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02
Aug 2020
Match preview: Harrogate Town vs Notts County
Harrogate Town will play Notts County at Wembley later today with the winner playing in the English Football League next season.
Not quite a David vs. Goliath occasion — the National League play off final will be a meeting between two clubs that have tasted different fortunes throughout their histories.
On Sunday, the Magpies will be hoping to return to league football where they have spent 157 of their 158 years, whereas Harrogate Town hopes to enter a new frontier.
Notts County are the oldest professional football league club in the world and are even former FA Cup winners, but there won't be any fans who can remember them lifting the trophy in 1894.
They've been managed by some of the biggest names in English football including Howard Wilkinson, Howard Kendall and Sam Allardyce.
County were relegated from League Two in 2019 but bounced back strongly in the National League finishing just three points behind Town in third position.
In their one league encounter this season, County beat Town at the CNG Stadium 2-0, with goals from Kristian Dennis and Enzio Boldewijn.
They were due to play each other again over two legs in the semi-final of the FA Trophy, which was curtailed due to the lockdown in March. It still might go ahead which could lead to another day out at Wembley for the winning club.
Read more:
From Knaresborough Celtic juniors to Wembley
Harrogate Town manager: ‘Promotion can put us on the footballing map’
County beat Barnet in their play off game last week to reach Wembley and looked impressive with goals from Kristian Dennis and Callum Roberts.
They are the best-supported club in the division with an average attendance of 5,200 whereas Harrogate welcomes around 1,300 to the CNG.
But social distancing is a great leveller and they won't be able to count on extra fans at Wembley with the game played behind closed doors.
Town are the current favourites with the bookies at 6/4 with Notts County at 7/4 which manager Simon Weaver isn't fazed by.
He told the Stray Ferret:
Striker Aaron Martin made his debut for Town in the tie with Boreham Wood, and he will hope to start ahead of Jon Stead and Mark Beck following an energetic performance.
But Jon Stead has big-game experience from his time in the Premier League which Weaver may look to count on.
Notts County manager Neal Ardley is expected to name the same side that beat Barnet last week.
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