Subscribe to trusted local news
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
- Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
31
May
Harrogate rugby club manager reflects on relegation, club finances and next season
Harrogate Rugby Union Football Club may have suffered relegation from the National League 2 North, but manager Martyn Wood isn't blaming the club’s financial situation.
The Rudding Lane side finished bottom of the 14-team league, losing out on points difference to 13th placed Billingham.
After a dramatic final day, when the Aces beat their Teesside rivals 48-35 to equal their points tally, Hull pulled off a late comeback against Otley to move three points clear and doom Harrogate to the tier below.
The Stray Ferret spoke to Wood this week, who told us about his thoughts on the season:
Myself and the coaches are proud of how we performed. After Christmas, things turned around and we took it to most teams.
Obviously, the league doesn’t lie, and we’re all disappointed, but I think we gave a good account of ourselves.
I think the lads have enjoyed it this year. We’re a tight knit group – if we do stick together, I think we’ll do well next year.
Finances ‘not to blame’
Harrogate have one of the smallest budgets in the league and do not pay their players, unlike many teams in National League 2 North.
However, Wood emphasised the club’s financial status was not to blame for their misfortunes:
We’re not going to hide behind our finances because there’s lots of factors involved. We are where we are at the minute and it’s where we probably should be.
At the same time, look at how competitive the league was this year – anyone could beat anyone. There were no easy games, but we really gave it our all.
Ultimately, we’re a community club with thriving juniors and that’s always going to be how we are. The juniors are massive to us – they’re the lifeblood of the club.
If we did have more finances, they’d be spent on facilities for the whole club over the first team.
Long-term developments
The Aces have become something of a yo-yo club in recent years – in a machine-like loop of promotions and relegations between National League 2 North and Regional League 1 North East.
So what is the long-term plan for the club to get them to the next level? Wood said:
Promotion is the aim for next season. It’s not an easy league but we’re confident. We want to maintain our players and have a settled team and coaching staff.
We want to push our second team too and make sure everyone is welcome.
I think it’s possible with the budget we’ve got to become a regular [in the National League 2 North].
The manager added that he thinks the club can offer different incentives to finances that could attract players.
He said that the coaching staff, and the way they handle the players, are a big selling point. He stressed that the club encourages balance between rugby and the players’ work and family lives, to ensure that it doesn’t “become a slog”.
Amid the disappointment of relegation, some solace was provided by the prospect of Yorkshire derbies against York, Ilkley and Driffield. Wood said he was looking forward to them as they “always have a bit more spice”.
The club has a few months to prepare before the season restarts in September.
0