Harrogate Town reveal Leeds United FA Cup clash ticket detailsRipon man to run four ultra-marathons in memory of father

A Ripon man will run 224 kilometres in November in memory of his father.

Former Ripon Grammar School pupil Harry Cleary, 25, will aim to complete four ultra-marathons, which are each 56km.

The first three will be in London and the fourth and final leg will begin in Ilkley and end inside Elland Road Stadium — which he described as “a lifelong dream for a Leeds United fan”.

Mr Cleary’s father died this year after a long-term struggle with alcoholism and mental health.

Harry said:

“As a young man, watching the male figurehead in your life pass away as a shell of the man he once was, is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I’m determined that won’t happen to me.

“My dad was a very proud man who struggled to accept and discuss his emotions, and instead, leaned on the vices of life.

“The distance represents the 56 years of my dad’s turbulent, but incredibly impactful life.”

Harry Cleary, pictured at the front, taking part in a race.

Following his father’s death, Mr Cleary took up running as a coping mechanism and found it has been “invaluable” to his own mental health.

“As someone who has struggled with depression and anxiety for several years, I have sought these physical outlets as healthy coping mechanisms.

“I want to show men the importance of talking and asking for help if they need it.”

He is raising money for men’s mental health charity Movember and has set a target of £5,000.

The charity hosts an annual event which involves growing a moustache for the month of November. It aims to raise awareness and de-stigmatise male health issues, including suicide, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.

It won’t be the first time Mr Cleary has punished his body for the charity. Over the last three years, he has walked from the Scottish border to Newcastle in 32 hours and walked the 140km-length of Hadrian’s Wall — both on no sleep.

He added:

“I think about my dad every day, and I hope he’ll be looking down with pride as I complete these ultra-marathons to stop men like him dying far too young.

“I know I’ll be completing all my ultra-marathons with my dad.

“We’re marching on together, dad.”

Mr Cleary’s London runs will take place on Saturday, November 4, 11 and 18, and his Yorkshire leg will be on Sunday, November 26.

He told the Stray Ferret anyone is welcome to run with him and those interested should contact him on Facebook.

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Ex-Rossett student publishes war-time novella set in Harrogate

A former Rossett School student has recently published a novel that takes place in early 20th Century Harrogate.

Gary Baysinger lived in Harrogate more than 30 years ago and has now written a war-time novella set in the town.

In the space of just ten days, he lost his mother and was diagnosed with skin cancer so took up writing “as a distraction”.

The book, A kind of Homecoming, was inspired by the 1969 film, “Oh What a Lovely War” – a musical about World War One.

A scene in the film depicts the Christmas truce of 1914, during which a German soldier tells a British solider about his love for a British girl he left behind when he went to fight.

Mr Baysinger said:

“The scene left me with more questions than answers; who is this young man? Who is the girl? Did he survive the war? Did they end up together?

“I decided to write a story and answer those questions — I set it in Harrogate because I am fond of the place.

“I think we all sometimes wonder what would have happened if life had gone different at a young age.”

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Mr Baysinger’s family moved to Harrogate in the late 1970s, where his father took a position at Menwith Hill. Despite his short stint in Yorkshire – moving back to America in 1981 – he said he “wouldn’t want to be anywhere else” at the time.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“I spent my weekdays at Rossett High School, my Saturdays at Elland Road, and my Sundays kicking a football around a muddy pitch in Hampsthwaite, or on the Stray”.

Mr Baysinger is hoping Harrogate library will keep a copy  so locals can read the war-time novel.

“I recently visited Harrogate for the first time in nearly three decades.

“I met up with some old friends and was astounded by the warmth and hospitality they showed me.”

A Kind of Homecoming is available to buy now on Amazon.

Harrogate’s Rachel Daly given hero’s welcome at Elland Road

Harrogate’s Rachel Daly received a hero’s welcome at Leeds United’s Elland Road stadium this past weekend.

Daly, who is a lifelong fan of Leeds United, was welcomed onto the pitch ahead of the club’s opening day Premier League clash against Wolves on Saturday.

She received a standing ovation and gave a pitch side interview before kick off.

She made the appearance off the back of being part of England’s Lionesses’ historic win at Euro 2022.

Daly and her teammates captured the heart of a nation after clinching the title with a 2-1 defeat of Germany last week.

Following her pitch-side appearance, Daly saw Leeds pick up all three points with a 2-1 win with goals from Rodrigo and an Aït-Nouri own goal.

In June, Daly lived out a childhood dream when she played at Elland Road in an international friendly against the Netherlands.

https://twitter.com/LUFC/status/1555916110700101632?s=20&t=ZxSSO4o_-4xsBGRQRnXI3A

She used to watch the men’s team play at the club’s famous old ground when she was a season ticket holder as a child.

Daly even has a line from the Leeds anthem Marching on Together tattooed on her forearm.

She said in an interview ahead of the Netherlands friendly:

“It’s a club that has held such a special place in my heart and my family’s heart and I’ve got so many memories of being at Leeds.”

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Rachel Daly continues to support Killinghall team, coach reveals

The Killinghall Nomads girls’ football manager who was a coach when Rachel Daly played at the club has praised the Lioness for her ongoing support.

David Terzza remembers Daly playing in the boys teams at the junior club from U8s to U11s.

He said she had kept in touch and sponsored last season’s Adidas football kits for the girls’ teams.

The girls were also invited to meet Daly and her fellow Lionesses at a training session at St George’s Park and to watch the England v Netherlands friendly at Elland Road in Leeds.

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Mr Terzza, who has coached at the club for 22 years, said:

“I remember seeing her play, she was outstanding. When Rachel started playing she was the only girl at the time who played on the boys’ teams. She was fearless and could hold her own. The coaches used to point her out and say she was going to go far.

“Rachel has kept in touch and has sponsored Adidas football kits for the girls teams. They were proudly worn by the U11 and U14 Girls last season. Both teams were inspired by this act of kindness to become league winners.”

Mr Terzza has coached girls’ football for the last 12 years and is also the secretary for the Harrogate and District Junior Girls Football League, which is overseen by the Football Association.

He believes the Lionesses’ Euro win will have a lasting impact on girls ‘and women’s grassroots football.

He said:

“It has inspired our girls tremendously and has been an incredible boost to women’s and girls’ football, with the Lionesses now well-known household names.”

Harrogate’s Rachel Daly ready for emotional Elland Road fixture

It will be a mix of emotions for Harrogate’s Rachel Daly if she plays tonight for England at Elland Road.

The international friendly against the Netherlands is part of the preparations for Women’s Euro 2022, which takes place next month on home soil.

Rachel, who was announced in Sarina Wiegman’s squad last week, began her career at Leeds United but has never played at the club’s famous old ground.

She has, however, watched the Leeds men’s team play there many times as the diehard fan used to have a season ticket as a child.

Rachel even has a line from the club’s anthem Marching on Together tattooed on her forearm.

In an interview for the matchday programme tonight, she said:

“It’s a club that has held such a special place in my heart and my family’s heart and I’ve got so many memories of being at Leeds.

“It’ll be really exciting to go back as I was there my whole youth career – I started there when I was about eight years old, right through until the senior level.

“I’ve actually never played there, which is crazy because I’ve played in so many different grounds with England, but never Elland Road.

“I’ve been a lifelong, diehard supporter of Leeds…my whole family has. As far as I can remember, I’ve been going there since I was a kid. It’s such a great environment being there as a fan, so being able to play will be even better for me.”

https://twitter.com/Lionesses/status/1540067554848391168?s=20&t=ct1KUrxeS8aaSRbxwxZbcw

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If she plays, Daly will reach the impressive milestone of 50 England caps.

But the game at Elland Road will be bittersweet as Rachel’s dad Martyn, who died last year, was also a massive Leeds fan.

The Stray Ferret met Mr Daly before the Tokyo Olympics. He told us all about the Daly family’s love of Leeds United.

Rachel said her dad “was the biggest Leeds fan I’ve ever met in my life.”

She added:

“It will be so awful to not have him there because I think it would have been one of his proudest moments.”

“I have a different perspective towards football and life now. Football has always been the be-all-and-end-all for me, and it still is, but now I play for a different purpose as well.

“When I get on the pitch, it’s not just about me performing, it’s me performing to make my dad even more proud than he already was.

“I think I carry that weight with me, but it’s a nice weight to have because it’s every game I want to do better and better. I know I’m making him proud up there.

“But in a way, that’s what will make it even more special, having the rest of my family there knowing how big fans we are.”

The game tonight kicks off at 8.00pm and will be shown live on ITV4. Tickets can still be purchased but only at the Elland Road ticket office.

Harrogate student scores wonder goal for Leeds youth team

St John Fisher Catholic High School student and Leeds United player Archie Gray scored a wonder goal at Elland Road last night in front of almost 10,000 supporters.

The 16-year-old midfielder scored the third goal as the club’s under-23 team beat rivals Manchester United.

Gray is the great-nephew of Leeds legend, and Kirkby Overblow resident, Eddie Gray.

Highly rated by the club, he’s already featured as an unused substitute twice for the first team in the Premier League aged just 15.

Leeds director of football Victor Orta has compared Gray to a young Sergio Aguero and former manager Marcelo Bielsa said he will eventually achieve elite status in the game.

Take a look at his goal last night, which was struck from 35 yards.

https://twitter.com/LUFC/status/1503832673529311246?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1503832673529311246%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.leedsunited.com%2Fnews%2Facademy%2F29651%2Fu23s-live-updates-leeds-united-vs-manchester-united

St John Fisher has also sent its congratulations to the young player:

Huge congratulations to Year 11 student Archie Gray who scored for the @LUFC under 23 team last night. https://t.co/6HaRJ3bwnU

— St John Fisher Catholic High School, Harrogate (@sjfchs) March 16, 2022

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Harrogate people face trip to Leeds for booster jab walk-ins

People in Harrogate face a trip to Leeds for their nearest covid booster jab walk-in clinics.

NHS England has announced that, from today, hundreds of vaccination sites in England have started offering booster jabs without appointments for those eligible.

But according to the NHS England site, the nearest walk-in clinic for people in Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough is currently Elland Road stadium in Leeds.

Other sites listed for Harrogate are in Bradford, Wakefield and Halifax, the latter of which has five.

The nearest site listed for people in Masham is in Teesside, 44 miles away.

Those eligible must have had their second vaccine six months ago and be aged over 50 or have an underlying medical condition.

Care home staff and residents, and frontline health and social care workers can also get the booster vaccine.

The walk-in centres will also offer first covid vaccines for 12 to 15-year-olds.

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Dr Nikki Kanani, GP and deputy lead for the NHS covid vaccination programme, said: 

“NHS staff are making it as easy as possible for people to get their top-up vaccination, and from today people can now go online, find their nearest site and go and get their booster without delay.

“The booster is not just a nice to have – it is really important protection ahead of what we know will be a challenging winter. So if you are eligible, please do check the site finder and go get your jab”.

Local bookings available

Those eligible for a booster can still book appointments at vaccination sites in the district.

The Homecare Pharmacy site in Knaresborough is currently offering vaccinations by appointment. Last week, the centre at Chain Lane Community Hub welcomed its first 12 to 15-year-olds to be offered a vaccine.

The Great Yorkshire Showground vaccination site will reopen in December for two weeks in an effort to tackle demand for booster jabs.

To book an appointment, visit the NHS England website.

Jeff Stelling to march from Harrogate Town in aid of prostate cancer

Well-known Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling is set to march from Harrogate to Leeds in aid of Prostate Cancer UK this month.

Jeff, who is known for anchoring Sky’s Soccer Saturday coverage, has raised more than £1 million for the men’s health charity and has taken part in four marches since 2016.

This year, he is set to walk from Harrogate Town’s EnvioVent Stadium to Elland Road in Leeds via Kirk Deighton Rangers and Leeds Rhinos.

The stop at Kirk Deighton will be poignant as the club was home to Yorkshireman Lloyd Pinder, who sadly died of the disease last year after striking up a firm friendship with Stelling.

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The walk, which is taking place on August 31, will be one of four walking marathons he takes part in.

Jeff said:

“Covid has had a horrific impact on lives across the UK, but prostate cancer has not gone away. In fact it’s now more important than ever that we support men and their loved ones.

“One in eight men in the UK will get prostate cancer in their lifetime. I deal in stats, but that one still shocks me. This is our dads, partners, brothers, grandads, uncles and friends.

“That’s why I wear the Prostate Cancer UK ‘Man of Men’ badge. That’s why we’ve marched across the UK three times, helping raise more than £1 million for crucial research to beat prostate cancer.”

Jeff has invited 400 football fans to take part in his walking marathons, including the walk to Elland Road, to raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK.

For more information on how to sign up, visit prostatecanceruk.org/jeffsmarch.