Harrogate Town plans new terrace and merchandise kiosk

Harrogate Town has lodged plans to install a new terrace and merchandise kiosk at its Wetherby Road ground.

The club has tabled the proposal, which would see a new 100-person terrace built near to the north stand turnstiles, to Harrogate Borough Council.

Meanwhile, a kiosk is also planned in order to serve fans refreshments and Harrogate Town merchandise.

The club said the new terrace is required because the English Football League will no longer accept perimeter standing at stadiums.

In planning documents, it said:

“The proposed terrace will accommodate spectators which use the existing perimeter standing areas and will therefore not increase the overall ground capacity.

“The small kiosk building will be used for the club shop selling on site merchandising on match days, as well as a replacement (non-alcoholic) drinks servery to replace a kiosk within the AON Terrace that was recently converted to WC’s.”

The location for the terrace and kiosk at the Envirovent Stadium.

The location for the terrace and kiosk at the Envirovent Stadium.

The council will make a decision on the plan at a later date.

The club recently saw its proposal to upgrade its Envirovent Stadium approved.

It will see almost 1,000 seats installed to bring the ground up to EFL standards.

Read more:

To the south of the ground, the Myrings terrace will see 264 seats installed and the 1919 bar will be demolished and replaced with a new standing terrace.

A total of 603 seats were installed in the Black Sheep Brewery stand a few weeks ago.

The changes will not increase the overall capacity of 5,071 but will see the number of fans that can be seated rise from 1,193 to 2,060.

Harrogate Town post £1.2 million loss

Harrogate Town posted a £1.2 million loss in their second season in the English Football League.

Newly-published accounts for the year ending June 30, 2022 also reveal the club’s dependency on chairman Irving Weaver, who owns 75% of the club’s share capital, increased.

The club owed Mr Weaver £4.4 million, compared with £3.7 million the previous year.

This year’s figures follow a £1 million loss the previous year.

The accounts say:

“The company will have sufficient funds, through funding from its controlling shareholder R I Weaver, to meet its liabilities as they fall due.

“Those forecasts are dependent on R I Weaver not seeking repayment of the amounts currently owed to him.

“R I Weaver has indicated his intention to continue to make available such funds as are needed by the company, and he does not intend to seek repayment of the amounts due for the period covered by the forecasts.”

The accounts also show the number of staff increased from 35 to 55 in what was the club’s first season in the EFL with fans allowed back in the ground after covid.

The Wetherby Road club’s land and buildings are valued at £4.3 million as opposed to £3.91 million a year earlier.

Town’s fortunes on the pitch have improved lately, with an upturn in results easing them away from the relegation zone.

Read more:

The club said in a statement:

“We have spent the last 18 months investing in the club for the long-term future including the re-structuring and strengthening of the team, developing the stadium and facilities to a standard fit for the EFL and to give our supporters a better match day experience, plus, the launch of our academy.

“We have exciting plans for the future with the growth of our player development centres, our Women and girls teams as well as many more initiatives to benefit supporters as we continue to grow as a club. We would take this opportunity to thank all our stakeholders for their continued support”

Harrogate Town appoints women’s director of football

Harrogate Town has appointed Jason Barker as women’s director of football.

Mr Barker will be the first full-time member of staff dedicated to the women’s team.

He will be tasked with overseeing the development of women’s and girls’ football at Harrogate Town from the player development centre to the first team.

Mr Barker, who has 10 years coaching experience and was formerly at Liverpool FC’s academy, said:

“I am looking forward to starting work with Harrogate Town and continuing the hard work the club has already done to build the foundations of the women’s/girls section.

“The next steps for us at Harrogate are to expand the women’s/girls’ section of this already very successful club and promote more playing opportunities for girls and women in the Harrogate district.”

Club operations director Dave Riley added:

“I am delighted that Jason has been appointed as our girls’ and women’s director of football. This is a real positive step and another major milestone within the football club for the women and girls’ game.

“Everyone at Harrogate Town AFC is looking forward to seeing their progression being taken to the next level.”

Read more:

 

Harrogate Town’s stadium upgrade approved

Harrogate Borough Council has approved plans by Harrogate Town FC to upgrade their Envirovent Stadium on Wetherby Road.

It will see almost 1,000 seats installed to bring the ground up to English Football League (EFL) standards.

To the south of the ground, the Myrings terrace will see 264 seats installed and the 1919 bar will be demolished and replaced with a new standing terrace.

A total of 603 seats were installed in the Black Sheep Brewery stand a few weeks ago.

The changes will not increase the overall capacity of 5,071 but will see the number of fans that can be seated rise from 1,193 to 2,060.

Read more:

This is to ensure the club meets an EFL requirement that grounds have a minimum capacity of 5,000 and 2,000 seats.

The 1919 bar has not been used on matchdays since before the covid pandemic. It has also been used for private functions.

The club recently opened a new bar next to the Black Sheep stand.

The ground on Wetherby Road has been used by the club for over 100 years and has seen significant investment over the last few years as the club looks to keep up with rapid growth on the pitch.

Simon Weaver’s side now play in the EFL after playing most of its existence in the lower leagues.

They currently sit in 21st in League Two and play Gillingham at home tomorrow (Saturday).

A Harrogate Town spokesperson said:

“As part of our wider stadium development plans, work will soon begin on a new South Stand at the Envirovent Stadium with the aim of being completed in time for next season 2023/24.

“The development will enable the club to reach the required EFL regulation of a minimum of 2,000 seats and will also help us provide for the increasing demand for seats which we cannot accommodate currently.

“We are seeing more young families and first-generation Town supporters, as well as first time fans visiting than ever before so we are delighted to be in a position to provide more seats and facilities to meet the growing demand. In turn, it will help deliver an enhanced match day experience for our loyal supporters and visiting away clubs too.”

Jack Muldoon signs contract extension at Harrogate Town

Harrogate Town forward Jack Muldoon has a signed a contract extension until June 2025.

Muldoon, who signed for Town in 2018, has made 224 appearances for the club, scoring 63 goals and 41 assists.

During his time at Harrogate, the 33-year-old helped the them achieve promotion to the English Football League, lift the FA Trophy and scored the club’s first ever goal in League Two.

The former Fylde forward is among Town’s longest serving players, with only Warren Burrell, George Thomson and Josh Falkingham having been at the club longer.

Now, alongside captain Falkingham, Muldoon has committed his future to Town.

He said:

“I’m delighted to get it over the line and to be able to keep concentrating on keeping the club where it should be in the Football League.

“I’ve been here a long time now through thick and thin, when I first signed I wanted to get the club as high as possible and that aim hasn’t changed.

“We got where we are through attitude and work ethic and we need to all come together now to keep striving forward.

“The club means so much the lads and it’s important that we instill that personality and attitude onto the young lads, I take big pride in that part of my role making sure standards are as high as they have ever been.”

Read more:

 

Harrogate Town captain Josh Falkingham signs two-year contract extension

Harrogate Town captain Josh Falkingham has signed a two-year contract extension.

The 32-year-old, who joined from Darlington in 2017, has made more than 150 appearances for the club in three separate divisions.

The deal will see Falkingham lead Town until the end of the 2024/25 season.

Falkingham said:

“I am absolutely delighted to have extended my stay for another two years. I really want to play my part in pushing the club forward in that time and together hopefully we can keep improving and pushing up the table.

“For me, it has always been about working hard and constantly trying to improve. I always push myself to give everything for this club and I will continue to do that.” 

The 32-year-old has led Town to two promotions in his five-year stint.

Famously, Falkingham captained the side to a 3-1 play-off final victory over Notts County in 2020 which saw the club promoted to the English Football League for the first time in its history.

Town manager Simon Weaver said:

“Josh has played an instrumental part in the climb the club has been on in recent years. We are delighted that he has signed this extension.

“Players, teammates, staff and supporters can all see how much this club means to him and that passion and determination is a great attribute to have in any dressing room.”

Read more:

 

Harrogate Town to open Hall of Fame

Harrogate Town are to open a Hall of Fame recognising people who have made outstanding contributions to the club in its 108-year history.

The Hall of Fame will be located in multiple locations in Harrogate: the new supporters bar at the EnviroVent Stadium on Wetherby Road, the club shop on Commercial Street, the Exercise.co.uk executive lounge at the ground and the Cedar Court Hotel.

A Hall of Fame committee, chaired by supporter Bernard Higgins and consisting of supporters and club officials, has been meeting monthly since June.

The first 11 inductees were selected from an extensive list compiled by club historian Phil Harrison.

Their names will be announced between  January 23 and February 2 and an official launch event attended by chairman Irving Weaver and manager Simon Weaver at the Cedar Court Hotel on February 9.

The launch event will be held at the Cedar Court Hotel.

Following the event, details will be revealed on how supporters can help to shape the Hall of Fame and select the 12th and final inductee of the 2022/23 season.

Inaugural Hall of Fame members, along with family of those who have died, will be invited back to the EnviroVent Stadium over the course of the 2022/23 season, where their contributions to the club will be celebrated.

Each season, two more individuals will be inducted to the Hall of Fame.

Read more:

 

Harrogate Town set for Christmas Yorkshire derby at Bradford

Harrogate Town are set for a Christmas Yorkshire derby as they travel to Bradford City tonight.

Simon Weaver’s men will take on the Bantams at Valley Parade for their third meeting of the season.

Town will be hoping for a repeat of November’s FA Cup first round tie, where they knocked City out after a 1-0 victory.

However, the Bantams will be expecting to build on their 2-1 win at the EnviroVent Stadium back in October.

The two teams are having contrasting seasons with Bradford pushing for a play-off place under Mark Hughes while Town have picked up form and are looking to pull further away from the relegation zone.

Weaver is hoping that Alex Pattison will be fit for the clash after returning to training this week after recovering from illness over Christmas.

Read more:

Max Wright will also be in contention after returning to the side as a substitute for the 3-2 Boxing Day win over Grimsby Town.

However, centre-back Kyle Ferguson looks set to miss the game after picking up a knee injury in training which saw him sit out of the Grimsby match.

Despite already winning at Valley Parade in the FA Cup this season, Weaver said Town have to remain focused for the league fixture this evening.

He said:

“It is a while ago now and we have played in a different style and a different way in recent weeks that has worked.

“But we will judge it in isolation. We know that they are a strong outfit. We just want to add to the points tally at the minute and focus on each game in isolation.

“We want to be really focused and be as determined as if we had lost the last few. We have to be right up for it.”

Kick off for Bradford City vs Harrogate Town will be 7.45pm tonight.

Harrogate Town set for first game in three weeks in Boxing Day clash

Harrogate Town are set to clash with Grimsby Town today in their first fixture in three weeks.

The Boxing Day match comes as Town have had two EFL League Two games postponed due to a frozen pitch.

Harrogate will welcome the Mariners to the EnviroVent Stadium in the hope of building on their 4-1 away win at Rochdale on December 3.

The fixture will be the first of three over the Christmas period.

Ahead of today’s game, Town will be without Will Smith, Dior Angus, Stephen Dooley, Matty Daly and Lewis Richards who are out injured.

Read more:

However, Joe Mattock is set to be available after missing the victory at Rochdale.

Town will be hoping for a repeat of last season when they took six points from the Mariners in the league.

Manager Simon Weaver said it was important that the players kept their focus over the next three games.

He said:

“We have got to make sure we have got that focus and don’t it slip.

“Three back to back wins would be huge for us in our season. It would make the table look completely different from where we were three games ago.

“It’s a tough prospect is this game. I have been watching a lot of the coverage of Grimsby. They had a great FA Cup victory against Plymouth, they went to Wimbledon and were probably the better team on the day and they beat Tranmere last time out.

“We know Paul Hurst, he was the last manager I played under. I know the quality he looks for in players and he is a very good manager.”

Photo of the Week: Harrogate Ferris Wheel

This week’s photograph was taken by Nick Payne, capturing the lights and movement on the Ferris Wheel during this year’s Christmas Fraye.

 

Nick Payne

Photo of the Week celebrates the Harrogate district. It could be anything from family life to capturing the district’s beauty. We are interested in amateur and professional photographs, in a landscape format.

Send your photographs to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk for a chance to be featured next week, we reserve the right to adjust and crop images to fit into our format.