Harrogate Town launches football academy

Harrogate Town plans to launch an academy that enables 16 to 18-year-olds to train full-time with the club and progress into the first team.

Subject to approval from the English Football League, the academy will enable young players to develop under UEFA-licensed coaches.

Knaresborough Town manager Paul Stansfield, who used to play for Harrogate Town, will head the academy.

He will be supported by professional development phase coach Ross McKay. Phil Priestley will act as goalkeeper coach and Josh Walsh will be academy secretary.

Lee Barraclough has been appointed head of recruitment and a full-time physio and part-time doctor will be recruited.

The academy team will compete in the EFL Youth Alliance North East.

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First team manager Simon Weaver said:

“It’s vital that we launch our own academy, it’s 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.

“The goal at this club has always been to produce youngsters from the first stage in our player development centre to the youth teams and see them move into the first team and beyond so this is hugely important for us.

“There’s a lot of local talent, but by having an academy we are able to spread the net farther and wider in the hope that we produce some really good talented youngsters.”

Harrogate Town’s under-19s, under-17s and under-19 alliance teams will continue to compete in their respective leagues, alongside the newly established academy.

 

Harrogate Town fans’ anger as FA confirms Wembley date can’t be moved

The Football Association has confirmed that it won’t move Harrogate Town’s FA Trophy final in May so fans can attend, despite a fan petition and the issue being raised in Parliament.

Last season’s postponed FA Trophy final between Harrogate and Concord Rangers will take place behind closed doors at Wembley on May 3, just two weeks before fans can return to stadiums.

It means Town fans will be cruelly denied a trip to the home of English football for the second time in 12 months.

Phil Holdsworth, the club’s fan liaison officer, set up a petition that called on the FA to move the date. It received over 1,000 signatures and support from all over the world.

He said fans were “disappointed and angry” with the decision but said due to a busy summer at Wembley, which will host several European Championship fixtures, it was always going to be a tough ask.

“All of us are disappointed and there’s a lot of anger at the FA’s treatment. But it was always going to be difficult to rearrange it with everything that is going on at Wembley over the summer.”

Harrogate & Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones backed his petition and asked Prime Minister Boris Johnson at PMQs earlier this month if he would ask the FA to move the date.

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An FA spokesperson said it was unable to move the date due fixture congestion at Wembley.

They said:

“Despite our best efforts to accommodate limited spectators at these Buildbase FA Trophy and FA Vase Finals, a suitable date was sadly not available and both fixtures will be played behind closed doors. Fans are the lifeblood of our game, so we held detailed discussions with relevant stakeholders and explored all the potential options available to us.

“Unfortunately, due to the pandemic creating a large amount of fixture congestion, EURO fixtures being held at Wembley Stadium and other events after the tournament, the window to accommodate our showpiece events is particularly small this season. We want to make sure that as many fans as possible can enjoy these fixtures, so we believe it is very important that they are broadcast live, and are pleased that it has been possible to ensure they will be available to watch on BT Sport.

“Any other possible dates ahead of the autumn are mid-week but they would potentially create issues for the participating clubs and their fans as many would need to take time off work. A final option would have been to move these fixtures to the autumn, but this would mean playing them after the 20/21 competitions have been completed, create fixture challenges for the 21/22 season and was not preferable for all relevant stakeholders.”

Harrogate Town to open pop-up shop next week

Harrogate Town football club will open a pop-up shop on Commercial Street for a week from Monday.

The club’s Community Foundation will open the shop at number 32 Commercial Street on April 12 at 9am in a unit previously occupied by Scandinavian lighting company Nordium.

Town supporters will be able to buy club merchandise in person for the first time since before the latest lockdown came into effect.

Fans can also have their picture taken with the National League promotion trophy that the team won last summer.

Information will be available on community initiatives, including Louie Swain’s boot camp, walking football, a running club, sporting memories, man vs fat, and NCS summer programmes.

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On Wednesday, in association with the English Football League’s Day of Action, when clubs showcase their community work, club mascot Harry Gator and former player Jack Emmett will be available for pictures and a chat from 2-3pm.

Then at the weekend, visitors will have the chance to show their skills as Harrogate Town on FIFA 21.

The first customer through the doors each day will receive a prize.

The shop will open Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 5.30pm and on Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

Harrogate set to make football history on Monday

The first female referee to take charge of an English Football League match will officiate at Harrogate Town on Easter Monday.

Rebecca Welch, from Warrington, has been appointed to referee Town’s game against Port Vale.

She has so far refereed in the Women’s Super League and men’s games in the National League.

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But the game at the EnviroVent Stadium on Wetherby Road will be a landmark occasion, which Welch hopes will encourage other women to take up the whistle.

She said:

“Initially I wasn’t really aware of being appointed as the first female referee.

“I was just given the appointment and I was over the moon but when you kind of reflect on it you think you’re the first woman ever to do this, so I’m extremely proud and my family’s extremely proud as well.

“I do think it’s important to show that women who are in the top 1% of their category can proceed to the next level so it definitely makes others down the pyramid look up and know that they can achieve the same.

“It shows that there is a real opportunity to young girls who are wondering if they are able take the whistle, or are if they are already a referee they can aspire to be an EFL referee or like Sian Massey-Ellis, who is currently operating in the Premier League.”

In February 2010, Amy Fearn took charge of the last 20 minutes of Coventry City’s match against Nottingham Forest as an injury replacement.

However, Welch will become the first female referee to be officially appointed to an EFL fixture.

Young Harrogate Town footballer to take up exciting USA scholarship

A young footballer at Harrogate Town will spend a “once in a lifetime” summer in Iowa, USA after being offered a business scholarship.

Promising 18-year-old striker Harry Wheat will spend the summer studying at Southeastern Community College studying Business Administration after being offered the opportunity thanks to the help of First Point USA, a scholarship agency.

Harry first joined the club via the Player Development Centre aged 15 and went to school at Rossett high school. He is currently completing his final year of a Level 3 Extended Diploma (Performance and Excellence) in Sport, equivalent to three A-Levels.

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Harry said:

“Moving to the United States is a great opportunity for me, not only to play football everyday but to get a degree in an area I want, which will open doors to a whole alternative career path.” explained Harry.

“Harrogate Town has been a massive help in getting me to where I am today. After leaving Guiseley at 15 I wanted to experience a high standard of coaching so got in touch with Dave Riley about the Player Development Centre.

“I was with the Player Development Centre for a year and felt I really developed as a player, learning from some top coaches, before progressing up to the Shadow Squad.

“After leaving school I joined the education programme at Harrogate Town and have been here for the last three years.

“The programme means I get to play football and study at the same time and has played a big part in my journey towards my scholarship in the US as I have developed massively on the pitch and in the classroom.”

Boris Johnson urged to support Harrogate Town’s Wembley campaign

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones today urged the Prime Minister to support Harrogate Town’s bid to rearrange the date of its trip to Wembley so fans can attend.

The Football Association has said last season’s postponed FA Trophy final between Harrogate and Concord Rangers will take place behind closed doors at Wembley on May 3, just two weeks before fans can return to stadiums.

It means Town fans will be cruelly denied a trip to the home of English football for the second time in 12 months.

Speaking today at Prime Minister’s Questions, Conservative MP Mr Jones described a Wembley cup final as the “holy grail” for supporters of smaller clubs. He said all four MPs of affected clubs backed the campaign to move the date and asked:

“Will the Prime Minister join us in encouraging those scheduling the matches to do all they can to move the date so that fans can attend?”

Boris Johnson replied:

“I hope very much that the Football Association will listen to carefully to what my honourable friend has to say and that they do what they can.”

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The FA previously said the game would be rearranged when fans can return. Town fan Rob Nixon told the Stray Ferret supporters should be rewarded for their patience.

“After missing out on Wembley last year, we had a lot of good faith in the FA after they suggested a final we could attend this season. I think it’s only fair they honour this and reward the fans for our patience.”

A petition set up by a Harrogate Town fan to move the fixture now has over 1,100 signatures.

Harrogate Town Wembley petition nears 900

Almost 900 people have signed a petition set up by a Harrogate Town fan that calls on the FA to move a Wembley cup final appearance so fans can attend.

The FA announced last season’s postponed FA Trophy final between the club and Concord Rangers will take place behind closed doors at Wembley on May 3.

But for Philip Holdsworth, who set up the petition, this has led to “heartwrenching disappointment” for fans as the government says supporters can return to stadiums from May 17 — just two weeks later.

Hebburn vs Consett in the FA Vase final will also take at Wembley on May 3 which promoted Labour MP for Jarrow, Kate Osbourne, to raise the issue in the House of Commons.

Several Harrogate Town fans have now contacted Conservative Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones in the hopes he will support their cause.

Town supporter Jordan Ford said he hopes the petition will influence the FA to move the fixture:

“If we didn’t try then nothing would change. We’re getting our voices across and doing all we can.”

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The FA previously said the game would be rearranged when fans can return. Town fan Rob Nixon said long-suffering supporters should be rewarded for their patience.

“After missing out on Wembley last year, we had a lot of good faith in the FA after they suggested a final we could attend this season. I think it’s only fair they honour this and reward the fans for our patience.”

You can sign the petition here.

Star striker Muldoon hoping to end career at Harrogate Town

Harrogate Town’s free-scoring striker Jack Muldoon says he doesn’t want the club’s good times to end and hopes to finish his career at Wetherby Road.

The 31-year-old signed for Town in 2018 and has been the top scorer during each of the last three seasons which has seen them ascend to the English Football League for the first time in their history.

With the club now tantalisingly close to the League 2 play-offs, Jack told the Stray Ferret the squad is now eyeing another promotion.

He said:

“You’re not gonna settle for mid-table.”

Jack commutes to Harrogate from his hometown of Scunthorpe and has been pleased to see how the club’s change in fortunes has captured the imagination of the town.

He said: “There’s a lot more to come in coming years.”

The club are on a rich vein of form and have won four of their last five games. They play Forest Green Rovers this afternoon.

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Overcoming adversity

Jack is a type one diabetic but has overcome this adversity in his life and career. He said it’s a tough disease but is manageable for a full-time athlete:

“I’m one of the fittest lads in the squad. Diabetes is nothing new to me but you’ve got to a bit more open minded and organised. I watch my sugar levels and eat right.”

Jack has his email address on his Twitter profile and says he regularly responds to questions from parents or youngsters who have the disease and want to progress in sport.

Whilst Jack is able to manage his diabetes and play professional football, he paid tribute to his friend and former teammate Jack Emmet who was recently forced to leave the club due to chronic fatigue syndrome.

“I was really sad to see him go. But he’s a bright lad and he will do well for himself away from football.”

On fans return

With the government saying fans can return to sports grounds from the middle of May, Jack said all the players are looking forward to welcoming supporters back to Wetherby Road after such a long time away due to covid restrictions.

It means they could return for a potential play-off run after they were cruelly denied the experience last season:

“We’ve done a year since we’ve had all our fans properly in the stadium, so a few more months won’t hurt but they really help us on gameday.”

Harrogate Town trip to Wembley confirmed – but no fans allowed

Last season’s postponed FA Trophy final between Harrogate Town and Concord Rangers will take place behind closed doors at Wembley on May 3.

The fixture was postponed last year due to covid and fans had hoped it would be rearranged when fans were allowed back into stadiums.

However, the Football Association today confirmed the new date. It added a date later in the year was not available.

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It means Town fans will be denied their first-ever trip to the home of English football for the second time in a year.

The club played last season’s National League play-off final in August at an empty Wembley stadium.

The game will be broadcast live on BT Sport.

Harrogate Town managing director Garry Plant said:

“We were hoping the date of the final would be further along the lockdown restrictions pathway so supporters could have been there with us.

“We had been pushing the FA for that to be the case, but have not been consulted and this date comes to us out of the blue.

“We are deeply sorry for supporters who again will not get the chance to join us at Wembley, however we will be doing all we can to make arrangements that include the supporters and allow them to enjoy the final.”

Harrogate Town fans dreaming of Wembley again

Hopes are rising for a Harrogate Town appearance at Wembley this year — and this time fans might be able to watch.

Three wins on the bounce have pushed the club up the League Two table and they are now just four points off the play-offs.

The government has said that up to 10,000 fans can return to stadiums from the middle of May. The play-off final is set to be held at Wembley on the weekend of May 29-31.

Town are also in the final of last season’s postponed FA Trophy against Concord Rangers, which will also be held at Wembley, with the FA keen to see the fixture played once fans can return.

Jordan Ford, from the Harrogate Town Supporter’s Club, said fans are starting to dream of making the trip to Wembley after they were cruelly denied the experience last season.

He said:

“I’m not getting carried away yet but anything can happen. We’ve shown that over the last two seasons and there is no reason why we can’t get promoted. We’re mixing it with some big teams.”

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Town beat Barrow 1-0 last night and Mr Ford said recent shrewd signings had given Simon Weaver’s squad the strength in depth to compete at this level.

Besides some matches in December when tier two rules allowed about 500 fans to watch games at Wetherby Road, supporters have been forced to watch games via an online stream this season.

In normal times, Mr Ford organises coach trips for fans to away fixtures around the country. He hopes to be able to resume this from next season.

As fans have been starved of the experience of travelling to new grounds, trips to the likes of Bolton, Tranmere and Walsall could be seen as glamorous for a club that is used to playing less illustrious non-league opponents.

He added:

“It’s about getting up at 5am and getting a taxi to the ground to get on the bus. We’re missing exploring these new grounds.”