Harrogate Town’s fairytale summer continues tomorrow as they kick off their first-ever campaign in the football league at Southend United.
The Harrogate Town story has captured the imagination of the wider footballing world, with manager Simon Weaver interviewed on BBC Breakfast, the Guardian and BT Sport — but the time for basking in the glory of Town’s Wembley win is now over with League Two, League Cup and FA Trophy fixtures coming up thick and fast.
There are some big dates in the diary approaching, including a trip to Premier League outfit West Bromwich Albion in the League Cup on Wednesday. They then play Notts County away on Thursday in the FA Trophy semi-final, with the winner going on to play at Wembley.
Other key fixtures for the season include Bradford City away on October 11 and a trip to Bolton Wanderers on April 10.
The club’s first few home games will be played at Doncaster Rovers due to Town’s 3G pitch being relayed at the newly-renamed EnviroVent Stadium.
New signings
Weaver has strengthened his promotion-winning team, picking up four new signings: Connor Kirby from Sheffield Wednesday, Jake Lawlor from Wrexham, Tom Walker from Fylde, and Kevin Lokko from Dover. But the club failed in their pursuit of Chester left-back Joel Taylor, which stung.
Weaver admitted to the Stray Ferret last month that players have increased their wage demands now they are a football league club so he will have to box clever in the transfer market.
More signings are mooted, and fans are hoping that last season’s on-loan star winger Jack Diamond will be replaced, as it now looks like he’ll be part of Sunderland’s plans this season.
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The Weaver factor
Harrogate will fancy their chances of staying in the league. None of the last 20 teams to gain promotion from the National League were relegated from League Two in their first campaign, with some, including Luton Town and Burton Albion, going on the play in the Championship.
The bookmakers expect Town to finish comfortably mid-table in 14th and they are even a short-priced 8/1 to gain promotion. Unlike the National League, four teams have the chance to win promotion to League One.
The job Weaver has done at Harrogate since taking over in 2009 has not gone unnoticed, and a good start in the league will doubtless see bigger clubs taking an interest in him.
