Harrogate Town will open the stadium this weekend to a limited number of fans for the first time since March.
Saturday’s home match against Forest Green Rovers has been designated a test event and the stadium will operate a much lower capacity than usual.
Tickets will not go on general sale. Those with deposits for a season ticket will be able to reserve standing tickets in the main stand and the car park terrace.
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Currently the club has 450 season ticket deposit holders. It will not sell any new season tickets until further notice.
The club has introduced one way systems, hand sanitising areas and signage for spectators.
Only those in tier one or tier two areas will be able to attend the game, ruling out much of the areas surrounding North Yorkshire that are in tier three.
The club is awaiting approval from the English Football League, the Sports Ground Safety Authority and local Safety Advisory Group to use the fixture as a test event.
Season ticket deposit holders will receive an email with further details and a follow-up call before Friday.
A spokesperson for the club said:
Harrogate Town plans for first match with fans“We are hopeful that should the test event be a success, we may be able to increase the capacity at future games.
“Supporters unable to attend Saturday’s fixture can continue to watch the action via our streaming service.
“Thank you for your continued patience and support.”
Harrogate Town are planning for their first match with fans after a surpise announcement from the government.
The club are currently working on safety measures that will inevitably reduce the number of spectators.
In tier two, which Harrogate will be in from next week, large events can go ahead with up to 2,000 spectators outdoors.
However, with smaller grounds like the EnviroVent Stadium it is unlikely that many fans will head through the turnstiles.
Town had been in talks with Scunthorpe United to move the fixture back by a day but it was too short notice for The Iron.
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It may not be a long wait for the first match with fans though. The club has an another home fixture with Forest Green Rovers next Saturday.
Whenever the first match with fans happens it will be a special occasion as the first time supporters will be able to watch their club play in the football league.
Garry Plant, the managing director at Harrogate Town, said:
“Allowing spectators into football grounds has taken everyone by surprise but what a boost.
“It has come with no notice and some clubs still have safety officers on furlough.
“We will release regular updates regarding our progress, ticket distributions and the organisation of matches when we have them.”
Harrogate Town will ultimately need permission from the North Yorkshire safety advisory group, the sports ground safety authority and Public Health England.
The club are working on their plans but said they will lose 1850 capacity immediately to separate the teams and match officials from spectators.
Further capacity reductions will come as a result of terracing and the egress pinch points.
‘Bright day’ for Harrogate Town fans as stadium could reopen soonHarrogate Town supporters could finally be allowed to watch their next game next month after a painful nine-month absence that saw them miss out on a historic trip to Wembley and their first fixtures in the EFL.
Prime minister Boris Johnson announced yesterday that spectators can return to outdoor stadiums depending on which tier they are located in. The club and their supporters will be anxiously awaiting what tier Harrogate will fall into when the announcement is made on Thursday.
The following rules will apply depending on the tier:
Tier 1: Either 4,000 spectators or 50% of a stadium’s capacity, whichever is smaller.
Tier 2: Either 2000 spectators or 50% of a stadium’s capacity, whichever is smaller.
Tier 3: No spectators
The club have averaged around 1,500 supporters for their homes games at Wetherby Road over the last couple of seasons. The capacity is 5,000 after their new Main Stand was built over the summer.
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Town have home fixtures against Forest Green Rovers, Salford City and Carlisle United in December, which could all potentially have spectators.
Harrogate Town managing director said it was a “bright day for supporters” and said he is looking at the fixture against Forest Green Rovers at the EnviroVent Stadium on December 5 as potentially the first game back for fans.
He said:
“We have a home match against Forest Green at The EnviroVent Stadium on December 5 and so we are already reviewing the detail of the announcement and are in discussions with The Sports Ground Safety Authority, North Yorkshire Safety Advisory Group and Harrogate Borough Council on how we make this happen.
“We will advise the number of supporters that we will be able to welcome back, which will be subject to social distancing calculations and how we arrive at which supporters will be offered a place.”
Jordan Ford from the Harrogate Town Supporter’s Group told the Stray Ferret he was “delighted” at yesterday’s announcement.
He said:
“It will be a proud moment to watch our first live game as an EFL club. Everyone is itching to get back, and there’s finally light at the end of the tunnel.”
Harrogate Town supporter Rob Nixon said being able to go back to watch his team play will be a “great relief” after so long away.
He said:
Harrogate Town clarifies stadium rules after complaints from fans“It’s a shame we couldn’t have been there for the historic first league and cup matches, but this will be a whole new chapter and I’m sure both the players and fans will both be really looking forward to it. I know I am.”
Harrogate Town have released a statement after some fans raised concerns about the number of people allowed in the club’s home ground to watch the team play.
With spectators banned from attending matches due to covid, many fans currently pay £10 to watch a livestream of the game’s fixtures through the club’s website.
As reported by the Stray Ferret last month, some fans have complained on social media about what they considered to be an excessive amount of people in the stands.
Although fans are not permitted to attend fixtures, club directors and staff, media and match volunteers, such as ballboys and girls, are allowed in.
One said it’s “not fair on the fans” and another described it as a “kick in the teeth”.
Newly appointed Supporter Liaison Office (SLO), Phill Holdsworth, and members of the Harrogate Town Supporters Club recently met and the issue was raised.
The club has now released a statement that clarifies who is allowed into the EnviroVent Stadium and urges everyone connected to the club to “stick together”.
It says:
“In these difficult times, we all rise to the challenge and we stick together, players, supporters and staff.”
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The club statement continued:
“These restrictions are frustrating for everyone, supporters and players alike. However, there is a bigger picture and we all have our part to play in controlling the spread of this virus – sport included.
“This includes employees and contractors of the sports ground, for example safety management and facilities management teams, ground staff and catering. EFL guidance states essential personnel permitted to attend matches is also extended to Directors from each Club.
“This also covers accredited media staff, including TV, radio, press, photographers – numbers of which are set by the EFL guidance. We take great care in ensuring that all of the requirements, guidelines and directives are adhered to.”
In an interview with talkSPORT yesterday, sports minister Oliver Dowden raised the prospect of fans returning to football matches before Christmas in areas where coronavirus infection rates are low.
BBC in Harrogate tonight for FA Cup draw coverageBBC cameras will be in Harrogate tonight as part of its coverage of the FA Cup second round draw.
Presenter Mark Chapman will speak to Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver and chairman Irving Weaver live from the EnviroVent Stadium to get their reaction to the draw as well as discussing their meteoric rise into the English Football League.
Harrogate’s story has captured the imagination of the football world in what has been a bleak year for the sport.
Town beat semi-professional Skelmersdale United 4-1 on Friday night to book their place in the second round and earn £25,500 in prize money.
Harrogate are ball number 21 and another victory would put them into the third round for the first time in their history.
The draw itself will take place in a studio in London from 7pm on BBC2.
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The third round would potentially pit them against Premier League opposition, such as Manchester City, Liverpool or even local favourites Leeds United.
For a more straightforward route to the third round, Town could hope to draw one of the non-league sides that are left in the competition, such as Canvey Island, Marine and Boreham Wood.
But tough fixtures against former Premier League clubs Hull City, Bradford City and Portsmouth could also await.
Town have reached the second round once before. In 2012/13, they agonisingly lost to Hastings on penalties in a second round replay.
Harrogate Town FA Cup tie to be broadcast on BT SportHarrogate Town’s FA Cup first round tie against non-league Skelmersdale United will be broadcast live on BT Sport.
The fixture against Skelmersdale, who play in the North West Counties League Premier Division, is expected to earn Town £32,500 as part of the Football Association’s live broadcast fee.
The winner of the tie will also receive £16,972 from the FA prize fund, with the losing side receiving £5,657.
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Town will host the tie at the EnviroVent Stadium on Wetherby Road on Friday November 6, at 7.45pm.
Skelmersdale United reached the first round for the first time since 1971 last weekend after defeating Stafford Rangers 4-1.
The Lancashire club is also the lowest ranked side left in this year’s FA Cup.
Match Preview: Grimsby Town vs Harrogate TownHarrogate Town will be looking for a third league win on the bounce tonight when they head to the east coast to play Grimsby Town.
Town have taken confidently to life in League Two of the English Football League and recorded victories over Barrow AFC and Bradford City in their last two fixtures. The club is currently in 7th place, which is in the playoff positions and just two points behind leaders Cambridge United.
Grimsby, who are managed by the popular Ian Holloway, are also looking for a third win in a row after recent victories against Cheltenham and Leyton Orient.
The two clubs have already played each other this season in the EFL Trophy. That game at Blundell Park ended 2-2 with Grimsby winning on penalties.
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Town manager Simon Weaver has largely stuck with the same team that won promotion last season, minus Jack Diamond, who has been replaced by former Celtic midfielder Calvin Miller.
There is competition for places between veteran striker Jon Stead and Aaron Martin, who joined the club from Guiseley just before lockdown.
Weaver opted for the lively Martin in the first few games but in the last two games has picked the more experienced Stead.
Grimsby have had a recent run of misfortune with injuries, and James Hanson, Max Wright, Elliot Hewitt and Danny Rose all expected to miss out tonight.
Harrogate Town fans criticise number of people allowed in stadiumHarrogate Town supporters have raised concerns about the number of people allowed in the club’s home ground on Saturday to watch the team play.
With spectators banned from attending matches due to covid, many fans paid £10 to watch a livestream of the game against Barrow.
Town won 1-0 and many fans in the Harrogate Town Supporters Facebook group hailed the team’s performance at the EnviroVent Stadium.
But 15 fans posted comments in the group about what they considered to be an excessive amount of people in the stands.
Although fans are not permitted to attend fixtures, club directors and staff, media and match volunteers, such as ballboys and girls, are allowed in.
One fan said it “was an absolute joke the amount of people in the ground today”.
Another said it was “not fair on the fans” and one described it as a “kick in the teeth”.
Harrogate Town declined to comment when approached by the Stray Ferret.
The club has won a lot of praise recently for its off the pitch initiatives as well as its performances on the pitch.
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Earlier this month, club chairman Irving Weaver told the Stray Ferret it was a “big loss” not having supporters in attendance during the club’s first-ever season in the English Football League.
Do you think there were too many people at Wetherby Road on Saturday? Watch the highlights below and judge for yourself.
Match Preview: Harrogate Town return homeHarrogate Town will play in Harrogate for the first time since July, when they face fellow EFL newbies Barrow at the EnviroVent Stadium this afternoon.
There will, of course, be no fans in attendance at Wetherby Road due to coronavirus restrictions, but fans can stream the game for £10 through the club’s website. The game kicks off at 3pm.
Work has now been completed on the new grass pitch after the former artificial 3G surface was removed due to EFL regulations. The club said goodbye to their temporary home of the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster with a 3-1 win against Leicester City’s under-23 side earlier this month.
Whilst recent competitive fixtures against Bolton, West Brom, and Bradford were firsts for the club, Barrow is altogether more familiar territory, having played Town 23 times previously.
They were the two best sides in last season’s National League, with Barrow going up as champions.
However, the Cumbrian outfit have made a faltering start to the season and are currently in 22nd, with no wins in any of their first five fixtures.
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Town will be looking to build on an excellent victory over Bradford City in front of the Sky Sports cameras on Monday night.
Jack Muldoon’s assist on Monday night saw him become the most prolific player in the division so far this season, with a goals and assists ratio of 1.37 per 90 minutes.
Barrow manager David Dunn will assess the fitness of striker Scott Quigley who was forced to miss last weekend’s game against Leyton Orient after picking up a knock in training.
Town manager Simon Weaver said he expects a tough game this afternoon.
He said:
Harrogate Town appoints first club chaplain“We had a good win against them at the start of last season and 3-0 flattered us a little bit. But after that, they went on an unbelievable run to win the league. They have strengths all around but, hopefully, ours on the day outweigh theirs.”
Harrogate Town has appointed its first ever club chaplain to provide pastoral and spiritual help to players and their families.
Rob Brett, who is a Christian but not ordained, said he would offer a friendly face and a listening ear to everyone at the club, regardless of faith.
Most professional football clubs have chaplains but this voluntary role is a first for Town, which was promoted to the English Football League for the first time this year.
Mr Brett, who has lived in Harrogate for more than 20 years and is regulated by Sports Chaplaincy UK, said:
“I will be available to listen, without judging, to whatever it is that people want to share, including family and relationship difficulties, mental health issues and financial problems.
“What I’m told will be in strictest confidence. I won’t necessarily come up with solutions, but rather help people to work out for themselves how to ease or resolve their anxiety.”
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Town manager Simon Weaver welcomed the appointment. He said:
“We are an extended family at Harrogate Town and we look out for each other.”
“Having Rob around gives us someone else to share our personal problems, which we may not want to do with team mates, bosses or colleagues or even our nearest and dearest.”
The club’s newly appointed support liaison officer Phill Holdsworth (left) and an associate director of the club, Mike Partridge.
The club also announced today it had appointed Phill Holdsworth as supporters’ liaison officer.
Mr Holdsworth is a club volunteer and season ticket holder.
Managing director Garry Plant said:
“Phil is very well qualified to deal with off-field suggestions or issues supporters may have.”