Why the Stray Ferret is now covering sport

Local sport coverage should be so much more than cricket scores and football transfer news. 

When I joined the Stray Ferret as its first dedicated sports reporter in January, my goal was to tell the stories of local sportspeople which would otherwise go under the radar in the district. 

Harrogate and the surrounding areas are home to a remarkable range of sports. There is a rich diversity of clubs, from football and cricket to diving, athletics and martial arts. 

As is the case with many amateur and semi-professional clubs, membership numbers can massively contribute to keeping them afloat. As can sponsorship. 

Business has been tough for many post-covid. In my first six months of interviewing, many representatives have told me that their clubs are still trying to attain the membership numbers they attained pre-pandemic. 

That is where sports journalism can support them.

By offering in-depth coverage to clubs, we put them in the spotlight in a way they may not have experienced previously. 

I recently interviewed Jed Gowland, the former head coach of Harrogate Hawks, which is the district’s only rugby league club. 

He told me that our coverage, coupled with their increased social media presence, had resulted in an increase in their Facebook engagement from 3,000 people to around 40,000.

There’s a reason why local sports journalism has been in decline. It’s been a tough economic few years for many local news organisations and, as a result, sports coverage has been cut.

Many local clubs have had little to no coverage and never met a sports journalist in person.

I was hired by The Stray Ferret specifically to cover these clubs and bring you stories you can’t find anywhere else.  

I have made it my mission to get out and about, conducting exclusive interviews with Harrogate Town players, as well as manager Simon Weaver, professional cricketers and, most proudly, Manchester United’s Leah Galton, plus many more. 

I have attended multiple major sporting events – football matches, boxing tournaments, and cricket finals. I’ve also covered overlooked sports such as croquet, triathlon and powerlifting.

And there really is so much going on in the district.  

With a Stray Ferret subscription, you will be able to read about all these remarkable sports personalities in the Harrogate area, learn about their expertise and the issues facing their chosen sport.

We are not going to solely cover weekly football match reports – we want to hear from all clubs and the whole range of sporting activities.

Sport plays a crucial role in local communities, it can break down barriers and bring people together. By raising their profile and covering them, we can help clubs engage with a wider audience and encourage greater participation.

As a subscriber to the Stray Ferret, you are helping us – and more specifically me – to do this. Thank you.

As I continue to build contacts and sporting connections, I’d like to hear from you if you have a story to tell or want coverage of an event or sport. It’s robert@thestrayferret.co.uk.

My job is to make sure the Stray Ferret gives you the whole sporting story.