Harrogate Town to kick off new season against Rochdale

Harrogate Town will play Rochdale AFC at home on the first day of the new League Two season.

The Greater Manchester outfit will visit the Environment on Saturday August 7 to kick off Town’s second-ever campaign in the English Football League.

Simon Weaver’s men will then head to Crawley Town on August 14 and then to Leyton Orient on August 17.

Fans will be looking forward to visiting Bradford City’s Valley Parade on Boxing Day with the reverse fixture played at the EnviroVent on 5 February.

The full fixture list. Credit: Harrogate Town

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The 2022 calendar year will begin with a trip to Port Vale on New Year’s Day before the team heads to Exeter on January 8, which is the longest away journey of the season.

Yesterday also saw Town drawn in the Papa John’s Trophy where they will face Sheffield Wednesday, Mansfield Town and a final team that will be announced at 4.30pm today.

The Carabao Cup first-round draw will also be revealed at 3.40pm today.

In April, the club were awarded a general safety certificate to hold full capacity games next season once all coronavirus restrictions are lifted.

Harrogate Town add Sunderland and Rotherham to pre-season fixtures

Harrogate Town announced today they will play two pre-season friendlies at home against Sunderland and Rotherham.

Town will welcome both sides to the EnviroVent Stadium in July as part of the club’s pre-season fixtures.

Championship side Rotherham United will face Town on Wednesday, July 21, in a 7.30pm kick off.

The club will then host League One club Sunderland at the EnviroVent Stadium for the first time on Saturday, July 24 in a 3pm kick off.

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The Black Cats will head to Wetherby Road less than a week after bitter north-east rivals Newcastle come to Harrogate on July 18.

The club said it is in “constant communication” with the authorities over the return of supporters amid high demand for tickets.

A spokesperson for Harrogate Town said:

“The club has been inundated with eager supporters, both old and new, keen to purchase tickets for the visit of Newcastle United, and we anticipate similar demand for our two other home pre-season fixtures.

“We are in constant communication with the relevant regulatory bodies about the return of crowds after lockdown restrictions are lifted and as soon as we have the green light tickets will be sold online via the club website and at the club shop on Commercial Street.

“We are committed to the return of supporters and are doing everything in our power to make this happen as soon as possible.”

Town are also set for trips to Huddersfield, Brighouse Town and Darlington.

Will Smith signs long term deal

Also today, centre-back Will Smith committed his future to the club by signing a new long term deal.

Smith, who has made more than 80 appearances for Town over two seasons, said he was delighted to stay at the club.

Will Smith, Harrogate Town centre back, has committed his long term future to the club.

Will Smith, Harrogate Town centre back, has committed his long term future to the club. Photo credit: Matt Kirkham, Harrogate Town

He said:

“I was buzzing when the gaffer approached me and said he wanted me to sign a new deal. I’m ready to accept the challenge and hopefully we can kick on again and go further.

“I’ve learned a lot in the last two years. When I first arrived I was only a young lad and now I’ve grown up a lot and become better as a player and matured. 

“It’s been a great learning curve for me and to say I’m still 22-years-old, I’ve played a fair few games now and that’s only going to make me better.”

Manager Simon Weaver said:

“Will’s played a huge part in our progress as a club. He’s a strong, young player who is developing all the time and he was unlucky with an injury last year, but came back and immediately made his mark in his first game back. It shows a lot about his character and his rehab work.

“Overall he’s a strong, dominant centre-half that’s young and in the modern game, there’s not too many around that want to put their head through everything but he’s a good footballer as well. He’s a player who also listens to everything intently and wants to do well in the game.”

Harrogate Town coach launches football boots appeal for kids in need

Harrogate Town’s under-19 coach Paul Barker is asking young people and their families in the district to donate sports equipment to disadvantaged youngsters.

He’s collecting football boots, balls, and other sporting gear which will be sent to a new charity called Action For Sport, which was set up to improve sporting participation for young people living in poverty. Donations will mainly help people in Bradford but also in other parts of the UK.

Mr Barker has worked in sport all his life and said its impact can be profound on young people. However, poverty can be a barrier to entry, with some parents unable to afford the essentials.

He said:

“Without sport some youngsters could go down a different path, sport can change that.”

“The charity is about giving them access to play sport in cities and getting them off the street.

Mr Barker said he has a friend whose son plays for Leeds United’s youth team. He receives three new pairs of goalkeeper gloves each month, which he was going to send to the tip but instead donated them to the charity.

He said even a small donation could make a big difference:

“An old ball, boots or trainers and you’re off”.

To donate, email Mr Barker at pbjfc@live.com or contact him through his Twitter page. He said you can arrange a time to drop the equipment off at his house.

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It’s not the first time Mr Barker has launched a drive for football equipment for those in need.

Two years ago he collected over 400 pairs of football boots, which were donated to the Namutumba orphanage in Uganda.

The people of Harrogate rallied behind the appeal, which was a huge success and created some new Town fans in a different continent.

He added:

“There are young people wandering around Uganda now wearing Harrogate Town shirts!”

Harrogate Town make first signing of summer transfer window

Harrogate Town have announced midfielder Alex Pattison as the club’s first signing of the summer.

Pattison joins from Wycombe Wanderers, where he made 24 appearances in all competitions.

The 23-year-old spent two seasons at Wycombe, whose nickname is the Chairboys, where he helped the club achieve promotion to the Championship in 2019/20.

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Pattison, who was born in Darlington, started his career at Middlesbrough before joining York City in 2017/18.

He went on to make 29 appearances for Yeovil Town in League Two in 2018/19.

Pattison will wear the number 16 shirt for Town, which was previously worn by striker Jon Stead, who retired at the end of last season after a long and successful career.

English Football League approves Harrogate Town’s bid to create academy

Harrogate Town have been given permission by the English Football League to open an academy for budding professionals aged 16 to 18.

The club revealed today it had received a licence to operate a category four academy.

The academy will be led by former Knaresborough Town manager Paul Stansfield, supported by professional development phase coach Ross McKay.

Phil Priestley will act as goalkeeper coach and Josh Walsh as academy secretary. Lee Barraclough has been appointed head of recruitment.

Based at West Riding FA along with the current first team, the academy will compete in the EFL Youth Alliance North East, allowing regular competitive fixtures and a pathway through the ranks.

First team manager Simon Weaver said:

“This is a massive step in the right direction for the club in terms of fulfilling the vision of where we started and what we foresee being our future.

“Our under-19s, under-17s and under-19 Alliance teams will continue to run and compete in their respective leagues, alongside the newly established academy.”

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Harrogate Town releases seven players

Harrogate Town have cut their squad ahead of the new season letting seven first-team players leave the club.

Jake Lawlor, Brendan Kiernan, Ed Francis, Melvin Minter and Jay Williams have not been offered a new contract and have left the club.

Calvin Miller and Scott Brown, who spent time out on loan at Notts County and Warrington respectively, will also be departing following the end of their contracts.

38-year-old striker Jon Stead announced his retirement after the club’s final game of the season against Cheltenham Town last weekend.

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The winger Kiernan was a popular member of the squad and he featured heavily in the 2019/20 campaign that saw the club promoted to League 2. However, he found opportunities more limited this season.

The club paid tribute to him on Twitter as did former teammate Ryan Fallowfield who called him an “unbelievable character on and off the pitch”.

https://twitter.com/RyanFallowfield/status/1393239020210204674?s=20

Harrogate Town to play Premier League club in friendly

Harrogate Town fans will be treated to a glamour fixture in July when Premier League outfit Newcastle United comes to the CNG Stadium for a pre-season friendly.

The game will take place on Sunday July 18 and fans are expected to be able to attend if the government’s roadmap out of lockdown continues as planned.

The club said they will release ticketing information at a future date. It will be the first home fixture of the 2021/22 season.

Newcastle are currently 16th in the Premier League table and have a host of international stars including England’s Callum Wilson.

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Newcastle United is arguably the biggest club to play in Harrogate in many years.

Leeds United used to be a regular for pre-season friendlies at Wetherby Road which they stopped when Town installed its artificial pitch.

The last Premier League club to visit Harrogate for a friendly was Hull City in 2013 who were coincidentally also managed by Newcastle manager Steve Bruce.

Harrogate Town shop finds permanent home on Commercial Street

Harrogate Town’s shop on Commercial Street is to become a permanent fixture after the club signed a lease to stay.

The store opened in April, initially as a one-week pop-up shop to sell club merchandise and provide information on community initiatives.

It’s being run by the club’s community foundation in a unit previously occupied by Scandinavian lighting company Nordium.

The shop has proved popular and has also given fans the chance to see the National League play-off final trophy and the FA Trophy, plus meet members of the first team and club mascot Harry Gator.

Shops on Commercial Street were decorated in yellow and black bunting last week in honour of Town’s Wembley heroes, who beat Concord Rangers in the FA Trophy final.

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No open top bus celebration for Harrogate’s Wembley heroes

Harrogate Town have decided not to hold an open top bus parade to celebrate the club’s FA Trophy success.

Discussions had been taking place about a parade after Town beat Concord Rangers 1-0 last week to take home the silverware at Wembley.

Despite support from the bus company Transdev, the club said today released a statement saying it would not happen. It said:

“Due to lockdowns in 2020 the players only had a two week break before embarking on pre-season training in preparation for our first English Football League campaign.

“In effect they have played back-to-back seasons. After the match against Cheltenham they will be going their various ways for well-earned planned family breaks.

“Despite our socially distanced and covid-compliant parade after the promotion final last August, the club came under unwarranted criticism from some elements of the media.

“We are guarded against similar criticism as we all emerge from the latest lockdown.”

The club added “we sincerely hope our loyal supporters understand and appreciate our decision not to hold a parade”.

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Body found in search for ex-Harrogate Town player

A body has been found in the search for former Harrogate Town player James Dean, 35.

Mr Dean, who was with the club in 2008-09, was last seen in Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire at about midnight on Wednesday.

Lancashire Police issued a statement last night saying a body was found in the Moscow Mill Street area of Oswaldtwistle at about 2.25pm yesterday. It added:

“While the body has yet to be formally identified, it is believed to be Mr Dean. His family have been informed and our thoughts are with them at this time.

“The death is not being treated as suspicious and a post-mortem examination will take place in due course.”

Centre forward Mr Dean, who was born in Blackburn, signed for almost 20 clubs, including Bury and FC Halifax Town, as well as Harrogate, in a career lasting more than 15 years.

Harrogate Town said in a statement:

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of former Town player James Dean at this incredibly sad time.”

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