Harrogate Town boss Simon Weaver has paid tribute to Gareth Southgate, who he said has paved the way for football managers to be “principled and honest”.
Weaver told the Stray Ferret that he first met at the England manager, who lives locally, at a gym and they have built up a friendship over the years.
Ahead of the National League play-off final at Wembley last summer, Weaver invited Southgate to give the Town players a motivational team-talk before the biggest game in their history.
Weaver said:
“His emotional intelligence is second to none.
“He’s obviously an outstanding communicator. His values show great honesty.”
The Town boss said that during his own playing career, managers wouldn’t always explain why he was left out of a game, which led to a loss of respect.
In a team full of superstars, he said it is a credit to Southgate’s man-management skills that the players are all firmly behind him, no matter who is chosen for the final 11.
He said:
“There’s no dissent in the squad. The buy-in from his players is second to none.”
But he said it’s a mistake to label Southgate as “just a nice guy”.
“He’s not controversial but has a steely edge.”
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Weaver said Harrogate should “cherish and be proud” of Southgate, and said that he tries to run Harrogate Town with similar values.
Weaver added:
“He’s the perfect fit for an England manager, no job is too small. I look up to him and I can’t help but admire him.
“He’s paved the way to be principled and not have a big front.”
He also has an amusing anecdote. A couple of years ago, Weaver bumped into Southgate in a clothes shop in Harrogate and they had a long chat. Afterwards, the shop owner nudged the Town boss, not knowing who he was, and asked:
Italian Ripon restaurant owner thinks England will win“Was that really Gareth Southgate?”
Ripon restaurateur Franco Fantoni has got the blues when thinking about the Azzurri’s chances at Wembley on Sunday.
The owner of Prima Ristorante Italiano in Kirkgate is pessimistic as he prepares for the big match.
He believes that Roberto Mancini’s team will be beaten by Gareth Southgate’s golden boys.
Mr Fantoni told the Stray Ferret:
“Sadly, I think we’re going to lose.
“England have played better football than us and I predict they will win 2-0.”
Will Gareth Southgate’s team have the last laugh against Italy on Sunday?
The lifelong football fan comes from Bergamo in the Lombardy region of northern Italy and is a seasoned student of football in his native and adopted countries.
Back in the place of his birth, he supports Serie A team Atalanta BC, but he also enjoys the English version of the beautiful game and said:
“Since moving to England in 1973, I’ve followed Leeds United and have been a season ticket holder for more than 30 years.”
Mr Fantoni, who has owned the multi-award-winning Prima Ristorante for 36 years, is convinced that his countrymen will taste defeat, but the four-times Fifa World Cup winners go to Wembley with an unbeaten run of 33 games behind them.
They were also the 1968 Euro Champions.
In contrast, England have just the 1966 World Cup win to their name in major international tournaments and are attempting to bring 55 years of hurt, disappointment and under-achievement to an end.
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The Azzurri have been tactically astute when the heat has been on, most noticeably in the pressure-cooker atmosphere of quarter and semi-final games against Belgium and Spain respectively.
If Italy can serve up yet another winning Euro performance in the three lions’ den, Mr Fantoni will have to eat his words – but it’s a dish he will happily swallow.
Harrogate district draped in England colours ahead of Euro 2020 final
Football fans across the Harrogate district have been decorating their homes in England’s colours ahead of Sunday’s Euro 2020 final.
England will step out at Wembley for their first major tournament final in 55 years this weekend and people have draped their houses in St George’s flags as part of the excitement.
Stray Ferret readers have been sharing their pictures of their shows of support for Gareth Southgate’s men.
Houses are covered in red and white, “it’s coming home” slogans and one household even singled out Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips, dubbed the “Yorkshire Pirlo” by the club’s supporters.
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England will take on Italy in the Euro 2020 final in front of a crowd of more than 60,000 at Wembley. The game will be broadcast on both BBC and ITV.
Have you decorated your house ahead of England’s big game? Share your pictures with us on contact@thestrayferret.co.uk and we will feature them.
These Leeds fans paid tribute to both England and Kalvin Phillips, dubbed the “Yorkshire Pirlo” by supporters.
Sheburn House in Knaresborough showing its support for England this weekend.
More bunting and decorations ahead of England’s big game.
Everyone in Harrogate seems to have a story about meeting one of the town’s most famous residents, Gareth Southgate. Some are more bizarre than others.
As anticipation continued to build for England taking on Italy in the Euros 2020 final, the Stray Ferret asked readers if they had ever met the England manager.
He lives at Swinsty Reservoir and often makes his way into town, so lots of people commented with their anecdotes.
Darren Townend told the Stray Ferret about the time he met one of the manager’s pet dogs. Southgate has a cockapoo and a Labrador.
Mr Townend said:
“I was running around Swinsty Reservoir early one Sunday morning. It must have been around 2018.
“Partway through the run I stopped to tie up my shoelace and felt something lick my bald head.
“So I looked up and saw that it was Gareth Southgate with his dog. Gareth was apologising. I tried a nonchalant, non-fanboy ‘no problem’ and carried on.”
Jody Meadus also shared her story:
“I had broken three toes at work and hobbled across a petrol station on Ripon Road.
“Gareth Southgate stopped and held the door open for me. He is a true gentleman.”
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Sophie Issa will never live down the time she stopped her husband meeting Gareth Southgate. She said:
“We saw him and his family eating at Betty’s Harlow Carr before he was the England manager.
“I wouldn’t let my husband go up and ask for a photo. I didn’t want to intrude on him when he was with his family. A couple of weeks after he was announced as England’s manager.
“My husband has never let me forget I didn’t let him have a photo with the future England manager.”
Adam Cuthbert commented:
“I saw him walking down the steps of the footbridge at York station towards Platform 3 for London after getting off the Knaresborough train about six years ago.
“It was when he was doing a bit of punditry for ITV for the Champions League, just after he’d left the U23’s job.
“He casually walked past me and my family. I called out ‘Gareth’ but he pretended he hadn’t heard me. He must have been in a hurry for his train.
“Still a good memory. I bet he wouldn’t be able to walk so freely on his own in public now. Top bloke!”
Mark Madeley said:
“Gareth Southgate was at Crimple Squash Club with his kids at a Karate grading. He was a very easy-going and approachable guy.”
And Tommy Deux recalled:
No plans for big screen on Stray for Euro 2020 final, says council“I had the pleasure of meeting Garath Southgate at a charity do once. He was surprisingly down to earth, and very funny.”
Council officials have said they have no plans to hold a big screen on the Stray for England’s Euro 2020 final against Italy on Sunday.
The Three Lions reached their first major tournament final in 55 years on Wednesday after beating Denmark 2-1 after extra-time in front of 60,000 fans at Wembley.
Sunday is expected to see pubs and beer gardenpacked out to watch the match against Italy which will be broadcast on both ITV and BBC.
Despite being England’s first final since winning the World Cup in 1966, Harrogate Borough Council has said it has no plans to host a big screen for the occasion.
A spokesperson for the council said:
“We have no plans to organise a big screen, or the associated social distancing measures that would be required, on the Stray this weekend.”
The council added it also had no received any applications from other parties to host a big screen.
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The Stray has been used in the past for people to watch major sporting events, such as the Wimbledon final in 2013.
Meanwhile, the government has announced that pubs will be allowed to stay open until 11.15pm on Sunday evening.
The Prime Minister’s spokesperson said the extension would allow people to watch the game in case it goes to extra time and penalties.
‘Give Gareth Southgate the freedom of Harrogate borough’Councillors have called for England football team manager Gareth Southgate to be honoured with the Freedom of the Borough of Harrogate.
Mr Southgate, who lives near Swinsty Reservoir, guided the England men’s team to their first major championships final in 55 years last night.
While there is talk nationally of a knighthood, attention has turned locally to awarding him the freedom of the borough — which is the highest honour Harrogate Borough Council can bestow.
Among those to have received the accolade, which is reserved for people who the council deem to have ‘rendered eminent services to the district’, is Jonathan Wild, the former chief executive and chair of Bettys and Taylors.
Six councillors, including the mayor, told the Stray Ferret today they would back a motion for Mr Southgate to receive the honour.
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Conservative John Ennis, who represents Harrogate Stray, said it was a “marvellous idea”, adding:
“Gareth Southgate has been a dignified figure the whole country has got behind.
“It is great that he lives in the area as well, he is a true credit to the town.”
Liberal Democrat Christine Willoughby, who represents Knaresborough Eastfield, said:
“I think if Gareth Southgate is eligible for the award then he certainly deserves the recognition.
“We could also celebrate any local Olympic sports stars and also the cyclist Mark Cavendish.”
‘He lives in my ward’
Victoria Oldham, the Conservative councillor for Washburn, said:
“While I am not entirely sure what the requirements are, I would certainly support giving Gareth Southgate the freedom of the borough.
“The fact that he lives in my ward makes it even better. His team’s performance has really put a smile on our faces.”
Liberal Democrat councillor Trevor Chapman, who represents Harrogate Bilton Grange and is currently the district’s mayor, said:
“Being a football fan myself I am very much aware of Gareth’s efforts and of course he is a resident of the district.
“From a personal perspective I think it would be great if we could give him some recognition locally.”
Cllr Stuart Martin, the Conservative representative for Ripon Moorside and former mayor, said:
“I think Gareth Southgate deserves all the accolades he can get. He seems to get all the players to perform at their best.
“It is always really nice when people from the Harrogate district do well and lead the way.”
Cllr Paul Haslam, the Conservative representative for Harrogate Old Bilton, said:
“I would be very happy to support it. He could even put his sheep on the Stray if that’s what it entitles him to!”
England beat Denmark 2-1 last night to achieve a place in Sunday’s final of Euro 2020 against Italy.
Harrogate man’s homophobic abuse after England gameA gay man has spoken of his shock at hearing homophobic abuse in a shop in Harrogate after England beat Germany 2-0.
England captain Harry Kane wore a rainbow armband during Tuesday’s match to show support for LGBT+ people during Pride month.
But the following morning the man, who asked not to be named, was visiting a shop close to the centre of town and heard staff laughing about the armband and talking about how gay people were “disgusting and weird”.
This prompted the openly gay man to tell them to think before they speak.
He told the Stray Ferret:
“While they did not direct these comments at me, they were aimed at people like me in a way. I was shocked that they would say such things so freely.
“People just seem to be missing kindness. I just worry if this is how gay people are treated today what it will be like for the next generation.
“I am young and have not been out for a long time but I have already endured so much homophobic abuse, we need to talk about it.
“Just in Harrogate I get so many funny looks if I wear more feminine clothes. People have called me a f***** and a freak. It needs to stop.”
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He was not alone in suffering abuse after the England game. Steve Russell, chief executive of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, was also abused in the town centre.
A woman told him she was “proud to be white and British because we’re better than people like you”.