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16
Jun 2020
Harrogate Town’s football league dream inches closer
Harrogate Town’s dream of playing in the English Football League could move closer this week.
The National League is expected to end the current campaign via points-per-game with Town entering the play-offs for the chance to win promotion.
The club was in second position when the 2019/20 season was curtailed in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. The 24 clubs in the National League voted over the weekend on how to conclude the season which is widely expected to send Barrow AFC up as champions with the second to seventh-placed teams competing for the final promotion place in a play-off in July. Confirmation of the vote is expected later this week.
It’s estimated that promotion to the EFL could be worth between £1million to £1.5million to Town, who have played in the lower leagues since they were formed in 1919.
Harrogate Town Supporters Club spokesperson Jordan Ford told the Stray Ferret that it's been a "frustrating" few months but he is pleased a decision will soon be made on how the season will end.
The playoffs will be broadcast live on BT Sport which will give the club a much-needed cash windfall following the abandonment of the season in March. It is believed the broadcaster pays clubs between £5,000 and £10,000 for each National League game they show live on TV.
Read more:
- Harrogate District leisure services cost taxpayers £3.5 million a year
- Coronavirus Update: Tonight’s Harrogate Town Football cancelled
Harrogate Town was eligible to apply for a share of a £125m coronavirus support fund launched by the Premier League for clubs in the lower divisions struggling financially with the football shutdown.
A new 880-seater stand is currently being built at Wetherby Road to meet EFL regulations should they be promoted. The club would also need to replace their artificial 3G pitch with grass.
Harrogate Town will play the first play-off semi-final at Wetherby Road on at an unconfirmed date in July with the winner moving on to the final which will be played at a neutral venue before July 31.
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