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Oct 2020

Last Updated: 01/10/2020

Sport

Harrogate Town chairman on life without fans

by Suzannah Rogerson

| 01 Oct, 2020

Harrogate Town, like many football clubs, is having to plan for life without fans for the foreseeable future. Chairman Irving Weaver talks about how the club is coping.

https://youtu.be/wWUClMuDH-4

The chairman of Harrogate Town has warned the club faces financial difficulties as fans continue to be banned from grounds.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said current Covid restrictions could last for six months.

For football clubs like Harrogate Town, this means having to face up to the prospect of empty stadiums for the foreseeable future.

This presents a big financial challenge for Town chairman Irving Weaver.

Mr Weaver said the uncertainty meant Town and other clubs faced a "cliff edge scenario".

He said:

"When crowds mean 30% of revenue that's a black hole. The furlough scheme was a big help but in the next six months we are looking at a problem that all clubs need help with.

"The subsidy grant we received was really helpful and the income from our games on TV wasn't budgeted for so these two things have got us on our way. Our streaming figures are growing too, which we also didn't budget for. All of this has helped make up for a loss of crowds."

The club's recent promotion to the English Football League was its second in three seasons. But fans have only been able to celebrate the club's recent successes at home or socially distanced in pubs, and missed out on a trip to Wembley.

With no idea when fans will next be able to attend, Mr Weaver is concerned some may not return.

He added:

"We need to grow our fans, especially if we want to attract players who want a big crowd.

"We are probably worrying more than most, but missing all this excitement is a big loss for fans. I think the solid fans will stay but we also want new people, which becomes difficult when they can't experience the roar of a crowd at a match."

The Chairman describes this time as "cliff edge" as clubs prepare for another six months without fans.

The club is heading to Wembley .. again

Mr Weaver assured fans that these tough times will be overcome. He said:

"I want to say that 'we are still kicking and we really want you to come back!'

"We will keep going and keep the atmosphere. We want to maintain our desire to succeed"