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31
Jul 2020
From Knaresborough Celtic juniors to Wembley
If Harrogate Town get promoted to the English Football League on Sunday, Jack Emmett will be the toast of the town.
Jack, 26, is the only Harrogate-born player in the squad and has made about 220 appearances.
After unsuccessful trials with Leeds United and Doncaster Rovers – the latter of which said he was too small to make the grade – he didn't have any great aspirations when he first trained with Town during sixth form at Harrogate Grammar School.
Accountancy was to be his career; football was a hobby. But his life, along with the fortunes of the club, have transformed since then. He told the Stray Ferret:
The club's decision to go fully professional in 2017 was the key moment, said Jack, who started out at Knaresborough Celtic juniors. Town signed several new players and were immediately promoted in 2018 to the National League.
Now they are heading to the most famous stadium in the world for the chance to play in the fourth tier of the English game.
Read more
- Harrogate Town manager: Promotion can put us on the footballing map
- Harrogate Town prepares for £1 million game
Standing in the way are Notts County, the oldest professional team in the world whose black and white striped kit was copied by Italian giants Juventus.
Ordinarily County would have thousands more fans cheering them on so playing at an empty Wembley could work in Harrogate's favour, said Jack.
Midfielder Jack, who has a year left on his contract, was a substitute in the 1-0 play-off defeat of Boreham Wood last weekend. But hot weather and Wembley's big pitch could see the bench play a big part.
With no fans allowed, his family won't be there to see it. He said:
He also feels for the fans.
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