Harrogate Town are set for a crunch Yorkshire derby in the FA Cup first round today.

Town travel to Bradford City for a 12.30pm kick off as they look to get their cup campaign off to a good start.

More than 300 Harrogate fans are set to head to Valley Parade, and planned strike action on the railways this weekend has been called off.

Town manager Simon Weaver said his side have to remain focussed if they want to get through to the next round.

He said:

“We will just have to make sure we are focussed and concentrated throughout the game.

“We know that if you allow Bradford to play then they have got some good quality players and are organised by a very good manager.

“We can’t take our eye off the ball throughout the entirety of the game. We have got to make sure we are on it.”

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Town will be hoping for a repeat of last season when they managed to beat League One side Portsmouth to make it to the third round.

Harrogate beat Bradford last season on their visit to Valley Parade. But the Bantams took the bragging rights last month at the EnviroVent Stadium with a 2-1 win.

City boss Mark Hughes has said his side are also eyeing a cup run this campaign.

Hughes said:

“I am looking forward to it. A local derby is always a good watch, and we are hoping for a big turnout.

“We want to progress in the cups this season. There clearly is a financial edge to going far, but the reality is, if you get to the third round, there are some good ties we want to be involved in.

“We will try and get there. Our intention is to stay in the competition for as long as we can.

“There is a real understanding within the squad about the history of the competition. The FA Cup is not on the same level, in terms of the prestige and standing, compared to other competitions.

“We have to navigate the game at the weekend. We have beaten them away from home, so there is no reason why we should not be confident.”

Harrogate Town has submitted major new plans to redevelop its Wetherby Road ground.

The club has until April 30, 2024 to provide a capacity of 5,000 fans with a minimum of 2,000 seats to comply with English Football League membership criteria.

It currently caters for 5,000 fans but only has 1,000 seats.

Planning documents published today by Harrogate Borough Council reveal the club has applied to convert the Black Sheep and Myrings standing terraces to seated areas, providing 603 seats.

It also intends to demolish the 1919 venue and construct a new 1919 terrace with seating, a spectator refreshment area and toilets.

The club also wants to install ball stop netting and has submitted a separate planning application for a temporary marquee containing a refreshment bar.

David Smith, associate director of planning consultants WSP, which is acting on behalf of the club, said in a letter to the council:

“The proposed works will provide additional seating and spectator facilities for existing fans.

“The new spectator facility will encourage away fans to get to the ground earlier on match days and ease congestion immediately before kick-off.

“As such, the proposals will not give rise to any significant traffic congestion and road safety problems.

The club needs to create another 1,000 more seats.

The club previously applied to build a new, bigger South Stand.

Mr Smith’s letter said:

“This further application proposes an alternative, less disruptive and more efficient means of achieving the EFL requirement.

“There will be less demolition of existing buildings and a quicker construction programme with this proposal.

“This proposal will also help improve the match day experience. The proposal will mark an important step in the on-going success of the club.”

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‘Aim to start in December’

The Stray Ferret asked Harrogate Town, which secured promotion from the National League to the EFL for the first time in the club’s history in 2020, how much the project will cost and when it hopes work will take place.

A club spokesman said:

“Cost – we don’t know as yet, we are still working through the preliminary work but needed to get the application through early to reach the target date for having 2,000 seats.

“We aim to start in December/January time subject to planning and be ready for the start of season 2023 though we may still have some internal works to finish.”

We also asked how the club will handle the disruption on match days and what happens if the club, which is currently 21st of 24 in division two of the English Football League, gets relegated.

The spokesman said:

“No plans to move any games, work can be done in between games and facilities may be affected on match days at the away end but suitable provisions will be made if that’s the case.

“The plans will progress as we are aiming to improve facilities and match day experience for our loyal supporters and we have more families visiting us now to cater for, plus we hope to attract more first generation fans as we grow.”

A temporary bar is due to open at Harrogate Town‘s stadium in about two weeks.

Club chief executive Sarah Barry revealed the news at a fans’ forum last night — and added she hoped the Wetherby Road ground would have a second bar for home supporters by Christmas.

Not being able to get a drink on match days has been frustrating fans for some time.

Ms Barry told the forum she had been working on a solution since she arrived as chief executive just over a year ago, adding:

“We got planning permission on 6 September – that’s how long it has been. By the time we got planning permission unfortunately for us we can’t get the building slot we hoped.

“I’m absolutely delighted to say we have just had permission to put up a temporary bar which we hope will be put up as soon as possible. We will also be turning another part of the ground into a home supporters bar too.

“We will certainly have a temporary bar coming imminently and we will have a second bar, I’d like to say by Christmas, but don’t hold me to that as we still have to go through some hoops.”

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About 100 fans attended last night’s event at the Cedar Court Hotel and although many questions focused on Town’s poor form there were no direct calls for manager Simon Weaver to go.

Irving Weaver said it was a “fair question” when someone asked about the direction of the club but added it was “a bit early” for a change.

Last night’s fan forum also revealed…

Simon Weaver has turned down two job offers at other clubs

Chairman Irving Weaver revealed his manager and son Simon Weaver had rejected two job offers from professional clubs. He said:

“I’ve never disclosed this and he doesn’t know I’m going to say this: Simon has had a couple of offers because of the success of the club.

“One was from a Championship club and six weeks ago a League Two club went direct to him without any protocol of going to the chairman.”

The Weavers are “scrappers” who plan to battle their way out of trouble

Simon Weaver has been under pressure lately following a poor run of form that has left Harrogate just above the relegation zone.

Irving Weaver said he and Simon had no plans to quit and would work together. Talking about their relationship, he said:

“I’ve always said it was a linkage that was strong and if it failed it failed together. We are scrappers. We are going to graft this.”

Luke Armstrong has the manager’s backing – but is not “undroppable”

Asked about the struggling striker, Simon Weaver said:

“Nobody is undroppable. I have a really good relationship with Luke. He’s my Harry Kane. He has droughts, takes a battering, but I know there’s goals in there and there’s a real player there. I’m backing him but don’t be kidded – no player signs a contract where they are guaranteed a spot but the lad needs backing.”

Attendances are “not as bad as reported”

Sarah Barry was asked at the forum why ticket prices had been ‘hiked up’. She replied:

“I’d challenge that by saying prices have not been hiked up — we’ve aligned them. We were way, way, way behind average and had a price freeze for three or four years.”

She said there had only been a few home matches so far this season and there were mitigating circumstances behind some low attendances. She said “overall it’s not as bad as reported”.

Irving Weaver gave a more despondent answer when asked what the season’s highlights had been for him so far.

“There have not been too many highlights on the pitch. We’ve been down on crowds so that’s not an easy one to answer. It’s been a tough time all round. We need to be racking up the points.”

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

Aon has renewed its sponsorship of Harrogate Town for the 2022/2023 Football League season, and also remains the women’s team’s main sponsor.

The investment from the professional services firm will support Town with kit provision, additional media equipment, as well as its business strategy and player development centre.

James Fell, head of office for Aon Leeds Tingley and Harrogate, said:

“We have a long relationship with Harrogate Town Football Club, which has grown year-on-year. Last season we became the main sponsor of the women’s team and it’s great that we are continuing our partnership with the whole club and help make a positive difference in the local community.

“Colleagues in Aon’s new Harrogate office are looking forward to watching the teams this season and collaborating closely with the club on a number of initiatives.”

Pic: Gerard Binks

Joanne Towler, commercial director, Harrogate Town AFC said:

“Aon is a key partner for Harrogate Town Football Club. The partnership over the years has made a significant impact on the club, from the players’ performance on the pitch, to our football academy and most recently to our women’s team.

“Without sponsorship the club would not be where it is today, nor would we be able to support our local community and future players.”

Aon employs more than 115 insurance and risk management specialists across its Yorkshire offices, which include a branch at Harrogate’s Cardale Park.

Commercial litigation solicitor Alex Harrison joins McCormicks

Harrogate-based law firm McCormicks Solicitors has appointed commercial litigation solicitor Alex Harrison to its team.

Mr Harrison has brings experience in a wide range of commercial litigation matters, including disputes in contract, debt recovery, property, IP and construction. He also has experience in professional negligence claims, harassment, defamation and insolvency (individual and corporate) matters.

A keen mountaineer, cyclist, wild swimmer and rugby player, he said:

“I was looking to join a firm with good clients and varied work and the prospects of long-term career progression and McCormicks ticked all the boxes.”

Senior partner Peter McCormick said:

“Alex has made his presence felt already thanks to his positive ‘can do’ attitude and he will be an asset to the team.”

Leading football clubs in Harrogate and Knaresborough are considering whether to kick-off earlier on Saturday afternoons over winter to save money on floodlights.

Rising energy bills mean the cost of lighting up matches is expected to soar this season, especially after the clocks go back on October 30.

Bringing forward the traditional 3pm Saturday afternoon kick-off could save those clubs in the district with floodlights — Harrogate Town, Harrogate Railway Athletic and Knaresborough Town — thousands of pounds over the season.

For the district’s only professional club, Harrogate Town, any change seems unlikely. A club spokesman said:

“We have no plans to move our kick-offs at this stage.

“It was discussed at an English Football League meeting with all clubs last week and the overriding feeling was that it would be detrimental to attendances.”

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But the issue is less clearcut for semi-professional teams, which attract smaller attendances.

Michael Edwards, chairman of Harrogate Railway, who play in the Northern Counties East League Division One, said it was one of many teams in the league pursuing the idea. He said:

“It could save hundreds if not thousands of pounds over a season and every little bit counts.”

He said Harrogate Railway were looking to start some matches at 1.30pm or 2pm from November onwards — but any change has to be agreed by both teams three weeks in advance.

Clare Rudzinski, secretary of Knaresborough Town, who play in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, one tier above Harrogate Railway, said the issue would be raised at a committee meeting next week.

Floodlights will continue to be used at midweek matches, when the evening kickoff times make floodlights essential.

A bumper crowd is expected at Harrogate Town tomorrow as they welcome Bradford City in a crunch Yorkshire derby.

Town are on on a poor run of form and haven’t won in League Two since beating Gillingham away on August 16.

It’s been even longer since they last tasted victory at home, when they beat Swindon 3-0 on July 30.

The squad had a major overhaul during the summer, with 15 new signings, but it’s taking longer to gel than manager Simon Weaver would have liked.

Despite all he’s achieved during his 13 years in charge, Weaver’s position is being questioned by some fans.

In a pre-match interview, he said:

“We expect Bradford will bring lots of fans. There’s lots of interest from a Harrogate point of view and we expect a buoyant crowd. It should be an eventful game.”

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Attendances at the EnviroVent have been down on last season but around 2,500 tickets have been sold for the game so far, which includes 600 Bradford fans.

The game kicks off at 1pm.

Tickets are on sale from the club’s Commercial Street store until 4pm today. There will be no further sales after this point.

A former manager in Harrogate’s Claro League is looking for football players from the late 1970s and early 1980s to take part in a reunion.

Harry Teggin, who managed the Claro Catholic team between 1967 and the 1983/84 season, is organising an event at the Bilton Club on Friday, September 23.

After realising that he had begun only seeing some of his fellow footballers at funerals, he decided a more positive event was needed.

Mr Teggin said:

“I’d had enough of that really. Let’s have one where we’re not saying goodbye.”

He is hoping to reach players from multiple clubs in the Claro League from the period such as Belford, Gluepot and Harrogate Phoenix.

At the time, many teams had formed around pubs or youth clubs.

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The Claro League ended in 2017 after a drop in interest levels in Sunday league football. Only six teams had applied to play in the following season.

Some teams applied to play in West Yorkshire but others were disbanded.

It marked a decline from the 1970s when the league was one of two in the town and had five divisions,

Teams came from as far away as Wetherby and Tadcaster.

‘We’ve always been a close-knit team’

When he started out as manager at Claro Catholic, Mr Teggin said his job mainly involved getting players home from nights out and setting up the pitch on a Sunday morning.

But friendships formed and still endure today. He said:

“We’ve always been a close-knit team and we always had good camaraderie with the other teams.”

Some of the players, Mr Teggin revealed, later went on to play for Harrogate Town.

The former manager urged anyone who was involved to contact him and come to the event.

When Diego Sanchez decided to follow an English club he was seduced by Simon Weaver’s men in yellow and black rather than the more obvious options.

The 17-year-old schoolboy lives in Buenos Aires, almost 7,000 miles away from Wetherby Road.

He first heard about the club after reading an article about cult favourite Simon Ainge who became an unexpected goal machine in 2016.

Two years ago Diego then set up a Twitter account called Harrogate Town Argentina that has amassed over 1,000 followers and charts the highs and lows of the club in Spanish.

Fiery passion

Despite being so far away, he might just be the most passionate Town fan there is online.

Tweets include ‘HOYYYYY JUEGA EL HARROGATEEEEE’ (Today Harrogate plays) and ‘MARK LA COBRA ESCOCESA BECK ARRANCO ON FIRE EN DARLINGTON’ (Mark ‘The Scottish Cobra’ Beck is on fire at Darlington).

He also celebrates like he’s there in the ground every time the team score a goal:

https://twitter.com/HarrogateArg/status/1559620586627891201?s=20&t=SYjtMXY488eTTQ4fWpy3Pw

Committed fan

It’s not easy following a club on the other side of the world and Diego says it requires a lot of patience and commitment.

Fortunately, games are now streamed live over the internet and the time difference is only four hours.

His favourite player is Jack Muldoon and social media gives him the chance to interact with his heroes. He describes the feeling when a player likes one of his Tweets as being “a caress to the soul”.

 He said:

“[Jack Muldoon] is a player that when he catches the ball he gives you the illusion that anything can happen. 

“Another thing that makes me very happy is being able to interact with the players or with the club’s coaching staff. Any small gesture like a thank you for an edit or a like on a tweet is like a caress to the soul.

“My favourite player was Connor Hall (who has since left for Port Vale) because I was able to interact with him through social media. He seemed a very good person. I am very happy for him and for what he is achieving at his new club”.

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Diego is also a River Plate fan, who plays in the 100,000-seater El Monumental stadium. The fiery atmosphere there is legendary and a bucket list visit for football fans around the world.

But Diego yearns to be in the kop end at the EnviroVent Stadium and would love to visit Harrogate one day to watch a game.

Credit: River Plate FC

Diego said:

“If one day I get to attend a Harrogate match it would surely be crazy for me.

“I still haven’t imagined it, but if it happens, I would try to enjoy it as much as possible.

“Here in Argentina, the fans are among the best in the world, I know El Monumental and the atmosphere there is crazy.”

Trust in Weaver

Harrogate Town are on a bad run of results and have lost their last five games but they can always count on the support of their fan in Argentina. Diego added:

“I feel a bit worried about the recent form in the last few games but I fully trust the guys and Weaver to come through.”

You can follow Diego on Twitter here.

Harrogate Town has had plans for a new clubhouse at its Wetherby Road stadium approved.

The club tabled a planning application to build the two-storey facility in the north-west corner of the ground back in March this year.

It would be used to serve fans refreshments on match days and include an upper floor area for supporters to gather.

Harrogate Borough Council has now given the go-ahead for the plan.

The facility would be needed for the club to meet its English Football League membership criteria, which requires all member clubs to provide refreshment facilities for home and away fans in separate areas of the ground.

A planning report by Harrogate Borough Council said:

The club has already seen a number of developments approved by the council since promotion, including a new ticket office and turnstiles at the EnviroVent Stadium which were backed by the council in April 2021.

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Harrogate Town made four new additions to their squad on transfer deadline day last night.

Town confirmed the signings of strikers Danny Grant from Huddersfield Town on loan and Dior Angus from Wrexham on a permanent deal.

Grant, who signed for the Terriers from League of Ireland Premier Division side Bohemians, will join up with Huddersfield teammates Jaheim Headley, Josh Austerfield and Matty Daly.

He will wear the number nine shirt at town.

Sam Folarin, who signed for Harrogate Town from Middlesborough.

Angus, who scored seven goals in 41 games for Wrexham, joins Town after narrowly missing out on promotion to EFL League Two last season.

Meanwhile, Exeter City winger Josh Coley also joined on loan and 21-year-old Sam Folarin completed Town’s deadline day business and signed from Middlesbrough on a permanent deal.

Coley will wear number 10 at Town, while Folarin will be given the number 12 shirt.

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