Simon Weaver on ‘terrific challenge’ of debut FA Cup third round tie

Harrogate Town travel to Luton Town on Sunday to play in their first-ever FA Cup third round tie.

While the draw did not reward Town with a glamour tie against a Premier League club, manager Simon Weaver said the squad is still looking forward to the challenge of facing Luton who are still a dangerous Championship outfit.

Weaver, who this week took charge of his 600th game in charge of the Sulphurites, said the occasion is a “great experience” for the players to look forward to.

He said:

“We know Sunday is going to be a terrific challenge for us. We had never played and beaten League One opposition before the last round. We managed to do that and we’ve never played against Championship opposition, so it’s a great experience to look forward to.

“It’s what we want to keep doing, breaking new ground and enjoying big moments. We go to Luton who have been on an amazing trajectory over the last few years and it’s testament to their manager and group of players.”

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200 Harrogate fans will make the trip to Luton for the game, which kicks off at 12.30pm.

Weaver said the trip will be “brilliant” for the supporters after three games were postponed due to covid over the festive period.

He added:

“I saw Chief Brody’s video of the jubilant scenes after the game (Portsmouth) and you can’t kid it, can you? It’s a natural act of joy and it was just brilliant. That’s what the FA Cup does as a domestic competition and we’re glad to still be in it and hopefully, we can enjoy Sunday.”

Harrogate Town game tomorrow postponed due to covid outbreak

Harrogate Town’s home game against Port Vale on New Year’s Day has been postponed due to a covid outbreak in the Harrogate squad.

The club told the EFL that it would be unable to fulfill the fixture at the EnviroVent Stadium due to “a number” of positive COVID-19 cases in their squad.

A rearranged date for the fixture will be confirmed in due course.

Manager Simon Weaver said:

“We’ve been waiting in the wings ready to get back playing after matches had been called off due to Covid in the opposition camps. Unfortunately, we’ve now got a couple of positive cases in the group which adds to our extensive injury list and it means we’re depleted. It’s heavily frustrating as we’re all desperate to play for the supporters and we’re hoping a return to action isn’t too far away.”

It’s the third game in a week to be postponed due to covid.

Town’s away clash with Bradford City which was scheduled for Boxing Day was postponed due to coronavirus cases in Bradford’s squad.

Harrogate Town were also due to welcome in-form Mansfield Town to the EnviroVent Stadium on December 29.

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No.11: Harrogate energy firm CNG goes out of business

Harrogate energy company CNG became the victim of a global phenomenon this year when it ceased trading after 27 years.

Wholesale energy prices spiralled this year, and the impact was dramatic, with CNG one of more than 20 UK companies exiting the market.

Paul Stanley, chief executive of CNG, told the Stray Ferret the company failed because four of its main customers went out of business within two weeks, leaving it with unpaid bills.

Attempts to raise capital or sell the business were unsuccessful due to continued market volatility and high prices in the energy sector.

The company supplied about 15 to 20 retail energy companies through its wholesale business arm and also has around 50,000 business customers. About 150 jobs were lost.

CNG

CNG’s headquarters on Victoria Avenue

Swift collapse

Despite being regarded as a local success story for the majority of its 27 years, CNG’s collapse was swift and unforgiving.

Alarm bells began to ring on October 14 when Mr Stanley sent a letter to customers saying it was exiting the wholesale market. Two weeks later the company entered liquidation.

With Christmas approaching, it couldn’t have come at a worse time for staff.

A series of meetings were held between company bosses and worried employees, who had questions about redundancy pay.

Staff have been paid for November but were not expected to be offered a redundancy settlement until after Christmas through a government scheme.

A source told the Stray Ferret it was a “stressful time to have no income.”

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Administrators

CNG then entered the Supplier of Last Resort process operated by the government’s energy regulator Ofgem.

The SoLR procedure was established by Ofgem as a safety net to ensure that when a company stops supplying energy, affected customers are guaranteed continuity of supply through other companies.

However, businesses that were supplied gas by CNG were warned that their energy bills will be expected to rise.

Interpath Advisory has now been appointed as administrator, and around 30 staff are working to close the company.

CNG was also synonymous with Harrogate Town football club, becoming the first-ever sponsor of their Wetherby Road ground from 2008 until 2020 when it was rebranded the CNG Stadium.

The company was also well-known in Harrogate as a supporter of local charities and community projects.

No. 12: Harrogate Town — a year of history and milestones

In this article, which is part of a series on the 15 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2021, we look at another remarkable year for Simon Weaver’s men.

Harrogate Town spent 2021 making history and setting new milestones.

Covid restrictions had prevented Town fans from watching their team at Wembley in 2020 and gain promotion to the English Football League for the first time ever.

So when the season began in August, thousands flocked to Wetherby Road to see the next chapter in the fairytale.

FA Trophy winners

Fans, however, were denied a second trip to Wembley in May for the FA Trophy final against Concord Rangers.

The final had been delayed for a year due to covid and Town were favourites because they had gained promotion in the period since the match was due to be played.

Josh Falkingham scored the only goal as Town ran out 1-0 winners to life the silverware,

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As the saying goes, winning becomes a habit and such was the case under head coach Simon Weaver that the club tied him down to a long-term contract in July.

The contract would see Weaver’s time at the club extended to 15 years if seen out, a feat which cannot be said for many of modern football clubs. He is already the longest serving manager in English football.

The consistent progress the team has made under Weaver continued when the new season began.

A good start, which put the club among the play-off positions, climaxed with a 6-1 hammering of Scunthorpe United in October in front of a record home crowd of 3,180.

Harrogate’s league form subsequently fell away, but a strong second half could yet see them feature in the play-offs.

FA Cup heroics

But the club has compensated for some poor results in the league with a sensational FA Cup run, which has seen it book a place in the third round for the first time in its history.

A last minute winner against two-time winners Portsmouth at Fratton Park had fans dreaming of a Premier League side visiting Wetherby Road.

But it was not to be. Instead the club will try to write history once again by playing Luton Town for a place in the fourth round.

If 2022 is half as exciting, Harrogate fans can look forward to another 12 months of milestones.

Covid postpones Harrogate Town’s second festive fixture

A coronavirus outbreak in the Mansfield Town squad has forced the English Football League (EFL) to postpone the second of Harrogate Town’s festive fixtures.

Harrogate Town were due to welcome in-form Mansfield Town to the EnviroVent Stadium on Wednesday, December 29.

It is unclear at this stage when the game between 11th place Harrogate Town and 9th place Mansfield Town, will be played out.

Town’s away clash with Bradford City which was scheduled for Boxing Day was also postponed due to coronavirus cases in the rival’s squad.

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A spokesperson for the EFL said:

“Mansfield Town’s forthcoming Sky Bet League Two fixture against Harrogate Town on Wednesday 29 December has been postponed.

“Mansfield informed the EFL that it would be unable to fulfil the fixture at the EnviroVent Stadium due to a number of positive COVID-19 cases in their squad.

“In light of the increased transmission rate of the Omicron variant, the EFL will now review the circumstances surrounding the postponement.

“In addition, it will assist affected clubs throughout this challenging period to help them mitigate against the risk of infection amongst players and staff, while ensuring their obligations to the EFL regulations are maintained.”

Town are next due to play Port Vale on New Year’s Day

Harrogate Town’s Boxing Day clash with Bradford postponed

Harrogate Town‘s game away at Bradford City on Boxing Day has been postponed due to a covid outbreak in the Bradford squad.

Bradford City told the English Football League that it would be unable to field a full team for the fixture due to the number of covid cases in their squad.

The Yorkshire derby was one of the most eagerly awaited matches of the year for Town fans, with a large crowd and a festive atmosphere expected at Bradford. It will now be rearranged.

A host of games in the Premier League and the English Football League were postponed over the weekend due to covid outbreaks.

Harrogate Town are due to travel to Tranmere tomorrow in the second round of the Football League Trophy.

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No vaccine passports: Harrogate Town prepares to reduce capacity

Harrogate Town have confirmed that there will be no requirement to show proof of coronavirus vaccination at the EnviroVent Stadium.

Under the government’s Plan B restrictions, unseated venues with more than 4,000 people need to check for a negative covid test result or an NHS covid pass.

The EnviroVent Stadium on Wetherby Road can hold up to 5,000 fans so it is just over that limit. However, attendance has not gone over the 3,500 mark so far this season.

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A spokesman for Harrogate Town told the Stray Ferret:

“If it came to it, we would cap ticket sales below 4,000, however we don’t foresee this being necessary with average numbers falling well below 4,000 this season to date.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and are still waiting on further advice, but will follow government, English Football League and local authority guidelines to ensure the safety of visitors and staff alike.

“We are encouraging face masks, hand washing and ask anyone with covid symptoms or living with anyone with covid symptoms not to visit the stadium.”

There is a mixed picture across League Two. Some clubs, like Harrogate Town, have opted for reduced capacity while others will ask for a covid pass.

Harrogate Town fans dreaming of Mo Salah and Ronaldo in FA Cup draw

A fan poll has revealed Harrogate Town fans’ hopes of seeing their team line up against the likes of Mo Salah, Cristiano Ronaldo or Harry Kane in the FA Cup.

The third round is when Premier League clubs enter the historic competition ⁠— and smaller clubs like Harrogate Town can look forward to a potentially glamorous and lucrative tie.

We asked a Harrogate Town fan group on Facebook which team they hope will be picked out of the hat to face Simon Weaver’s men. The draw takes place from 7pm tonight and will be broadcast live on ITV4.

Around 50 fans responded.

Many are hoping for a draw against Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United as some fans will have some split allegiances. The two neighbours used to regularly play pre-season friendlies against each other but have never faced off in a competitive fixture.

Michael Ellison said:

“Leeds away would attract many Harrogate residents who ‘support’ both or either club, especially those who are unable to obtain tickets for league games at Elland Road.”

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Several supporters said they were hoping for an away day at Tottenham Hotspur’s £1bn new stadium in London.

Paul Keys said:

“Spurs away, be great to visit that stadium and watch Connor Hall have Kane in his pocket!”

Callum Hurle was hoping Town would be rewarded with a tie against Jurgen Klopp’s star-laden Liverpool side.

“It would be a great experience going to Anfield and cheering the Town on and it would be a great reward for getting to the third round for the first time! Brilliant to see how far we have come in the last few years, we should all be proud of Harrogate.”

Darrell Gardner said:

“I’ve supported Everton since childhood so I’d love for Town to play them at Goodison. It would be a difficult game to watch, my allegiances would be torn but I’d shouting from the stands for a Town win.”

Ball numbers to look out for

64 – Harrogate Town

2 – Arsenal

21 – Leeds United

23 – Liverpool

25 – Manchester United

26 – Manchester City

40 – Tottenham Hotspur

Last gasp winner puts Harrogate Town into FA Cup Third Round

Harrogate Town beat Portsmouth in the FA Cup Second Round this afternoon thanks to a goal from Jack Diamond in the fifth minute of injury time.

It means the Sulphurites will play in the Third Round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history, and could look forward to a mouthwatering tie against the likes of Leeds United, Liverpool or Manchester City.

122 Town fans made the long trip to the south coast today to watch Town take on Pompey, who are two-time FA Cup winners and were big favourites to advance.

Luke Armstrong’s goal was cancelled out by Portsmouth’s Ellis Harrison in the first half and it looked like the game was heading for a replay at the EnviroVent Stadium.

But it was on-loan winger Jack Diamond who once again wrote his name into Town’s history books when he tucked away the winner to send the travelling Town fans into raptures.

The Third Round draw will take place at 7pm on Monday on ITV4.

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Harrogate Town bid for FA Cup glory tomorrow

Harrogate Town are one win away from a potential FA Cup match against a Premier League team.

Town travel to Portsmouth tomorrow to play in the second round of the cup.

The Sulphurites have never reached the third round of the FA Cup, which is when the Premier League and Championship sides enter the competition.

So if Simon Weaver’s men pull off an upset at Fratton Park they can start dreaming of a cup game against the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea or Leeds United.

They face a monumental task: Portsmouth are two-time winners of the cup, having lifted it in 1939 and then again in 2008 under manager Harry Redknapp. They have home advantage and are in good form on the fringes of the play-offs in Division One, which is one division higher than Harrogate.

The match is a reversal of the first round tie from the 2019, when Pompey won 2-1 after Mark Beck had given Town an early lead.

Weaver said:

“It’s a great challenge that’s for sure. Portsmouth are a massive club, as we know from the away support when they played against us last time in the FA Cup, but we go to Fratton Park, which is a great ground to visit, and they have a fantastic partisan support behind them.

“I’ve heard we’re taking a good number away from home, which is superb for us as a club and superb for the players, but it’s a big test again and one that we’re going to relish.”

Kick-off is at 3pm and the draw for the third round takes place on Monday.

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