Harrogate Town ‘relishing’ being underdogs in Blackburn clash

Harrogate Town are “relishing” being underdogs in tomorrow night’s clash against Blackburn Rovers, says manager Simon Weaver.

Town will take on the Championship outfit, who sit two divisions above Harrogate, in a Carabao Cup second round match at the EnviroVent Stadium on Wetherby Road.

Tickets have been selling fast for the game in what is arguably the club’s most illustrious match ever.

The fixture will be the first time Harrogate has hosted a Championship club, with League One Blackpool and Portsmouth the previous highest ranked to visit.

Town are expected to be labelled as underdogs for the game. However, Simon Weaver, Harrogate manager, said the club will relish the tag.

He said:

“It’s an understandable tag to remain with us. At every level, we have always had that tag.

“But we relish being underdogs and having a bit of a chip on our shoulder. We love it when teams sing about Betty’s tea shops and when people expect it to be soft and flaky. Hopefully we can prove people wrong.”

Read more:

A place in round three of the competition awaits the winners, with more Premier League clubs added to the draw, including the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.

Town go into the cup tie off the back of a 2-0 win in the league against Morecambe on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Rovers narrowly missed out on a play-off place last season, finishing seventh in the Championship and missing the chance to return to the Premier League, which they won in 1994/95.

Blackburn go into tomorrow night’s fixture after defeating Watford 1-0 in the Championship on Sunday.

Tickets for the game remain on sale to Harrogate Town fans online who attended three or more games since the start of last season.

Tickets are on sale here, or in-person to all supporters from the club’s Commercial Street Store.

Man dies after crash between Harrogate and Ripon

A 59-year-old man has died following a collision on the A61 between Ripley and South Stainley last weekend.

North Yorkshire Police said the crash happened at 5.20pm on Saturday, August 26.

Three cars were involved in the collision, including a dark coloured Suzuki Bandit Motorcycle, a dark coloured Land Rover Discovery and a white Ford Transit Van.

The rider of the motorcycle, a 59-year-old man, died.

Police said the man’s family have been informed and are receiving support from specially trained officers.

The driver of the Land Rover Discovery and the Ford Transit both stopped at the scene to assist officers with their enquiries.

Officers believe that the motorcyclist was travelling with a group of unknown motorcycles immediately before the collision and he was at the rear of the group.

The road was closed for several hours to allow officers to conduct investigation work at the scene of the collision.

In a statement, North Yorkshire Police said:

“We’re appealing for information and witnesses following a fatal collision on the A61 over the weekend.

“We’re now appealing to anyone who may have seen the collision or who may have any dashcam footage of the collision or the vehicles prior to the incident, to come forward.

“Anyone with any information or footage is urged to preserve the footage and contact us on 101 quoting reference 12230161248.

“Alternatively, you can email ross.moralee@northyorkshire.police.uk.”

Read more:

Police release CCTV image after £250 theft in Harrogate

Police have issued a CCTV image of a man they wish to speak to following a theft in Harrogate.

The incident happened at Sainsbury’s on Leeds Road on Saturday, July 22 at midnight. 

The victim’s bank card was used to draw £250 without their permission.

A North Yorkshire Police statement added:

“Officers are now asking members of the public to get in touch if they recognise the person in the image as they believe they will have information that will help the investigation.

“Anyone with any information is asked to email  IET@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101.

“If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

“Please quote the reference number 12230129543 when passing on information.”

Read more:

 

Police issue CCTV image after assault in Harrogate shopping centre

North Yorkshire Police has today issued a CCTV image of a person that they want to speak to following an assault in Harrogate.

The incident, which occurred in the Victoria Shopping Centre, happened on Wednesday 21 June 2023 at approximately 12.30pm.

The suspects spat at one of the victims and removed the second victim’s  glasses and then stamped on them.

Officers have now appealed to the public to get in touch if they recognise the person in the CCTV image.

A police statement added:

“Officers are now asking members of the public to get in touch if they recognise the person in the image as they believe they will have information that will help the investigation.

“Anyone with any information is asked to email Georgia.Ladly@northyorkshire.police.uk  or call North Yorkshire Police on 101, and ask for Georgia Lady.

“If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Please quote reference number 12230114298 when passing on information.”

Read more:

 

Line-up for Harrogate literature festival revealed

The line-up for this year’s Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival has been announced today.

Authors and thinkers will descend on the Crown Hotel in Harrogate for the four-day event produced by Harrogate International Festivals and sponsored by Harrogate law firm Raworths Solicitors.

Speakers at the festival, which takes place from October 19 to 22, range from leading authors Victoria Hislop, Alison Weir and Andy McNab to ex-cricketer Monty Panesar and media star Dr Hilary Jones.

For lovers of historical literature, Ms Hislop will introduce her new novel, The Figurine and historian and author Ms Weir, author of the Sunday Times bestselling Six Tudor Queens series, will explore the life of one of Britain’s most infamous monarchs, Henry VIII, the subject of her latest historical novel.

Royal correspondent and author Robert Hardman will share insights from his account of Elizabeth II’s reign,Queen of Our Times and ex-England cricketer Monty Panesar will recount stories from his sporting career.

Andy McNab, who has written three best-selling books about his life in the SAS, will give the inside line on his latest fictional thriller, Down to the Wire and comedian Rosie Holt will share the story behind how she became an internet sensation.

Read more:

Dr Hilary Jones will join a panel exploring the challenges currently faced by the NHS and husband and wife team Carrie and David Grant tell the tale of their extraordinary family, explored in their new book A Very Modern Family.

Rachel Tunnicliffe, senior partner at Raworths Solicitors, which is sponsoring the event for the 11th year, said:

“This year’s line-up of literary names is outstanding – a true celebration of great books, thinking and writing. We are proud to play a part in bringing such a prestigious event to our town.”

Sharon Canavar, chief executive of Harrogate International Festivals, said the festival “features a terrific mix of fiction writers, TV broadcasters, sports personalities, historians and journalists, with more thrilling programme announcements coming soon”.

More information is available here.

The 1980s pop star now pursuing her Five Star career in Harrogate

One of the most British successful musicians of the 1980s is back in the headlines — and now lives in Harrogate.

Deniece Pearson was the lead singer of Five Star, which had over 20 top 30 UK singles, including System Addict and Rain Or Shine. The group is the youngest British act to have a number one album.

Deniece was just 15 when Five Star, which consisted of four siblings, was set up in 1983 as Britain’s answer to the Jackson 5.

A Brit Award and a Grammy nomination followed as the band enjoyed hit after hit. She met the Queen twice.

After a break to raise her two children, Deniece is now forging the next stage of her career from her new home in Harrogate.

She moved to the town about 18 months ago purely by fluke — she was visiting a friend in Leeds and came to Harrogate for a massage. Deniece explains:

“I thought ‘this place is really lovely’ and started thinking ‘I might just come and live in Harrogate’.

“It’s just gorgeous. It’s the happiest place in the UK to live. It was beautiful at Christmas last year and I’m a real Christmas girl.”

Deniece returned to the stage in the 2000s, which included performing in the West End production of the Michael Jackson musical Thriller Live.

She’s now preparing for a 40th anniversary Five Star show at Pizza Express Live in London on September 30.

Deniece has also released a new single called Forever Young, which is taken from an EP also featuring new versions of Five Star classics System Addict and Rain or Shine.

She will be on tour in the UK this autumn and a solo album is expected next year.

Where does she like to relax when she’s back home in Harrogate?

She mentions The Ivy and Valley Gardens, adding:

“I haven’t really got to know Harrogate that well yet but from what I’ve seen I love it. It’s such a great town.”

Read more:

 

Harrogate boy, 9, walks 200 miles for Ataxia UK

A nine-year-old Harrogate boy is walking 200 miles, inspired by his dad who has Friedrich’s ataxia.

He aims to raise money for Ataxia UK, a charity that funds treatment and provides support for those with ataxia.

Ataxia is a term for a group of neurological disorders that affect balance, coordination and speech

His mum, Helen Gibson, explained the impact of his dad’s condition on Jack:

“Jack and his dad are very close but Jack sometimes struggles as his dad can’t do all of the things he would like him to because of his condition and tires easily.”

Jack attends young carers events in Harrogate. After smashing his original goal to walk 126 miles, he chose to increase his goal to 200 miles.

He has been walking at least three miles a day for four weeks to complete his goal. Some days he has walked as far as 8 miles.

Jack’s inspiration to walk was explained by his mum,

“He chose walking as he said it was something that was free and something that his dad can still do at the moment.”

Jack and his dad

Jack’s walks have been local, on the Stray or at Fountains Abbey. On holiday, he has completed his walks at Alton Towers or nearby National Trust locations.

He also walked the coast where his parents are originally from.

Both family and friends have joined Jack on his walks.

The family have a goal of £500 and have already raised £435.

If you are interested in donating to Jack’s fundraiser, there is a Just Giving page.

Cow found wandering around Harrogate’s Valley Gardens

People enjoying the sunny weather in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens today were shocked to stumble across a wandering cow.

Lucy Emma Renshaw-Martin was one of many dog walkers going about their morning routine at about 8.30am when she saw the beast.

It was casually ambling around the central section, appearing to head in the direction of the Magnesia Well Tea Room.

The cow heads towards the tea room.

Lucy managed to photograph the cow from distance and later got a more close-up image when she was safely behind the barriers on Valley Road.

She told the Stray Ferret she had no idea how the cow, which appears to be a Holstein or Friesian, ended up in the 17-acre gardens, which are not particularly close to any fields.

Read more:

She said:

“The police were there but just herding it around from what I saw.

“It’s not every day you see a cow on your morning dog walk.”

Do you know more about the cow and how it ended up in Valley Gardens? If so email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

 

Police were dispatched to help. 

Missing Harrogate man found ‘safe and well’

A man who went missing from a Harrogate care home has been found safe, North Yorkshire Police has said.

Police issued an urgent appeal for help find the man on Saturday when he went missing at 6.30am.

It asked people to report sightings.

But officers later said the man had been found “safe and well”.

Read more:

 

Seb Mitchell murder trial: Harrogate boy found guilty

A boy has been found guilty of the murder of Harrogate schoolboy Seb Mitchell.

Seb, 17, was stabbed to death after a row over a broken mirror, a trial at Leeds Crown Court heard.

The jury today returned a majority verdict of 10 to 2 of murder after deliberating for almost 15 hours.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was 16 at the time of committing the crime.

He stabbed Harrogate Grammar School pupil Seb in the chest with a kitchen knife which led to a fatal loss of blood and cardiac arrest.

The teenager pleaded not guilty – he accepted he knifed Seb but said he did not intend to kill him.

The defendant will not be sentenced today. However, the court will reconvene this afternoon in order to decide whether he can be named publicly.

The Recorder of Leeds, Judge Guy Kearl KC, said his age would be taken into consideration, as would the severity of the crime. He told the court:

“This is not a case in which he took the knife to the scene, but nevertheless a case in which it was picked up and then used, not with a great deal of force. But as we know in these courts, you don’t have to use a great deal of force in order to inflict a great deal of injury.”

Seb was taken to Harrogate District Hospital by ambulance, but his condition was so critical he was transferred to Leeds General Infirmary where he underwent emergency surgery and was placed in a medically induced coma.

He died two days after the incident.

Read more: