Thousands line streets for Harrogate Town’s open-top bus parade

Thousands of Harrogate Town supporters lined the streets to cheer on their team during a celebratory open-top bus parade today.

The parade was in celebration of the club’s historic 3-1 win over Notts County at Wembley last Sunday, taking them into League Two and the English Football League for the first time in their history.

The open-top bus was provided by Harrogate Bus Company and left a sunny CNG Stadium at Wetherby Road at around 12pm. It continued past the Empress pub, West Park, Bettys and the Cairn Hotel before returning to the ground by 12.40.

At Wetherby Road, there were scores of supporters wearing yellow and black and singing “Town are going up” as the bus passed.

Police were in attendance but the fans were well behaved and largely adhered to social distancing guidelines.

In scenes reminiscent of the UCI cycling event last summer, fans lined West Park to cheer on manager Simon Weaver and his players who showed off their National League play off trophy.

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Harrogate Town open top bus tour route this weekend

Harrogate Town has released the timings for its open top bus tour route this weekend to celebrate the club’s promotion to the football league.

The 35-minute tour around Harrogate will start at the CNG Stadium on Wetherby Road at 12.05pm, with the trophy on display.

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Here are the full timings for Saturday’s celebration:

https://twitter.com/HarrogateTown/status/1291314137025458176?cxt=HHwWgMC97bXX1esjAAAA

Irving Weaver, Harrogate Town’s chairman, mentioned the tour at last night’s Harrogate Borough Council meeting, before the official announcement. He told the councillors that he hoped promotion would bring a boost to Harrogate’s economy – something badly needed after the coronavirus lockdown.

“Let’s hope together that Harrogate Town can be promoted ever further. It is in the best interests of Harrogate. I hope that bigger away crowds will start to spend money in the town and let’s all hope that we can keep putting Harrogate on the map. We have got a parade organised for this Saturday and we will have the trophy on display then.”

A 3-1 win over Notts County at Wembley last weekend saw the club win their second promotion in three seasons.

Fans flocked to pubs across Harrogate to watch their side make history but the open top bus tour will be the first big opportunity to celebrate.

The Harrogate Bus Company CEO Alex Hornby added:

“We at The Harrogate Bus Company are delighted to be able to offer a bus to Harrogate Town Football Club so the players can have a fitting celebration for their tremendous achievement. It’s going to be a three mile moving tour running right around Harrogate, with the bus decorated in celebration of the team, and will give everyone the chance to enjoy seeing the players lift their trophy in and around the town.”

What’s in store for Harrogate Town next season?

It’s mission accomplished for Harrogate Town players and coaching staff who are heading off for a two week holiday.

Whilst they can enjoy a richly deserved break after beating Notts County 3-1 in the National League play-off final at Wembley yesterday, work behind the scenes to prepare the club for League Two football will begin immediately.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret at Wembley after the game, chairman Irving Weaver said promotion to league football was always the aim, but it’s come a lot earlier than anyone at the club had ever imagined.

Mr Weaver confirmed that the team will begin the 2020/21 campaign playing home games at the Keepmoat Stadium which is home to Doncaster Rovers.

This is because Harrogate’s 3G pitch, that was only laid in 2016, will be dug up and replaced with grass as the EFL forbids clubs to play on the artificial surface. It is expected to take ten weeks.

When Simon Weaver became manager of Town in 2009, Bolton Wanderers were playing the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool in the Premier League whilst Town were plying their trade in the sixth tier of English football. Next season they will be playing in the same division and Town fans will be desperately hoping that coronavirus statistics are low enough for them to make the trip to the ground that was once known as the Reebok.

There will also be a tantalising Yorkshire derby against Bradford City, who also have played in the Premier League.

Town will surely be looking to tie down on-loan Sunderland winger Jack Diamond to at least another season at the CNG Stadium. His eye-catching performances in both the semi-final and the final earnt plaudits and his technical skill looked worthy of a higher division.

Simon Weaver said last week that he’s not looking to “rip up” his winning team but said he will look to add strength in depth to the defence.

Veteran striker Jon Stead knows his way around League Two and will be hoping to have done enough to earn a new contract. In both the play-off semi final and final he came on at around the hour mark and his influence changed the course of both games.

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Promotion to League Two will give the club a welcome financial boost which could help pay for some new signings.

Each League Two club receives £472,000 a season as a “basic award” from the EFL which is their share of the league’s five-year £595m broadcasting deal with Sky Sports.

The Premier League also gives clubs £430,000 as a “solidarity payment” — which is designed to trickle some of the league’s riches down the football pyramid.

For the first time in its history, Town would also play in the League Cup, entering in round one. If the club made the draw for the second round, it would be in the hat for potential money-spinning ties with some Premier League clubs — including newly-promoted Leeds United.

Town fans who play the videogame FIFA will also rejoice, as the club will be included in the FIFA 21 edition for the first time ever.

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Harrogate Town’s history boys promoted after Wembley win

Harrogate Town will play in the English Football League for the first time in their history after beating Notts County 3-1 today at Wembley Stadium.

Town dominated the first half and went into the half-time break leading 2-0 thanks to goals from George Thompson and Connor Hall.

After conceding early in the second half and weathering a significant Notts County storm, Town clinched promotion from the National League after an incisive counter-attack saw on-loan midfielder Diamond make it 3-1 with twenty minutes to go.

For what was billed as the biggest game in the club’s history, Town fans missed out on songs and beers on the bus down to London and the walk up Wembley Way.

Even a planned screening of the game at the CNG Stadium was cancelled by North Yorkshire County Council at the last minute, so Town fans could be forgiven for thinking that just perhaps promotion just wasn’t meant to be.

But Town have relied on more than luck or superstition over the past few seasons and put in an accomplished performance to see off Notts County who have spent 156 of their 157 years playing in the EFL.

Town named an unchanged side with Aaron Martin, in only his second game for the club, getting the nod up front over the experienced Jon Stead.

It was a confident start from Town at the home of English football and it only took them five minutes to score after George Thompson swept home a cross from Ryan Fallowfield to give Town the dream start.

Aaron Martin should have made it 2-0 when he was through clean on goal in the 9th minute but he dragged his shot wide.

Jack Diamond was tripped on the edge of the box which led to a free-kick and Town’s second goal. Connor Hall put the ball away to continue Town’s dream start.

Town players did not rest on their laurels and continued to control the first half. Aaron Martin had a clear chance to make it 3-0 on 40 minutes, but his shot struck the post.

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Notts County’s Callum Roberts scored a curling free-kick immediately following the half-time breaking bringing Town right back to earth. Town dealt with some heavy pressure throughout the first 15 minutes of the second half but managed to weather the storm with a lead still intact.

Bringing the veteran Jon Stead on at the hour mark to replace Aaron Martin was a canny move from manager Simon Weaver, and his team began to look much more settled. Muldoon almost made it three after a scramble in the box.

The tension that had been building throughout the second half was extinguished when on-loan Sunderland winger Jack Diamond made it 3-1 on 70 minutes after a brilliant counter-attacking move.

Town managed to see the game out comfortably – although James Belshaw made a razor-sharp save to keep County out on the 76th minute.

Harrogate Town will play in League Two next season for the first time in their history — and after playing at Wembley with such confidence and style, they will fear no team.

For the fans, they have trips to Bradford City, Bolton Wanderers and Oldham Athletic to look forward to, should social distancing guidelines be relaxed. Even though they couldn’t be at Wembley today they will be celebrating long into the night.

 

Match preview: Harrogate Town vs Notts County

Harrogate Town will play Notts County at Wembley later today with the winner playing in the English Football League next season.

Not quite a David vs. Goliath occasion — the National League play off final will be a meeting between two clubs that have tasted different fortunes throughout their histories.

On Sunday, the Magpies will be hoping to return to league football where they have spent 157 of their 158 years, whereas Harrogate Town hopes to enter a new frontier.

Notts County are the oldest professional football league club in the world and are even former FA Cup winners, but there won’t be any fans who can remember them lifting the trophy in 1894.

Harrogate Town will walk out at Wembley for the first time this weekend. Picture Credit: Matt Kirkham Harrogate Town

They’ve been managed by some of the biggest names in English football including Howard Wilkinson, Howard Kendall and Sam Allardyce.

County were relegated from League Two in 2019 but bounced back strongly in the National League finishing just three points behind Town in third position.

In their one league encounter this season, County beat Town at the CNG Stadium 2-0, with goals from Kristian Dennis and Enzio Boldewijn.

They were due to play each other again over two legs in the semi-final of the FA Trophy, which was curtailed due to the lockdown in March. It still might go ahead which could lead to another day out at Wembley for the winning club.

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County beat Barnet in their play off game last week to reach Wembley and looked impressive with goals from Kristian Dennis and Callum Roberts.

They are the best-supported club in the division with an average attendance of 5,200 whereas Harrogate welcomes around 1,300 to the CNG.

But social distancing is a great leveller and they won’t be able to count on extra fans at Wembley with the game played behind closed doors.

Town are the current favourites with the bookies at 6/4 with Notts County at 7/4 which manager Simon Weaver isn’t fazed by.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“That’s fine and it means we must have played well and done well in the season. We know Notts County have a very strong squad and a lot of strength in depth.

“They have without doubt a lot more league experience than us but we hope to cause them problems.”

Striker Aaron Martin made his debut for Town in the tie with Boreham Wood, and he will hope to start ahead of Jon Stead and Mark Beck following an energetic performance.

But Jon Stead has big-game experience from his time in the Premier League which Weaver may look to count on.

Notts County manager Neal Ardley is expected to name the same side that beat Barnet last week.

 

The 10 years that changed Harrogate Town’s fortunes

From facing relegation to English football’s seventh tier to potentially playing Bolton Wanderers at a 28,000 seater stadium, the last 10 years have proved to be a whirlwind for Harrogate Town.

Years of change at Wetherby Road have seen the club’s current crop of players on the brink of history as they prepare to play at Wembley for a place in the Football League for the first time.

As Town gear up for the biggest game in their 101 year history, the prospect of a place in League Two seems a world away from 2010 when the club faced relegation.

After a dismal campaign, Town faced playing the 2010/11 season in the then Unibond Premier against the likes of Whitby Town and FC United of Manchester.

Harrogate Town manager, Simon Weaver.

Simon Weaver took over the club in the 2009/10 season. Picture Credit: Matt Kirkham Harrogate Town

It was the first season in charge for manager Simon Weaver, who will lead the club out at Wembley this weekend, and a restricted budget left Town bottom of the division.

But the club were saved from relegation after Northwich Victoria were demoted instead for failing to pay their debts on time. The reprieve proved to be pivotal as Town underwent a decade of change which could lead them into the EFL.

Irving Weaver, Simon’s father, took ownership in 2011 after chairman Bill Fotherby decided to stop funding the club. But success was not immediate and Town spent the following season in a relegation dogfight again.

CNG Stadium, Wetherby Road, home of Harrogate Town FC.

A few more seasons of mid-table finishes and struggling in the bottom half of the division began to take its toll on supporters.

Jordan Ford, of the Harrogate Town Supports Club, said much of the change at the club came after New Years Day in 2015. A 4-2 defeat away at Guiseley forced Mr Ford and fellow supporters to call for a meeting with the club.

He said:

“We were just not happy with the way things were going and there was not the relationship that is there now with fans.

“A few things were said, but they were very honest and had an open conversation with us.”

Town fans felt the club lacked direction and a question and answer session with management laid all the concerns on the table.

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The following season saw the club record its highest ever league position and reach the play-offs, only to be eliminated at the hands of AFC Fylde.

A 3G pitch, new crop of players and a more entertaining style of football followed and, from there, Town began to rewrite the history books.

In 2018, a 3-0 triumph over Brackley Town in front of a 3,000 strong sellout crowd saw the club promoted to the fifth tier for the first time.

Town kept up the momentum and reached the play offs at the first time of asking last season, but were again eliminated by AFC Fylde.

Harrogate Town FC

Picture Credit: Matt Kirkham Harrogate Town

Now, the current crop of players are on the brink of writing their own story as Harrogate look to claim a place in the Football League for the first time in their 101-year history.

For Mr Ford, part of the success at the club is down to its transparency and the relationship it now has with its supporters following New Years Day five years ago.

He said:

“The numbers of supporters at the club has increased.

“It is a great time to be involved and to feel as though we have been a part of that journey. The club appreciates what we do.”

 
Pride for Harrogate Town fans ahead of Wembley

Supporters of Harrogate Town have a sense of pride ahead of the biggest game in the club’s history this Sunday as they look to clinch Football League status.

While fans will be absent from Wembley on match day, Town will have the backing of thousands at home as some watch from their living rooms or in the company of fellow fans at the pub.

For Jordan Ford, of the Harrogate Town Supporters Club, the feeling of watching his team in the final is more one of excitement than nerves.

“I feel more excited than nervous to see my club at Wembley.

“The players have been at the club for many years and it will be a great experience for them to see what their hard work has brought them.”

Promotion to League Two would see a £1 million windfall for Town and hosting the likes of Bradford City and Bolton Wanderers at the CNG Stadium.

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Mr Ford, who organises the travel for supporters to away games, said the prospect of travelling to such places with Town is enticing.

He said:

“There’s a lot more northern places in League Two, so there will be interest.

“It would be amazing to play teams like Bradford, and Bolton were in Europe not so long ago.”

However, the road to the Football League would be bittersweet as supporters are absent from Wembley due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 90,000 seater stadium will be empty as Town play Notts County for a place in the EFL, but Mr Ford said the supporters will still play their part.

He said:

“It’s frustrating but that’s the way it is.

“Notts County fans are in exactly the same position and we want to do what is best.

“This is the situation we are in and we have to make the best of it.”

Town booked their place in the final after a 1-0 win over Boreham Wood last Saturday. After 150 days since a football was kicked at the CNG Stadium, some supporters were anxious about the restart.

Rob Nixon, who has followed Town for the past five years, said the feeling of getting to Wembley was sweeter after the long break.

But he added that it will not be the same without supporters there

He said:

“When we got promoted last time and they did so well, it was quite a crazy situation to be in.

“We have been doing better than before and it is a natural progression. But it’s not not quite the same feeling when we are not there.

“The feeling would be more palpable for us if we were there.”

Where to watch Harrogate’s historic play-off final on Sunday

Harrogate Town will play Notts County at Wembley on Sunday in the National League play off final — but fans will agonisingly miss out on a special day out to the home of English football due to social distancing restrictions.

The club has offered a limited number of fans the chance to watch Sunday’s play-off final with fellow supporters at The CNG Stadium.

If you can’t make it to the ground, below is a list of bars and venues in Harrogate that are showing the game live, which will be broadcast on BT Sport at 3pm.

The Harrogate Arms, Parliament Street (online bookings only)

Bilton Working Men’s Club, Skipton Road (non-members welcome)

Manhatten Snooker Club, Beech Avenue (non-members welcome)

Mojo, Parliament Street (online bookings only)

Prince of Wales, Starbeck High Street

Harlow Hill Sports and Social Club, College Street 

Bilton Cricket Club, Bilton Lane

The Woodlands Hotel, Wetherby Road

The following pubs are showing the game but are already fully booked:

The Alexandra, West Park

The Last Post, Cold Bath Road 

Did we miss a pub or bar that is showing the game? Email contact@thestrayferret.co.uk to let us know.

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From Knaresborough Celtic juniors to Wembley

If Harrogate Town get promoted to the English Football League on Sunday, Jack Emmett will be the toast of the town.

Jack, 26, is the only Harrogate-born player in the squad and has made about 220 appearances.

After unsuccessful trials with Leeds United and Doncaster Rovers – the latter of which said he was too small to make the grade – he didn’t have any great aspirations when he first trained with Town during sixth form at Harrogate Grammar School.

Accountancy was to be his career; football was a hobby. But his life, along with the fortunes of the club, have transformed since then. He told the Stray Ferret:

“Everything was completely different when I joined. The team, the ground, the crowds, the professionalism… we were a bit of a head it, kick it team trying to get out of the Conference North on a grass pitch with a big slope in the corner.

“Every year since then we’ve built on things. It’s incredible really.”

The club’s decision to go fully professional in 2017 was the key moment, said Jack, who started out at Knaresborough Celtic juniors. Town signed several new players and were immediately promoted in 2018 to the National League.

Now they are heading to the most famous stadium in the world for the chance to play in the fourth tier of the English game.

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Standing in the way are Notts County, the oldest professional team in the world whose black and white striped kit was copied by Italian giants Juventus.

Ordinarily County would have thousands more fans cheering them on so playing at an empty Wembley could work in Harrogate’s favour, said Jack.

“Most people fancy them to beat us,” he said. “But I like going in as the underdog.”

Midfielder Jack, who has a year left on his contract, was a substitute in the 1-0 play-off defeat of Boreham Wood last weekend. But hot weather and Wembley’s big pitch could see the bench play a big part.

With no fans allowed, his family won’t be there to see it. He said:

“They booked a holiday in Wales so they wouldn’t have been able to make it anyway.”

He also feels for the fans.

“It’s such a shame they can’t be there with us. Hopefully we can win it for them. Having grown up in the town I know how much it would mean to people.”

Harrogate Town to show play-off final on big screen

Harrogate Town has offered a limited number of fans the chance to watch Sunday’s play-off final with fellow supporters at The CNG Stadium.

The club will show the match against Notts County on a 25 square metre TV overlooking the pitch at Wetherby Road.

Tickets are £35 per bubble. Each bubble can consist of up to six people and the tickets must be collected in advance.

Anyone attending needs to wear trainers. People can either bring their own seating or sit on the artificial grass.

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One person per bubble will then be able to collect their ticket from the club office from 11am to 3pm tomorrow and Saturday and 11am to 1pm on Sunday.

Alternatively, tickets can be collected from the courtyard outside the Victoria Shopping Centre on Saturday from 10am to 4pm

With coronavirus restrictions in place, fans will not be able to travel to Wembley to watch the game so the screening will be the closest fans will be able to get.