Harrogate Town secured their status in the English Football League with a win at Newport County last night.
The 3-2 victory will see Town remain in League Two next season.
It means Harrogate can prepare for a third campaign in the EFL since their historic promotion in 2020.
Financially, it also means the club will continue to receive Premier League solidarity payments, EFL money and potential broadcasting fees if fixtures are shown on television.
The Premier League pays solidarity payments to all EFL clubs, with those in League Two receiving an estimated £450,000 each in recent seasons.
The club plans to renovate its EnviroVent Stadium on Wetherby Road to comply with EFL standards.
It can now proceed in the knowledge that its place among England’s top 92 clubs is safe for at least another year.
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Town’s 3-2 win at Newport last night was secured with a goal from Luke Armstrong seven minutes from full-time.
Armstrong’s 16th goal of the season leaves Harrogate nine points above the relegation zone with two games remaining.
Speaking after the match at Rodney Parade, manager Simon Weaver said he wanted the team to continue to build momentum despite securing survival.
He said:
Harrogate Town fans ecstatic after Wembley promotion“We said before the game that we want to finish with as many points as possible. We wanted to excite the fans, keep building momentum and end on a positive note for the fans.”
Harrogate Town fans were left ecstatic this afternoon after the club secured Football League status for the first time in its history.
A 3-1 win over Notts County at Wembley saw the club win their second promotion in three seasons.
Fans flocked to pubs across Harrogate to watch their side make history and were left delighted come five o’clock this afternoon.
Chris Thorpe celebrates Harrogate Town securing Football League status for the first time.
Chris Thorpe watched the game at a packed Harrogate Cricket Club and said he hopes Town can build on the promotion.
He said:
“I’m so delighted with the performance. We were the best team by far.
“We should have been two or three up by half time and were unlucky to concede inside the second half.
“We were absolutely class and were the best team by a mile. I can’t wait to play league football.
“Unfortunately we won’t be able to watch the guys next season, but we will watch them on TV maybe and we’re looking forward to pushing onto League One.”
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Town’s victory leaves them in league football for the first time in their history and 10 years on from facing relegation to the seventh tier.
Goals from George Thompson, Connor Hall and Jack Diamond ensured Harrogate will host League Two football next season.
For the fans, they have trips to Bradford City, Bolton Wanderers and Oldham Athletic to look forward to, should social distancing guidelines be relaxed.
Town are going up! pic.twitter.com/O25P92ppgr
— The Stray Ferret (@thestrayferret) August 2, 2020
Mike Burrett, who also follows Leeds United, said the win also means a lot for the town.
He said:
“I think it’s brilliant, because when I was a kid I went to Harrogate Town and they had crowds of about 300.
“Obviously it is different now and I think they can go from strength to strength.
“It was always said that Harrogate could not sustain a league football team, but I think that has been disproved.”