to wear one.

Live music will return to the grounds of Ripley Castle as lockdown restrictions begin to ease.

Sounds in the Grounds will see performances from bands including the Bootleg Beatles, Beyond the Barricade and Abba Mania.

Taking place over four days, it will see the New York Brass Band perform each night as the support act to the main performance.

Tickets include a designated picnic patch for up to six people, enabling social distancing across the site, and there will be food and drink stalls available. Each will be defined by painted lines, with a metre’s distance between each patch and two metres’ distance in aisles between the rows.

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Organiser James Cundall said:

“Sounds in the Grounds offers the opportunity to get together and enjoy a fun night of live music in a stunning setting in a socially distanced way. From ABBA to The Beatles and from the greatest musicals to Country and Western I hope we have something for everyone.

“Importantly it’s an opportunity for musicians to showcase their talent again after weeks of inactivity during lockdown.

“Visitors will need to bring their own chairs, and can bring a picnic, though we advise leaving tables at home for space reasons.”

Sounds in the Grounds will take place at Ripley Castle from Thursday, September 3 to Sunday, September 6. Tickets cost from £59 plus booking fees for a two-person picnic patch.

143 years, not out. Harrogate Cricket Club lost its clubhouse to fire just over a decade ago and came close to bankruptcy in The Great Depression but coronavirus could have been the end of the club.

Harrogate Cricket Club played its first match at its ground at St George’s Road on July 7, 1877 but could have played its last in 2020 without major financial support.

Local sports often rely on the income generated by renting out clubhouses for events. When The Balcony at Harrogate Cricket Club closed its doors the management did not know when or if it could reopen.

Chairman Steve Clarke with The Balcony manager Andy Hawkswell.

Steve Clarke, the chairman of Harrogate Cricket Club, estimates that The Balcony’s closure over so many months left a black hole in its finances to the tune of £40,000.

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It could have been devastating to the club, which has needed to pay out for the maintenance of the grounds and facilities without any income. But grants from Harrogate Borough Council and the ECB have covered those huge costs.

A spectator boost for the club followed that financial boost last weekend, with around 100 people turning up to watch the games and a few members visiting The Balcony for drinks.

The Balcony is open for business.

Chairman Steve Clarke told The Stray Ferret that they cannot generate income without playing cricket:

“It has been really difficult. It is really interesting for the senior teams. We have to make sure everyone is socially distanced, that the toilets are cleaned regularly and that there are hand sanitiser stations around the club. The league has slimmed down the fixtures and ruled out promotion or relegation so everyone can get out and play.”

The Balcony will be key to the club’s future. Andy Hawkswell has just taken over as the new tenant and plans to give it a refreshed ‘sports bar’ feel. He said:

“There have been a lot of people waiting for us to open. It is good to see. We are making some big changes on the pitch and off it. We are going to be broadening the horizons of what we offer in terms of our food and drink and also by renting out the space we have here for schools and community groups.”

Harrogate District Diving Club has expressed its frustration that it has not been given a date for training to resume at the Hydro.

Indoor swimming pools are allowed to reopen from tomorrow but Harrogate Borough Council is yet to confirm when it will open its pools. The diving club has been left unable to make plans or reassure its members.

The lack of a decision has left the club worrying about the impact on its members’ mental health. As a team sport, diving develops social as well as physical skills and, after months of lockdown, the club is desperate to give its members a date to look forward to.

Leanne Jalland, chair of the diving club, said:

“It is difficult to make plans without a date to return to training in the water.  We have to take each week by week, and come up with a variety of ways to keep our divers engaged and motivated but this is incredibly difficult. The response I have had from a lot parents is dismay and frustration, which is understandable.

“I am confident that by working with Swim England and the council we could ensure a safe return once it is allowed.  The club has received no official communication from the Hydro about any update for returning to the pool and only received a response from the council after pressing for a date to return last week.”

The club has trained in Harrogate for over 20 years with sporting stars including Olympic gold medallist Jack Laugher learning to dive at the club. It is a tradition the club hopes to continue once it starts up again.

The diving club are waiting for a confirmed date to return to training.

The council has said its reviewing the safety measures in place at the Hydro before opening.

Currently the club’s two coaches, both council employees, have been redeployed to other essential services by the council. The club has asked for one of its coaches to return to the team once the pool reopens.

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A council spokesperson said:

“We are working hard to reintroduce leisure facilities for all our residents – not just the diving club – but we need to make sure this is done in line with government guidelines so that our customers, and staff, are kept safe. We will then look at what additional services can be offered over the coming weeks.

“But this will only happen if staff can be relieved from providing statutory services. Any decision to do so will need to be carefully considered and the potential benefit for those people using leisure facilities balanced against the needs of residents and vulnerable people. The diving club has received several emails explaining this position already.”

Harrogate International Festivals has awarded its prestigious crime novel award to Adrian McKinty for his book The Chain.

The Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year, hosted by Harrogate International Festivals, was awarded this evening to McKinty’s novel after the public and prize judges picked him out from a shortlist of six.

The author was close to giving up his writing career two years ago when his family was evicted from their home and he was working as an Uber driver and barman. McKinty was persuaded to give writing one final go, and he wrote his hugely successful novel The Chain.

His book has since been published in 36 countries with its movie rights sold in a seven figure deal. The plot centres around a chain of child abductions, where a child can only be released when its parent kidnaps another child.

Adrian McKinty was “gobsmacked” when he was announced as the winner of the prestigious award.

Adrian McKinty said:

“I am gobsmacked and delighted to win this award. Two years ago, I had given up on writing altogether and was working in a bar and driving an Uber, and so to go from that to this is just amazing. People think that you write a book and it will be an immediate bestseller. For twelve books, my experience was quite the opposite, but then I started this one.

“It was deliberately high concept, deliberately different to everything else I had written – and I was still convinced it wouldn’t go anywhere… but now look at this. It has been completely life changing.”

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The award marks the launch of the Harrogate International Festivals Weekender – a free virtual festival featuring performances and interviews with dozens of musicians and authors.

Adrian McKinty will receive £3,000 and an engraved oak beer cask, hand-carved by one of Britain’s last coopers from Theakstons Brewery.