Harrogate’s Commercial Street decked out for Town

Shops on Commercial Street have been decorated in yellow and black bunting today in honour of Harrogate Town’s Wembley heroes.

The club, which has a pop-up shop on the street, supplied the bunting and Town scarves to celebrate the 1-0 defeat of Concord Rangers in yesterday’s FA Trophy final.

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Sue Kramer, who owns Crown Jewellers and is manager of the Commercial Street retailers group that has arranged many of the recent improvements on the street, praised the community spirit of the street’s retailers, saying:

“We’ve been here for 21 years and this is the first time I’ve known the street really come together for something.”

According to Ms Kramer, the street’s shop owners have been working closely together with the local council to improve the street.

Harrogate Borough Council recently replaced a bench in the street, while Harrogate Business Improvement District has added the street to its watering round for hanging baskets.

Alex Clarke, owner of Foxy Antiques and Interiors, watched Town beat Concord Rangers 1-0 from the teepee at Cedar Court Hotel on Monday:

“It was freezing, but there was a great atmosphere.”

Gemma Aykroyd, owner of The Cheeseboard, said that footfall had been “great” since the shops reopened. She had bunting up in her windows, as well as black and yellow balloons that she bought herself.

 

Harrogate Town captain on ‘incredible feeling’ of Wembley winner

Harrogate Town’s Josh Falkingham came with a real captain’s contribution to win the FA Trophy in what was a tough game at times.

The skipper was alive to the opportunity when Jack Muldoon’s effort came off the post and managed to tap the ball in from close range.

At 75 minutes it was the only goal of the game against non-league Concord Rangers. It means that town brings home more silverware in the FA Trophy.

Fresh from the high of scoring the winning goal, Josh Falkingham told the Stray Ferret:

“I can’t put into words how I am feeling. It’s a special time for a special club and it will live for a long time in the memory of the players and staff.

“We are obviously gutted that the fans couldn’t be here with us. But we have been here before and we have managed to get another win at Wembley.

“This is an incredible feeling, we are delighted. Goals are not really my forte. I get a lot of stick for not scoring as many as I should.

“But it is about the whole team who have worked really hard to achieve this.”

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The first half was quite frustrating at times for Harrogate Town, who struggled to break down a fresh team in Rangers.

Town manager Simon Weaver said after the game that he “let rip” on the players at half time. That talk clearly had an affect on the team that came out for the second half.

Josh conceded that the team was not good enough in the first half and said:

“It was simply not good enough. We were nowhere near where we should have been. The gaffer came in and told us how it was.

“We were much more on the front foot and took the game to Concord Rangers. We were able to finish strong and get the goal at a key time.

“So happy days. We have another trophy to take home to Harrogate. I am sure we will have a fair few beers tonight and a few sore heads in the morning.”

Harrogate Town win at Wembley as fans celebrate at home

Fans may have missed out on another Harrogate Town trip to Wembley but they certainly enjoyed the win.

Harrogate Town’s 1-0 win over Concord Rangers means that the side will be bringing back more silverware in the form of the FA Trophy.

It was not the walk in the park that some had expected and a few lucky fans who managed to grab a place in the tipi at Cedar Court Hotel were certainly nervous at times.

Those nerves were blown away by captain Josh Falkingham’s goal 15 minutes from time to leave a carnival atmosphere despite the wet and windy weather.

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Match preview: Harrogate Town vs Concord Rangers

Harrogate Town are heavy favourites to beat Concord Rangers at Wembley Stadium in the final of the 2019/20 FA Trophy this evening.

It will perhaps be one of the most unusual English cup finals to ever take place, as Harrogate Town are no longer a non-league club but are playing in one of non-league football’s showpiece events.

The game was supposed to take place last year but was delayed due to the covid pandemic.

Concord Rangers play in the National League South, which was cancelled in January due to the pandemic. It means they’ve not played a competitive fixture since January 2.

Forward Alex Wall was their top scorer in the league with seven goals in 11 fixtures.

Experienced winger Danny Green is another player to watch and comes with football league pedigree. He played most of his career for league clubs including Dagenham & Redbridge, Charlton, Luton and MK Dons.

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Manager Simon Weaver told the Stray Ferret his squad won’t be taking the opposition lightly.

He played a weakened team against Cambridge United on Friday night to rest some of his key players ahead of the final.

He said:

“We’ve seen hundreds of teams bitten by smaller clubs. People expect us to win but it’s not as easy as that. This group of players won’t take things lightly.

But we have a strong resolve and belief we can win.”

The game kicks off at 5.00pm and will be shown live on BT Sport, with the channel deciding to show the game for free both online and on TV.

The Stray Ferret social media accounts will not be posting any updates this weekend about the FA Trophy Final in solidarity with football clubs withdrawing from platforms in protest against online racial abuse.
Concord Rangers: Who are they and how did they get to Wembley?

From playing friendly matches on the seafront to stepping out on to the pitch at Wembley, Concord Rangers are set for a milestone in their 54-year history.

Monday’s game against Harrogate Town will see the club hoping to overcome the odds and defeat the Football League side to lift the FA Trophy.

After no competitive fixtures since February due to the pandemic, Rangers will be hoping they can pull off an upset.

But who are Concord Rangers and how did they get to Wembley?

History

Formed in 1967, the club were initially set up as a bunch of boys playing friendly games on a pitch on the Canvey Island seafront.

Nicknamed the Beach Boys, the club picked up several honours throughout the 1970s including being the first to win the Essex Sunday Junior Trophy in 1979.

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Most of their games were played at Waterside Farm on Canvey Island until 1985, when they secured land to build their current ground at Thames Road.

After success in the Essex Senior League, the Beach Boys finished fifth in their first season in the Ryman League Division One North in 2008/9.

Manager Danny Cowley, who is now in charge at Portsmouth, took the club to a promotion in 2009 and then led them to their highest ever league position with another promotion to the Conference South.

Concord Rangers and Harrogate Town have waited eight months to play at Wembley.

Concord Rangers and Harrogate Town have waited eight months to play at Wembley.

The club has remained at that position ever since, but has also reached the quarter finals of the FA Vase and the first round of the FA Cup on two occasions.

How did they get to Wembley?

Concord Rangers’ day at the England team’s home ground will be the biggest game in their history.

The final, which has been delayed since last year due to covid, will see the Beach Boys pitted against EFL opposition in Town.

Rangers’ route to Wembley stretches back to November 2019.

The club overcame the likes of Bath City, Leamington and Royston Town to set up a semi-final against Halesowen Town.

Rangers scored in the 80th minute against Halesowen to reach the final.

That was back in September and both Concord and Town have had to wait eight months to walk out at Wembley.

To put a further dampener on the occasion, no fans will be allowed inside the stadium for the historic game.

‘We believe we can win’: Harrogate Town boss on Wembley cup final

Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver said his squad aren’t taking Concord Rangers lightly, in what is being billed as a David vs Goliath cup final at Wembley on Monday.

Town are two divisions above the semi-professional National League South outfit who haven’t played a game since January 2, but the long-serving boss told the Stray Ferret his players aren’t expecting an easy game.

He said:

“We’ve seen hundreds of teams bitten by smaller clubs. People expect us to win but it’s not as easy as that. This group of players won’t take things lightly.

But we have a strong resolve and belief we can win.”

The rise of Harrogate Town towards the football league for the first time in their history captured the imagination of the football world last summer, which Weaver said clubs like Concord Rangers will take inspiration from.

Many of the Town players such as Lloyd Kerry, Mark Beck and James Belshaw played for the club when they were at the same level as Concord, which Weaver said means they will be hungry to win on Monday:

“Our group of players are from when we played in the National League. We have no illusions of grandeur or egos in our camp, or we’d get rid of them.”

For many professional footballers playing at Wembley is the pinnacle of their careers, especially those in the lower divisions, and Weaver said the game on Monday will be a special experience.

“I’m ecstatic to be having an opportunity to make the journey. It’s exactly the same feeling as last time.”

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With Town’s first season in the EFL drawing to a close, Weaver reflected on a positive season that has seen them stay in the division for another year.

He said the “light at the end of the tunnel” is fans returning next season.

“There have been many positives including the two wins against Bradford City and the fixture against West Bromwich Albion. But it’s been a steep learning curve. It’s been like entering a war zone with our pitch being cut up, but that will be a lot better next season.”

After Town won their historic play-off final in August, the sun shined on the streets of Harrogate for a memorable open-top bus parade. Weaver is hoping for similar scenes if they lift the trophy.

He added:

“That would be beautiful. It was totally amazing how many people in Harrogate turned out last time.”

The Stray Ferret social media accounts will not be posting any updates this weekend about the FA Trophy Final in solidarity with football clubs withdrawing from platforms in protest against online racial abuse.
Harrogate Town given go-ahead for new ticket office and turnstiles

Harrogate Town have been given the go-ahead for a new ticket office and turnstiles at the EnviroVent Stadium.

The proposals, which were submitted last December, will see the current ticket office demolished and replaced with a new two-storey facility.

New turnstiles would also be in place at the north and wes of Wetherby Road.

Now, Harrogate Borough Council has given the club permission for the development to go-ahead.

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It comes as Town have had a successful past year on the pitch with a historic promotion to the English Football League.

As a result, the club have had to put measures in place to abide by the EFL admission criteria. They include a new pitch and increased capacity at the ground.

Harrogate Town grounds

The current view of The Envirovent Stadium, Wetherby Road.

In documents submitted to the council, the club said the new planning application was necessary because of an increase in office staff and the need for a better flow of supporters on match days.

The club has also submitted plans for a new two-storey club house and corporate suite.

Meanwhile, Town are set for another Wembley appearance on Monday in the FA Trophy Final against Concord Rangers.

The club have announced a new all-black kit which the players will wear for the game. It will also be used as a third kit for the 2021/22 League Two season.

The Stray Ferret social media accounts will not be posting any updates this weekend about the FA Trophy Final in solidarity with football clubs withdrawing from platforms in protest against online racial abuse.

BT Sport to show Harrogate Town’s Wembley final for free

Harrogate Town’s FA Trophy final against Concord Rangers is to be broadcast live for free by BT Sport.

The match will be played behind closed doors at Wembley on Monday.

BT Sport usually charges to watch matches but has decided to show Harrogate’s game for free across all its platforms.

It will be available via BTSport.com, the BT Sport App, BT TV, the Sky Digital Satellite Platform and Virgin Media channel 100.

After the game, the channel will also show Proud To Be Town, its documentary on the rise of Harrogate Town that gives a unique insight into a football club during the first coronavirus lockdown.

The schedule for the day is as follows:

12.45pm – Live – FA Vase Final – Consett v Hebburn Town
3.30pm – The Grassroots Football Show
4.30pm – Live – FA Trophy Final – Harrogate Town v Concord Rangers
7.30pm – BT Sport Films – Proud To Be Town

Simon Green, head of BT Sport, said:

“Following a period when many lower league football fans have been unable to watch their sides, we hope our coverage will provide them with an opportunity to watch an exciting non-league finals day live from Wembley Stadium.”

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A fan campaign supported by Harrogate & Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones attempted to persuade the Football Association to let fans watch the match live.

But the FA confirmed this month it wouldn’t allow this, which means Town fans will be cruelly denied a trip to the home of English football for the second time in 12 months.

The Stray Ferret will be at the Cedar Court Hotel on Monday to watch the game with the fans and will be reporting throughout the day.

The club and the hotel have got together to show the game on a big screen to 42 supporters and are offering food and drink as part of the package. Click here to purchase a ticket.

Kids’ football camps kick off half term at Harrogate Town

Harrogate Town FC will run football camps for children throughout the May half-term holiday at St John Fisher High School.

The club’s camps are designed to provide boys and girls with high-quality coaching through exciting activities in a fun and safe environment.

Children aged six to 14 can attend from Monday May 31 to Thursday June 3.

It costs £28 per day, or £24 per day for members of the club’s Player Development Centre.

Alternatively, all four days of one camp week can be purchased for £95, or £82 if a member of the PDC.

More information about the camps can be found here or you can email Josh Falkingham with any questions.

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Harrogate Town allowed capacity crowds once covid restrictions end

Harrogate Town has been awarded a general safety certificate to hold full capacity games next season once all coronavirus restrictions are lifted.

The club completed works to expand its 5,000-seater EnviroVent Stadium following promotion to League Two last year, but even without any Covid disruptions this many spectators could not have been allowed in until now.

This is because any Football League or Premier League ground in England with a capacity more than 5,000 must be granted permission by their local authority.

While coronavirus restrictions have kept Town’s gates closed since January, the club’s managing director Garry Plant was awarded a general safety certificate by North Yorkshire County Council on Tuesday.

It marks a major boost for fans as it means the club could hold full capacity games during the 2021/22 season if the Government’s roadmap out lockdown stays on schedule.

Mr Plant told the Local Democracy Reporting Service:

“The best day is match day and we haven’t had a single one with fans this year so we can’t wait to see the stands and terraces full once again.

“We have missed our supporters so much. It is the Bradford City game this weekend – can you imagine how much of a great atmosphere that would have been?

“The council have been extremely supportive of our plans – especially the safety advisory team – and we would like to give them a big thanks.”

Under the government’s roadmap, from May 17 larger outdoor sports venues will be allowed to operate at up to 25% capacity with a maximum of 10,000 spectators.

Restrictions will be eased further from June 21, but with all adults not expected to be offered at least their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine until the end of July, full venues at major sports events are understood to be unlikely until late summer at the earliest.

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With Harrogate Town’s season set to end just nine days before May 17, it means supporters will have to wait until August before they can return to the EnviroVent Stadium.

Restrictions mean players will be greeted by empty seats again when they walk out at Wembley to contest the 2019/20 FA Trophy final against Concord Rangers on May 3.

The club’s historic win over Notts County to secure promotion to league football was also played behind closed doors at the London stadium.

Elizabeth Fitzgerald, trading standards officer at the county council, said the club’s “massive success” in reaching League Two should be celebrated not just in Harrogate, but across North Yorkshire.

She said:

“They have done marvellously and we want to help them as much as we can with guidance and advice to get things back under way with people back through the doors once again.”