Harrogate Town captain on ‘incredible feeling’ of Wembley winner

Harrogate Town’s Josh Falkingham came with a real captain’s contribution to win the FA Trophy in what was a tough game at times.

The skipper was alive to the opportunity when Jack Muldoon’s effort came off the post and managed to tap the ball in from close range.

At 75 minutes it was the only goal of the game against non-league Concord Rangers. It means that town brings home more silverware in the FA Trophy.

Fresh from the high of scoring the winning goal, Josh Falkingham told the Stray Ferret:

“I can’t put into words how I am feeling. It’s a special time for a special club and it will live for a long time in the memory of the players and staff.

“We are obviously gutted that the fans couldn’t be here with us. But we have been here before and we have managed to get another win at Wembley.

“This is an incredible feeling, we are delighted. Goals are not really my forte. I get a lot of stick for not scoring as many as I should.

“But it is about the whole team who have worked really hard to achieve this.”

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The first half was quite frustrating at times for Harrogate Town, who struggled to break down a fresh team in Rangers.

Town manager Simon Weaver said after the game that he “let rip” on the players at half time. That talk clearly had an affect on the team that came out for the second half.

Josh conceded that the team was not good enough in the first half and said:

“It was simply not good enough. We were nowhere near where we should have been. The gaffer came in and told us how it was.

“We were much more on the front foot and took the game to Concord Rangers. We were able to finish strong and get the goal at a key time.

“So happy days. We have another trophy to take home to Harrogate. I am sure we will have a fair few beers tonight and a few sore heads in the morning.”

Match preview: Harrogate Town vs Concord Rangers

Harrogate Town are heavy favourites to beat Concord Rangers at Wembley Stadium in the final of the 2019/20 FA Trophy this evening.

It will perhaps be one of the most unusual English cup finals to ever take place, as Harrogate Town are no longer a non-league club but are playing in one of non-league football’s showpiece events.

The game was supposed to take place last year but was delayed due to the covid pandemic.

Concord Rangers play in the National League South, which was cancelled in January due to the pandemic. It means they’ve not played a competitive fixture since January 2.

Forward Alex Wall was their top scorer in the league with seven goals in 11 fixtures.

Experienced winger Danny Green is another player to watch and comes with football league pedigree. He played most of his career for league clubs including Dagenham & Redbridge, Charlton, Luton and MK Dons.

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Manager Simon Weaver told the Stray Ferret his squad won’t be taking the opposition lightly.

He played a weakened team against Cambridge United on Friday night to rest some of his key players ahead of the final.

He said:

“We’ve seen hundreds of teams bitten by smaller clubs. People expect us to win but it’s not as easy as that. This group of players won’t take things lightly.

But we have a strong resolve and belief we can win.”

The game kicks off at 5.00pm and will be shown live on BT Sport, with the channel deciding to show the game for free both online and on TV.

The Stray Ferret social media accounts will not be posting any updates this weekend about the FA Trophy Final in solidarity with football clubs withdrawing from platforms in protest against online racial abuse.
Concord Rangers: Who are they and how did they get to Wembley?

From playing friendly matches on the seafront to stepping out on to the pitch at Wembley, Concord Rangers are set for a milestone in their 54-year history.

Monday’s game against Harrogate Town will see the club hoping to overcome the odds and defeat the Football League side to lift the FA Trophy.

After no competitive fixtures since February due to the pandemic, Rangers will be hoping they can pull off an upset.

But who are Concord Rangers and how did they get to Wembley?

History

Formed in 1967, the club were initially set up as a bunch of boys playing friendly games on a pitch on the Canvey Island seafront.

Nicknamed the Beach Boys, the club picked up several honours throughout the 1970s including being the first to win the Essex Sunday Junior Trophy in 1979.

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Most of their games were played at Waterside Farm on Canvey Island until 1985, when they secured land to build their current ground at Thames Road.

After success in the Essex Senior League, the Beach Boys finished fifth in their first season in the Ryman League Division One North in 2008/9.

Manager Danny Cowley, who is now in charge at Portsmouth, took the club to a promotion in 2009 and then led them to their highest ever league position with another promotion to the Conference South.

Concord Rangers and Harrogate Town have waited eight months to play at Wembley.

Concord Rangers and Harrogate Town have waited eight months to play at Wembley.

The club has remained at that position ever since, but has also reached the quarter finals of the FA Vase and the first round of the FA Cup on two occasions.

How did they get to Wembley?

Concord Rangers’ day at the England team’s home ground will be the biggest game in their history.

The final, which has been delayed since last year due to covid, will see the Beach Boys pitted against EFL opposition in Town.

Rangers’ route to Wembley stretches back to November 2019.

The club overcame the likes of Bath City, Leamington and Royston Town to set up a semi-final against Halesowen Town.

Rangers scored in the 80th minute against Halesowen to reach the final.

That was back in September and both Concord and Town have had to wait eight months to walk out at Wembley.

To put a further dampener on the occasion, no fans will be allowed inside the stadium for the historic game.

BT Sport to show Harrogate Town’s Wembley final for free

Harrogate Town’s FA Trophy final against Concord Rangers is to be broadcast live for free by BT Sport.

The match will be played behind closed doors at Wembley on Monday.

BT Sport usually charges to watch matches but has decided to show Harrogate’s game for free across all its platforms.

It will be available via BTSport.com, the BT Sport App, BT TV, the Sky Digital Satellite Platform and Virgin Media channel 100.

After the game, the channel will also show Proud To Be Town, its documentary on the rise of Harrogate Town that gives a unique insight into a football club during the first coronavirus lockdown.

The schedule for the day is as follows:

12.45pm – Live – FA Vase Final – Consett v Hebburn Town
3.30pm – The Grassroots Football Show
4.30pm – Live – FA Trophy Final – Harrogate Town v Concord Rangers
7.30pm – BT Sport Films – Proud To Be Town

Simon Green, head of BT Sport, said:

“Following a period when many lower league football fans have been unable to watch their sides, we hope our coverage will provide them with an opportunity to watch an exciting non-league finals day live from Wembley Stadium.”

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A fan campaign supported by Harrogate & Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones attempted to persuade the Football Association to let fans watch the match live.

But the FA confirmed this month it wouldn’t allow this, which means Town fans will be cruelly denied a trip to the home of English football for the second time in 12 months.

The Stray Ferret will be at the Cedar Court Hotel on Monday to watch the game with the fans and will be reporting throughout the day.

The club and the hotel have got together to show the game on a big screen to 42 supporters and are offering food and drink as part of the package. Click here to purchase a ticket.

Harrogate Town trip to Wembley confirmed – but no fans allowed

Last season’s postponed FA Trophy final between Harrogate Town and Concord Rangers will take place behind closed doors at Wembley on May 3.

The fixture was postponed last year due to covid and fans had hoped it would be rearranged when fans were allowed back into stadiums.

However, the Football Association today confirmed the new date. It added a date later in the year was not available.

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It means Town fans will be denied their first-ever trip to the home of English football for the second time in a year.

The club played last season’s National League play-off final in August at an empty Wembley stadium.

The game will be broadcast live on BT Sport.

Harrogate Town managing director Garry Plant said:

“We were hoping the date of the final would be further along the lockdown restrictions pathway so supporters could have been there with us.

“We had been pushing the FA for that to be the case, but have not been consulted and this date comes to us out of the blue.

“We are deeply sorry for supporters who again will not get the chance to join us at Wembley, however we will be doing all we can to make arrangements that include the supporters and allow them to enjoy the final.”