Harrogate Town bid for FA Cup glory tomorrow

Harrogate Town are one win away from a potential FA Cup match against a Premier League team.

Town travel to Portsmouth tomorrow to play in the second round of the cup.

The Sulphurites have never reached the third round of the FA Cup, which is when the Premier League and Championship sides enter the competition.

So if Simon Weaver’s men pull off an upset at Fratton Park they can start dreaming of a cup game against the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea or Leeds United.

They face a monumental task: Portsmouth are two-time winners of the cup, having lifted it in 1939 and then again in 2008 under manager Harry Redknapp. They have home advantage and are in good form on the fringes of the play-offs in Division One, which is one division higher than Harrogate.

The match is a reversal of the first round tie from the 2019, when Pompey won 2-1 after Mark Beck had given Town an early lead.

Weaver said:

“It’s a great challenge that’s for sure. Portsmouth are a massive club, as we know from the away support when they played against us last time in the FA Cup, but we go to Fratton Park, which is a great ground to visit, and they have a fantastic partisan support behind them.

“I’ve heard we’re taking a good number away from home, which is superb for us as a club and superb for the players, but it’s a big test again and one that we’re going to relish.”

Kick-off is at 3pm and the draw for the third round takes place on Monday.

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Harrogate Town Supporters Trust admits mistakes in early days

Harrogate Town Supporters Trust has admitted making mistakes in the early days of its existence, which led to a fierce backlash from some Town fans.

The trust was set-up by the club in July to give fans a say in running the club.

But some members of the independent Harrogate Town Supporters Club, which has been in existence for more than a decade, believed the trust was an attempt to undermine its work.

Other football league clubs, such as Sheffield Wednesday and Bradford City, already have fans trusts, which are democratically run and governed by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Tensions emerged in July when Clare Bridge, chair of the trust, told the Stray Ferret the group would put on coach trips to away matches due to the “drunken behaviour” of members of the supporters club on their coaches — a claim the supporters club disputed.

Communication ‘could have been better’

Leaked minutes of a trust meeting on September 2 reveal the group has 45 members so far, including one fan in Toronto.

Much of the meeting was take up by discussion of the two fan groups. The minutes say:

“It was acknowledged that the existing supporters club are feeling threatened. We are not working against them but we are hoping to work with them to grow the supporter base and to encourage more away supporters.

“It was acknowledged that the communication could have been done better, especially with the supporters club. Time and covid were major hurdles we were trying to overcome, and in hindsight, things could’ve been done better.

“The teething problems setting up the trust were acknowledged.”

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The minutes add that Murgatroyd Coaches would subsidise away travel to encourage take-up and that trust members should expect to “receive some stick” from the supporters club on away days.

They add there should be an effort to “build bridges” with the group:

“There has to be willingness on the part of every party to communicate. A lot of work will need to be done to build a bridge. However, we will have to accept that some individuals will not change their minds.”

Fans Forum

Next Wednesday evening, the Cedar Court Hotel will host a fans forum. Fans will be able to hear news from club representatives, the community foundation, the independent supporters club, the supporters trust and first team manager Simon Weaver.

For information on attending, email Phill Holdsworth, supporter liaison officer, on phillholdsworth@harrogatetownafc.com

Harrogate Town boss nominated for Manager of the Month

Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver has been nominated for the manager of the month award in League Two of the English Football League.

It’s been a dream start to the new campaign for Town despite a covid outbreak forcing the club to postpone two league fixtures.

Weaver’s men are currently sitting pretty at the top of table, with four wins and one draw from their opening five games.

August saw home wins against Rochdale and Barrow and a 1-1 draw with Exeter.

Their only defeat last month came in a 0-2 loss to Leyton Orient.

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The winner will be announced on Friday. The shortlist is below.

Dave Challinor (Hartlepool United)

Rob Edwards (Forest Green Rovers)

Ben Garner (Swindon Town)

Simon Weaver (Harrogate Town)

Newcastle to send under-23 team to Harrogate tomorrow after covid outbreak

Newcastle United are to bring an under-23 team to Harrogate tomorrow rather than a first team squad due to covid.

The Premier League side announced the news this afternoon after goalkeeper Karl Darlow tested positive.

Although every other player and staff member within Newcastle’s first team group has returned negative tests, fellow goalkeepers Mark Gillespie and Freddie Woodman have gone into isolation for 10 days after being identified as close contacts.

Consequently Newcastle will send a first team to York tomorrow and an under-23 team to Harrogate to minimise mixing between the groups.

Magpies manager Steve Bruce said:

“I have spoken to Simon Weaver, who was very understanding, and I would like to apologise to any Harrogate supporters who have bought tickets thinking first team players were coming.

“Ultimately, we have to follow the advice from medical professionals and take proactive steps to protect players and we simply can’t mix up the dressing rooms, which was our initial plan.”

The first ever match between Harrogate and the six-times FA Cup winners was the pick of Town’s pre-season friendlies.

Kick off is at 2pm tomorrow  at the EnviroVent Stadium on Wetherby Road.

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Harrogate Town bolsters squad with two more signings

Harrogate Town have signed two more players ahead of their second-ever campaign in League Two.

The former West Ham left-back Lewis Page has joined Simon Weaver’s squad after spending last season at Exeter City in League Two.

Versatile midfielder and former Liverpool youth player Nathan Sheron joins after four years with League One outfit Fleetwood Town.

The 25-year-old Page signed for West Ham aged nine and made his first-team debut in July 2015, playing in a Europa League qualifying round.

He was unable to break into their Premier League team and has since played for Cambridge United, Coventry City and Charlton Athletic.

He said:

“I would say I’m the ‘modern day’ type left-back. Obviously I pride myself on my defending, I try to do that first and foremost but then getting forward is a bonus.

“I like to get forward a lot and put crosses in and try and affect the game by making assists.”

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Twenty-three-year-old Sheron signed for Liverpool aged seven and spent 10 years in the Anfield club’s famous youth system before joining Fleetwood in 2016.

He said:

“I’m an honest player and I’ll play wherever the manager puts me. I wear my heart on my sleeve and won’t shirk out of a tackle so hopefully I can play as many games as possible and try to kick us up the league.

“It’s an upcoming club so hopefully there’s a lot more to come.”

Weaver had already bolstered his squad with five new signings: Mark Oxley, Rory McArdle, Luke Armstrong, Danilo Orsi and Alex Pattison.

Town welcome Premier League team Newcastle United to the Envirovent Stadium for a pre-season friendly on Sunday.

Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver signs new contract

Simon Weaver has signed a new three-year deal to stay on as manager of Harrogate Town.

Me Weaver first took the reins at Wetherby Road in May 2009 when he was appointed player-manager by his chairman father Irving Weaver.

The club has been transformed in the 12 years since. It’s gone from being a Conference North club in the sixth tier of English football to finishing 17th last season in Division Two of the English Football League — the fourth tier.

Weaver, who was born in Doncaster, is currently the longest-serving manager in the professional game in England.

He said:

“This club has been a massive part of my life for for 12 years, so to take it to 15 is fantastic for me personally.

“I’m excited about the challenge ahead and have as much appetite for it now as I did 12 years ago.”

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Town’s assistant manager Paul Thirwell has also signed a new three-year contract with the club.

Thirwell, who played for Sheffield United and Sunderland, has worked under Weaver since January 2017.

Their close relationship was captured in the BT Sport documentary Proud To Be Town, which chronicled the club’s promotion to League Two in 2019-20.

Weaver added:

“Paul and I are very close, he definitely alleviates pressure on my job with what he brings to the table, he’s a good presence, has a great personality and sense of humour, but overall he is a really good person, which is important to me.”

Town will begin their second-ever campaign in the English Football League with a home tie against Rochdale on August 7.

Harrogate Town to kick off new season against Rochdale

Harrogate Town will play Rochdale AFC at home on the first day of the new League Two season.

The Greater Manchester outfit will visit the Environment on Saturday August 7 to kick off Town’s second-ever campaign in the English Football League.

Simon Weaver’s men will then head to Crawley Town on August 14 and then to Leyton Orient on August 17.

Fans will be looking forward to visiting Bradford City’s Valley Parade on Boxing Day with the reverse fixture played at the EnviroVent on 5 February.

The full fixture list. Credit: Harrogate Town

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The 2022 calendar year will begin with a trip to Port Vale on New Year’s Day before the team heads to Exeter on January 8, which is the longest away journey of the season.

Yesterday also saw Town drawn in the Papa John’s Trophy where they will face Sheffield Wednesday, Mansfield Town and a final team that will be announced at 4.30pm today.

The Carabao Cup first-round draw will also be revealed at 3.40pm today.

In April, the club were awarded a general safety certificate to hold full capacity games next season once all coronavirus restrictions are lifted.

English Football League approves Harrogate Town’s bid to create academy

Harrogate Town have been given permission by the English Football League to open an academy for budding professionals aged 16 to 18.

The club revealed today it had received a licence to operate a category four academy.

The academy will be led by former Knaresborough Town manager Paul Stansfield, supported by professional development phase coach Ross McKay.

Phil Priestley will act as goalkeeper coach and Josh Walsh as academy secretary. Lee Barraclough has been appointed head of recruitment.

Based at West Riding FA along with the current first team, the academy will compete in the EFL Youth Alliance North East, allowing regular competitive fixtures and a pathway through the ranks.

First team manager Simon Weaver said:

“This is 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.

“Our under-19s, under-17s and under-19 Alliance teams will continue to run and compete in their respective leagues, alongside the newly established academy.”

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‘We believe we can win’: Harrogate Town boss on Wembley cup final

Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver said his squad aren’t taking Concord Rangers lightly, in what is being billed as a David vs Goliath cup final at Wembley on Monday.

Town are two divisions above the semi-professional National League South outfit who haven’t played a game since January 2, but the long-serving boss told the Stray Ferret his players aren’t expecting an easy game.

He said:

“We’ve seen hundreds of teams bitten by smaller clubs. People expect us to win but it’s not as easy as that. This group of players won’t take things lightly.

But we have a strong resolve and belief we can win.”

The rise of Harrogate Town towards the football league for the first time in their history captured the imagination of the football world last summer, which Weaver said clubs like Concord Rangers will take inspiration from.

Many of the Town players such as Lloyd Kerry, Mark Beck and James Belshaw played for the club when they were at the same level as Concord, which Weaver said means they will be hungry to win on Monday:

“Our group of players are from when we played in the National League. We have no illusions of grandeur or egos in our camp, or we’d get rid of them.”

For many professional footballers playing at Wembley is the pinnacle of their careers, especially those in the lower divisions, and Weaver said the game on Monday will be a special experience.

“I’m ecstatic to be having an opportunity to make the journey. It’s exactly the same feeling as last time.”

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With Town’s first season in the EFL drawing to a close, Weaver reflected on a positive season that has seen them stay in the division for another year.

He said the “light at the end of the tunnel” is fans returning next season.

“There have been many positives including the two wins against Bradford City and the fixture against West Bromwich Albion. But it’s been a steep learning curve. It’s been like entering a war zone with our pitch being cut up, but that will be a lot better next season.”

After Town won their historic play-off final in August, the sun shined on the streets of Harrogate for a memorable open-top bus parade. Weaver is hoping for similar scenes if they lift the trophy.

He added:

“That would be beautiful. It was totally amazing how many people in Harrogate turned out last time.”

The Stray Ferret social media accounts will not be posting any updates this weekend about the FA Trophy Final in solidarity with football clubs withdrawing from platforms in protest against online racial abuse.
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.