Editor’s Pick of the Week: Gareth Southgate’s septic tank, clubbing in Ripon and ‘top sauce’ in HarrogateCouncil gives verdict on Gareth Southgate’s bid to amend ‘majestic’ Harrogate homeEditor’s Pick of the Week: Gareth Southgate goes septic in Harrogate, Ripon campaigns and Knaresborough gets trippyGareth Southgate submits plans for Harrogate homeReaders’ Letters: Harrogate’s Southgate did well – but England fans need to manage expectationsMicah Richards recalls awkward encounter with Gareth Southgate in Harrogate coffee shopKillinghall Nomads opens cafe named after ex-player Rachel Daly

A Harrogate district football team has opened a cafe named after its former player — superstar Rachel Daly.

Nomads Daly Brew Cafe is situated at Killinghall Moor Community Park, which is the home of Killinghall Nomads Junior Football Club. A mural of Rachel playing for England is on the wall.

Rachel, who was part of England Lionesses’ success at UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 last year, started her career at Killinghall Nomads and still has strong connections with the club.

Her mother, Louise, lives nearby and Rachel did a zoom call with girls during lockdown and has paid for kit.

Nomads Daly Brew Rachel Daly

Mary Beggs-Reid, social media officer for the club, said the club was trying to arrange for Rachel to attend an official opening in the next few weeks, and there was the possibility of England men’s manager Gareth Southgate also attending.

Mary said Rachel was thrilled when the club asked if she would be happy for the cafe to be named in her honour, adding:

“She’s absolutely over the moon about it. Some people get streets named after them but nothing had been done for Rachel.”

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Mary said the club committee got permission from Harrogate Borough Council to build the cafe at its clubhouse, which already had a kitchen. It cost £50,000 which was paid for by club funds and a grant from sports charity the Football Foundation.

The cafe is currently open on Saturday and Sunday mornings and most mornings during the week, but the times are a bit ad-hoc until the cafe officially opens.

Killinghall Moor is popular with dog walkers who can call in for refreshment. There is free WiFi and snacks such as bacon sandwiches as well as drinks. Mary said:

“It’s for the club and the community. Everyone is welcome.”

Nomads Daly Brew Rachel Daly

A Facebook group here has further details.

After winning Euro 22, Rachel moved from Houston Dash to Aston Villa Women, who are fifth in the Women’s Super League. She is the league’s second highest scorer with 10 goals.

Killinghall Nomads, which was formed in 1987, offers football coaching and competition from under-6 to under-16, including dedicated girls’ age groups from under-7 to under-16, as well as a pan-disability section.

Harry Gration on Southgate and the England squad

Harry Gration, Yorkshire legend,  former presenter of BBC Look North and now Vice President of the Yorkshire Society writes for the Stray Ferret about Harrogate’s Gareth Southgate and his historic England team.  

Make no mistake, this guy’s a special manager.

In my 42 years of broadcasting, many of them involving sporting events, I have met so many football managers who are nonentities. You know the cliched kind: taking each game as they come; it was a game of two halves… so how refreshing it is to hear the England manager, Gareth Southgate, setting new standards in every way.

We’ve seen a man of morals, decency, with community values and nurturing ethics. Can this exist in a world of top flight football? He has collected and moulded this side into what some say is the perfect squad. 

They all work together and protect the Southgate brand. What I like about what I see is in the pursuit of eloquence in this team when they are interviewed. 

There is a pride in playing for their country which happily shines through. Just watch the way they sing the national anthem. Many a year, you got the impression that some either didn’t know the words nor cared.

Gareth is a family man. His son, a chip off the old block, plays cricket alongside my son at their school in York. 

He’s proud of his dad, of course, but prefers to talk quietly about it all and concentrate on his game, cricket. He’s a fast bowler, by the way, and pretty good! He also chose to play for his school the day after that epic semi final. How’s that for loyalty!

Gareth loves living in North Yorkshire, away from the madding crowd. His wife and daughter add to the bond that Gareth has created with his England family. So I’d say that no England manager has established a brand like Gareth. 

They are his boys, picked with great thought and consideration, and put together with real care. Yes, he’s taken some stick on social media at times. But his devotion and total belief in his team is unwavering .

I have never felt so proud of an England team since 1966. Whatever happens on Sunday Gareth Southgate is a winner. Who says the good guys can’t win?

For me ‘arise Sir Gareth’ has a nice ring to it.

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‘Gareth Southgate’s dog licked my bald head’

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:

“I had the pleasure of meeting Garath Southgate at a charity do once. He was surprisingly down to earth, and very funny.”

‘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.