Harrogate Town life president George Dunnington dies

Harrogate Town life president George Dunnington has died.

The club announced today that Mr Dunnington, 86, who had been involved with the club for seven decades, died yesterday.

He was first involved with the club as a player in the 1950s.

When his playing days ended in the 1980s he helped the club build a new stand, floodlights, terracing, turnstiles, changing rooms and much more with a team of workers.

Mr Dunnington was elected chairman in October 1986, a position he held until 1998.

He was then elected club president In 2012/13, before being one of the inaugural inductees in the club’s Hall of Fame in 2023.

The club said in a statement:

“George was an inspiration to everyone at the club, his positivity, friendly nature and determination leaving a lasting legacy at the club he dedicated such a big part of his life to.

“Our thoughts are with George’s family and loved ones at this time.”

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Barbie and Spiderman to attend this weekend’s Harrogate Town match

Harrogate Town’s first home league match this weekend will be attended by Barbie, Spiderman and Mario.

The club is celebrating the launch of its junior membership scheme and the ongoing school holidays.

Under-12s can attend from £6, and under-fives are free with a paying adult.

As part of this, the likes of Barbie, Mario, Spiderman and Sonic will be meeting young fans shortly before Saturday’s kick-off against Forest Green Rovers,

The club said in a statement:

“Having just been granted silver award in the EFL family excellence scheme, this is the latest offering from the club looking to attract more families to the EnviroVent Stadium.”

Harrogate have made a good start to the season.

A Jack Muldoon penalty helped to seal a 1-0 away win over Doncaster Rovers in the opening league fixture last weekend.

Simon Weaver’s men then beat Carlisle United 1-0 in the Carabao Cup to earn a home fixture against Blackburn Rovers in the second round.

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Four generations set to support Harrogate Town at Carabao Cup clash

Four generations of Harrogate Town fans from the same family are set to attend the Envirovent Stadium tomorrow night.

Town take on Carlisle United at Wetherby Road in the first round of the Carabao Cup.

In attendance will be the Deighton family, who have collectively followed Harrogate for around 40 years.

But Tuesday night’s match will be special for the Deighton’s as seven-year-old Isaac attends his first Town game.

He will be joined by his dad Tom, 27, grandad Andy, 52 and great-grandad Peter, 76. They will all sit in the Wetherby Road stand.

Phil Deighton, a season ticket holder at Town who will also be at the game, said it was important to the family to support their local team.

Mr Deighton, who is Andy’s brother, said:

“The game on Tuesday will be Issac’s first game and he is really excited.

“As a family we have been watching Harrogate Town for nearly 40 years and it’s great that Isaac will be following in the family traditions.

“Supporting our local team is very important to us.”

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Town will be hoping to make it through to the second round of the Carabao Cup against League One Carlisle.

The club go into tomorrow night’s game off the back of a 1-0 in a Yorkshire Derby against Doncaster last Saturday.

Town took four points from Carlisle last season with a 3-3 draw at the Envirovent Stadium and a 1-0 win away at Brunton Park.

Carlisle were promoted at the end of last season after defeating Stockport County on penalties in the League Two play-off final at Wembley.

Harrogate Town star striker set to leave after weekend withdrawal?

Harrogate Town striker Luke Armstrong looks set to leave the club after making himself unavailable last weekend.

Armstrong was the club’s top scorer last season, scoring 16 goals.

The 27-year-old was left out of the starting 11 at Doncaster Rovers on Saturday after making himself unavailable. Fans were only informed shortly before kick-off.

In a statement, Harrogate Town said Armstrong made the request amid “a number of transfer bids from other clubs”.

Manager Simon Weaver said:

“We had tentative enquiries at the start of the week from other clubs about Luke and those have now led to proper offers.

“Those offers came after we had offered Luke a renewed contract and a three-year-deal, because he deserved it.

“He has been a dedicated and fantastic player for us and we would love to keep him, however on Thursday he informed us he wanted to go and didn’t think he was in the right mindset to perform at his best today, which was disappointing news at the time.

“He has been honest with me and told me he wants to move on and thought it would be detrimental to the team if he took to the field today.”

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Weaver added that a three-year contract offer to Armstrong “is still on the table”.

He added:

“The offer is still on the table from us for him to sign a new deal, but our position is clear; we have informed him and his agent that two things have to happen before Luke is able to leave the club, we have to do what is best for our club and get a significant fee for him and secondly we need a replacement that is going to make the fans proud.”

Weaver told BBC Radio York in a post-match interview that he had “softened” his approach to Armstrong from a “no sale” position following his request.

However, he reiterated that Town would still require a “significant fee” for Armstrong and a replacement player who is “not just a stocking filler”.

Despite the absence of Armstrong, Harrogate made it a winning start to the 2023/24 EFL League Two season with a 1-0 win at Doncaster.

Jack Muldoon scored the only goal of the game with a penalty which saw Town take all three points.

Harrogate Town begin fourth football league campaign tomorrow

Harrogate Town fans are optimistic of their side’s chances of avoiding relegation as the club enters a fourth campaign in the English Football League.

Town take on Doncaster Rovers away from home tomorrow in a tantalising Yorkshire derby to open the season.

The club has bolstered its first team with the likes of striker Abraham Odoh from Rochdale and winger James Daly among the summer recruits.

Phil Deighton, a long time season ticket holder at Wetherby Road, said Harrogate should be in a position to avoid the drop again this season.

He added that the additions to the squad during the summer transfer window, in particular Odoh, had pleased him.

Mr Deighton said:

“I am a season ticket holder and have been watching Town for a a long time. Just watching league football is brilliant for me as most of my time watching it has been non-league.

“The preparations for the new season look good, it is nice to see a couple of players that were on loan re-sign permanently and I was pleased that Mr Weaver added in the striking department  – I looking forward to seeing Abraham Odoh, he looks a skilful player.

“Overall, I think the pre-season has gone well, just a shame none of the game have been at home, and I think we will do slightly better in the league this season and not have the worry of relegation.”

‘Strongest squad in 14 years’

Town will head into the new season with an away trip to the Eco-Power Stadium to face Doncaster.

Manager Simon Weaver said the squad was the strongest he had in his time at the club.

He said:

“I think it is quite honestly the strongest squad I’ve had at the club in 14 years.

“I’m proud of the efforts of the players in pre-season. The new lads have settled in well, they have integrated into the changing room really easily which is great. The vibe is strong.”

Simon Weaver, Harrogate Town manager.

Simon Weaver, Harrogate Town manager.

Weaver also has a fully fit squad going into the new season, with the exception of long term absentee Stephen Dooley who is on the sidelines with an injury.

Ahead of the clash with Doncaster, Weaver said there was massive appetite for the derby but warned that it was “no more important” than any other match.

He said:

“Everybody builds up the first game of the season and that’s because there is massive appetite for it.

“But it’s no more important or no less important than any other game in a 50 game season. We have to stick to what we’re good at and be organised, hard working and have loads of energy and be an exciting team to watch.

“But at the same time, not put too much pressure on because there’s so many games this season and so many points to play for.”

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Business Breakfast: Harrogate Town agrees partnership with Circle Health Group

Harrogate Town has agreed a partnership with the Duchy Hospital.

The agreement will see the hospital, which is part of Circle Health Group, offer medical check-ups, health screening and private GP appointments to first team players.

It will also see specialist clinics available to players before and after EFL League Two fixtures this coming season.

Rachel McGeachie, head of medical and physiotherapy at Harrogate Town FC, said: 

“They offer an invaluable service to the club that provides both peace of mind to the player, their families as well as the club and myself.”

Michelle Eardley, executive director of the Duchy Hospital, said: 

“As a fellow local organisation, we understand how important the club is to the community and we look forward to supporting the players and club staff throughout the season with specialist care across a range of services.”

Harrogate law firm makes new litigation hire

A Harrogate law firm has appointed a new litigation executive.

Truth Legal, which is based on Victoria Avenue, has hired Sarah Doyle to its team.

Sarah joins the firm with 30 years ‘ experience of working within the legal services industry, the majority of which has been within the personal injury sector.

She has acted for claimants involved in road traffic accidents, including 10 years spent acting on behalf of motorcyclists, and has focused on clinical negligence cases for the last three years.

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Business Breakfast: Harrogate Town agrees player development centre sponsorship

There’s not long to go until the Stray Ferret Business Club’s breakfast event on Thursday, 27 July at Banyan in Harrogate between 8-10am.

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets now by clicking or tapping here.

Harrogate Town has agreed a new sponsorship deal for its player development centre.

The club has partnered with Harrogate College to sponsor the centre for the forthcoming season.

The centre provides additional football coaching to young players from under 7s to under 17s as part of their development.

Jo Towler, commercial director at Harrogate Town, said:

“The partnership reflects our shared dedication to supporting young people and fostering their development both on and off the field.”

Danny Wild, principal at Harrogate College, said:

“Harrogate Town AFC, just like our college, is committed to giving great opportunities to the district’s young people to help them flourish and grow. Collaborating with brilliant local organisations is in our DNA, and we know that sport brings all kinds of benefits – physical, mental and social – to those involved.”

Harrogate IT company forecasts improved revenue despite results delay

A Harrogate IT company has said it anticipates an increase in revenue despite a delay in publishing its year-end results.

Redcentric, which is based on Otley Road, was due to publish its report on July 19, but announced a delay to allow the company’s auditors to complete “the finalisation of the results”.

However, in a trading update, it said it expects revenue to increase to £141.8m in line with its forecast in April this year.

The figure would be an increase on £93.3 million at the end of 2022.

The move comes as Peter Brotherton, chief executive of Redcentric, said in January that he expected the firm to capitalise on an “enlarged customer base and increased breadth of products and service”.

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Business Breakfast: Harrogate housing developer appoints new operations director

There’s not long to go until the Stray Ferret Business Club’s breakfast event on Thursday, 27 July at Banyan in Harrogate between 8-10am. 

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets now by clicking or tapping here.

A Harrogate-based housing developer has appointed a new operations director.

Casa by Moda, which is based at Beckwith Knowle, has hired Sarah Nelson to the position at the company.

Ms Nelson will be tasked with overseeing the strategic direction and management of the operations teams, as well as agreeing and implementing the firm’s vision to achieve long-term growth.

On her appointment, she said: 

“This felt like a very natural move for me. The Casa brand, mission, and values of putting the customer at the heart of everything are aligned to my own personal values, so I feel a very close affinity with Moda Living’s proposition. 

Straight away I knew I could both passionately commit and add a huge amount of value to the business.”

Stephen Rogers, Associate Director at Casa by Moda, added: 

“Sarah is a fantastic addition to the growing Casa team at this crucial, exciting moment for the business.

“With her wealth of experience in the living sector, we’re confident that she will play a pivotal role in the growth of Casa as we look to open our first neighbourhood this year and work towards our goal of securing 5,000 new family homes by 2025.”

 

Harrogate Town announce new Kop stand sponsor

Harrogate Town has announced a new sponsor for the Kop stand at the EnviroVent Stadium.

The club has agreed a sponsorship deal with builders’ merchants GH Brooks, which is based on Claro Road, for the forthcoming season.

GH Brooks, which has been unveiled as new sponsors of the Kop stand at Harrogate Town.

GH Brooks, which has been unveiled as new sponsors of the Kop stand at Harrogate Town.

Jo Towler, commercial director of Harrogate Town, said:

”We are delighted to welcome GH Brooks as the official sponsor of the Kop. The Kop is the heartbeat of our stadium, and the passionate support from our fans creates an incredible atmosphere on matchdays. 

“We deeply appreciate GH Brooks’ commitment to our club.”

Andy Broadwith, director of GH Brooks, said:

“Having been involved with HTAFC for many years, we are proud to become the official sponsor of the Kop.

“As a local builders merchants, we are dedicated to supporting initiatives that enhance our community and are excited to contribute to Harrogate Town’s journey and be a part of their continued success.”

Harrogate Town unveil new kit for upcoming season

Harrogate Town have unveiled their new home and third kit for the upcoming season.

Town will embark on their fourth campaign in EFL League Two from August.

Ahead of the new season, the club has revealed a new yellow home kit and black third kit.

Modelled by Matty Daly and Matty Foulds, the shirts are sponsored by Strata Homes.

Matty Daly and Matty Foulds in the third kit.

Matty Daly and Matty Foulds in the third kit.

Both kits will be available to purchase from the club’s shop on Commercial Street in Harrogate town centre from today.

Town are set to start the 2023/24 season away at Doncaster Rovers on August 5.

They will then entertain Forest Green Rovers in the first home league fixture of the season on August 12.

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Business Breakfast: Harrogate Town announces community scheme sponsor

Harrogate Town has announced Blossom Homecare as sponsors of its community programme.

The homecare provider, which covers Ripon and Harrogate, has agreed to sponsor the club’s Talk of the Town scheme.

The sessions, which are run by Harrogate Town AFC Community Foundation, are aimed at reducing social isolation and improving both physical and mental wellbeing by bringing people together in a welcoming and safe environment.

Joanne Towler, commercial director at Harrogate Town, said:

“The collaboration with Blossom Homecare brings invaluable expertise and resources to the programme. As a trusted provider of homecare services,

“Blossom Homecare can contribute their knowledge in promoting health, well-being, and community outreach. Through their involvement, the partnership can further expand its reach and impact, offering assistance to those in need and facilitating meaningful connections.”

More than 100 businesses sign up to Harrogate College network

More than 100 employers have signed up to Harrogate College’s employers’ network.

The network was set up to help create a direct link between businesses and the college to help tailor work and training opportunities for students.

Danny Wild, principal of Harrogate College.

Danny Wild, principal of Harrogate College.

Now, the scheme has 103 members – a four fold increase since its first meeting in 2021.

Danny Wild, principal at Harrogate College, said:

“It’s fantastic to see the network growing so fast. To have gained more than 100 members in under two years is a real achievement – and a sign that we’re building something special here.

“The feedback we gain from businesses is invaluable and helps us identify and address any gaps in our courses, so we can keep ahead of the curve in terms of meeting emerging training needs.

“Our students also benefit from meeting employers when they come along to support our events, like recruitment fairs, or give guest talks – and this in turn helps them secure work placements or apprenticeships.”

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