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Harrogate Town increase season ticket prices for next season

Harrogate Town has increased season ticket prices for the 2024/25 season.

The club announced that the full price of a ticket will increase to £384 for standing and £435 seated for new adult supporters.

Existing adult season ticket holders will be charged £351 standing and £402 for seated.

The prices are an increase on £349 for standing and £395 for seated, which fans paid in the 2023/24 campaign.

However, the club has offered an early bird window between April 4 and June 5 where season ticket holders can renew at a reduced rate.

New fans can also purchase within the window.

Full price season tickets at Harrogate Town after June 5, 2024.

Existing adult ticket holders can renew at £335 for standing and £383 for seated within the time frame.

Meanwhile, new adult supporters can purchase standing tickets for £367 and seated for £415 in the window.

Prices for concessions have been set at £268 for standing and £307 for seated for existing ticket holders within the early bird period. New supporters will pay £299 and £338.

However, this increases to £281 standing and £322 for existing fans after June 5 and £314 and £355 for new ticket holders.

Prices for under-18s are set at £139 for standing and £177 seated for both existing and new ticket holders before June 5. This increases to £146 and £186 for both groups after that date.

Meanwhile, under-12s pay £104 standing and £145 seated for existing and new fans in the early bird window.

This increases to £109 standing and £152 seated after June 5.

Tickets for those aged under five years old will cost £40 standing and £45 seated for both existing and new fans.

The club has also offered fans to pay in instalments on tickets to spread the cost.

Match day ticket rises

Town have also increased the prices of match day tickets.

An adult standing ticket bought in advance will increase to £22 or £24 if bought on the day. A seated ticket would cost £25 if bought in advance or £27 if purchased on the day.

Meanwhile, concessions will be priced at £17 standing and £20 seated in advance or £18 and £21 if bought on match day.

Under-18s will cost £9 standing and £12 seated if bought ahead of the game or £10 and £13 on the day.

Those under-12 will be priced at £7 standing and £10 seated in advance or £8 standing and £11 seated on match day.

Children under-5 will cost £3 for both seated and standing in advance or £4 on the day of the game.

Harrogate Town match day ticket prices for 2024/25.

Sarah Barry, chief executive at Harrogate Town FC, said the club had seen overall attendances increase at the EnviroVent Stadium by 20% this season.

She said:

“Our supporters are the heartbeat of this club and you are the most important stakeholders of our club.

“Your support benefits the entire Harrogate district going way beyond football, as it enables our club and community foundation to achieve our primary objective, to maintain a healthy, happy and connected Harrogate district.”

Harrogate Town currently sit four points off a play off place in EFL League Two with five games left.

Harrogate Town set for Yorkshire derby against Bradford City

Harrogate Town are set for a crunch Yorkshire derby today as they take on Bradford City.

The Bantams will travel to the EnviroVent Stadium for the 1pm kick-off off the back of three straight defeats.

Meanwhile, Town will be hoping to kick into form with eight games left as they sit six points off the play-off places .

Harrogate manager Simon Weaver said the club had sold “a lot of tickets” for the fixture and was expecting one of its record attendances.

He said:

“It’s an early kick-off and that is different in itself.

“We have always had good games between the two teams and we’re very much looking forward to this as much as the previous ones.”

He added:

“We need to get this last batch of games off to a positive start and there’s no better game to do that in than against Bradford.”

The two sides are separated by a single point in the EFL League Two table.

However, Bradford go into the game off the back of three home defeats in a row after a six-game unbeaten run.

Graham Alexander, who took over from Mark Hughes as City manager in November, will be hoping to turn the club’s form around in time to mount a late play-off push.

Town will still be without Lewis Thomas, Sam Folarin and Liam Gibson for the fixture.

No 5: A stunning year for Harrogate’s Rachel Daly

In this article, which is part of a series on the 12 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2023, we look at Harrogate football star Rachel Daly and her achievements throughout the year.

Harrogate’s Rachel Daly had a year to remember.

From a World Cup final to being ranked 10th best player in the world, the former Killinghall Nomads star had a year of highlights.

The former Rossett School pupil Daly was top scorer in the Women’s Super League last season and named PFA Players’ Player of the Year.

She also featured in the World Cup final, where the Lionesses came close to making history but fell to a 1-0 defeat by Spain.

Rachel Daly at Rossett School next to her new pitch.

Rachel Daly at Rossett School next to her pitch.

Her achievements were enough to be recognised at her former school, which named a pitch in her honour.

However, while her astonishing achievements this year were enough for her former clubs and school, a move to get her more widely honoured proved difficult.

Rachel’s first club — Killinghall Nomads Junior Football Club — launched a petition this year in conjunction with the Stray Ferret calling on North Yorkshire Council to officially recognise their former player.

The council has done nothing to mark Rachel’s achievements, which include winning Euro 2022, playing in the World Cup final and winning the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award this year.

John Plummer, Stray Ferret editor, introduced the petition at a meeting in November where he said it was “to wake up and realise Rachel Daly is a local superstar who should be celebrated”.

He added that it was “inconceivable that the council would not be falling over backwards to honour, say, Harry Kane if he was from Harrogate”.

In the end, councillors voted to recommend awarding a civic honour to Daly.

Regardless of the recognitions and honours, the 27-year-old has put Harrogate on the sporting map.

Whether it be lifting the Euros last year or topping the scoring charts in the Women’s Super League, Daly will always be looked upon in her hometown with pride.

Harrogate Town aim for four wins in a row against Tranmere Rovers

Harrogate Town will be looking to make it four wins on the bounce as they take on Tranmere Rovers tonight.

Town secured a third victory in three games after defeating play-off chasing Accrington Stanley 2-1 on Boxing Day.

A late winner from George Thomson secured all three points as Harrogate kicked off a busy Christmas fixture schedule.

Now, Town entertain Tranmere Rovers at the EnviroVent Stadium tonight.

Rovers go into the game off the back of a 5-1 thrashing of Salford City on Boxing Day and currently sit 18th in EFL League Two – six points behind Harrogate.

Simon Weaver, Town manager, said following the Stanley game that it was important that fans stick with the team to keep the run going.

He said:

“They [Tranmere] have had a fantastic win today.

“I think on the back of the last four or five home games, there has been that real relationship between the players and the fans.

“When we were 2-0 down against Wrexham, they could see that everyone was trying to get back into it and trying to play the right way. There was some good football as well.

“Since then, the atmosphere has really taken off in the stadium. It really does help.”

Harrogate Town play Tranmere Rovers tonight (December 29). Kick off is at 7.45pm.

Harrogate Town striker Luke Armstrong to join Carlisle United

Harrogate Town’s Luke Armstrong will join Carlisle United on a permanent transfer.

Armstrong, 27, will sign for the Cumbrian side on January 1, 2024.

In a joint statement, both clubs said the striker will leave Harrogate with immediate effect and begin training with Carlisle pending the opening of the transfer window.

The statement said:

“Harrogate Town, Carlisle United and Luke Armstrong can each confirm they have all reached and completed an agreement for a permanent transfer on 1 January 2024.

“Having already successfully completed his medical at Brunton Park, Luke will now leave Town with immediate effect to begin training with United, pending the opening of the transfer window and transfer of his registration.”

The move comes as a planned transfer for Armstrong to join Wrexham in the summer fell through.

The English Football League rejected a a deadline day deal between the clubs for the 27-year-old after it said the Welsh side failed to submit paperwork on time.

Wrexham apologised to Harrogate after it was “unable to complete the transfer by the deadline”.

Armstrong, who scored 31 goals in 116 appearances for Harrogate, will now join Carlisle who currently sit in the bottom four of League One.

Harrogate triathlon chairman making strides with club

Some may find the word “triathlon” daunting and exhausting, but Jon Chamberlain disagrees.

The Harrogate Triathlon Club chairman has been in post two years, but has ambitions to broaden the club’s appeal.

The organisation boasts 160 members and an eclectic membership base, ranging from 70 year old athletes to those taking their first steps into the sport.

For Jon, the club is a family – but it could be more than that.

Moving to Harrogate

Jon moved to Harrogate from Leicester nine years ago.

He had first got a flavour of the town while based at the Army Foundation College during his time in the British Army as a physical training instructor.

After upping sticks and moving his life to North Yorkshire, he joined the Harrogate Triathlon Club.

He had initially started the sport in 2011, when he took on an event with his brother.

“There was a sprint triathlon in Stratford and I really enjoyed it. He didn’t enjoy it so much, so I decided to progress from there.”

Jon, who is 51, has gone onto the race the world and European triathlons in Venice and Ibiza in his age group.

The sport has fostered a community for Jon, which he enjoys on a weekly basis in Harrogate.

The club was founded in 2012 as a legacy of the London Olympics and is made up of 130 adults and 30 juniors.

It hosts fundraising events, training sessions and an annual triathlon at Ashville College – the next of which will be held in April 2024.

Jon took up the chairmanship in 2021 and oversees the running of the club.

For him, much of the enjoyment comes from facilitating the club for its members – some of whom have never run a triathlon before.

“The ethos of the club is bringing together like-minded people.

“We have a range of athletes who are very experienced, Great Britain level age group and compete in iron man distances. Then we have got members who have never done a triathlon in their life and just want to start out in doing swimming, biking or running.”

Inspirational members

Some members of the club are athletic and compete at a high level – but not all of them.

Jon points to Dave Newby as an example of one of those people.

Dave came to club in late 2022 with an aim of losing weight and making new friends – both of which he achieved within 12 months.

“Dave has been on a massive journey and lost a considerable amount of weight. He’s a lot stronger, because we do a lot of fitness training in the club.

“He’s now swimming, biking and running on a regular basis.”

Jane Holmes and Dave Newby.

Last year, Dave completed four triathlons and various 5k,10k and 21k races. Now, he’s training to compete an ironman contest in Nottingham in May 2024.

On the other end of the scale, Jane Holmes is competing in world championships in her 70s.

Jane is described as an “inspiration” to members of the club, Jon says, and helps to coach youngsters starting out in triathlon.

She currently world champion after finishing first in the World Triathlon Sprint and Relay Championships in Hamburg this year.

She also finished first place in the World Duathlon in Ibiza and European Duathlon in Venice this year.

“She is a real high performer when it comes to age group representing her country.

“She competes in the 70-74 age group, which is incredible. If you look at many 70 to 74 year olds, you wouldn’t expect them to be competing for their country and winning those races.”

Growing the club

Jon has ambitions for the club in his time as chairman.

While there is no time limit on how long he can hold the post for, there are areas which he feels the club can improve.

Jon says part of the club’s strategy is to bring in younger athletes within the 20 to 45 age bracket, as well as female and disabled athletes.

But, perhaps the biggest challenge is to tackle the stigma of triathlon.

“Triathlon is sometimes a word that scares people.

“We don’t want to put that as a barrier. So we’re thinking of potentially rebranding into some multi-sports domain where people see us and they can do different sorts of events – not just triathlon.”

Another element is tackling the expense that comes with participating in triathlon.

“It can be seen as an expensive sport because potentially there is lots of gear to buy.

“You don’t need all the gear to start. If you’ve got a pair of trainers, goggles and a bike then that will do to get you going. There’s an endless list of things you can invest in, but you don’t need all that to start.

“The best thing is to just come along and try it.”

So, what does Jon want to achieve before he relinquishes his position as chairman?

Attracting a younger demographic is among the top priorities.

“It’s quite a challenge, because at that age people are busy doing other stuff.”

For Jon, the key will be maintaining the culture of the club and keeping it as the big family that attracted people to it in the first place.

While there is an ambition to attract more people to take up triathlon, he does not want to grow it “too big”.

“I think ultimately we want to keep the culture of the club. There’s a lot of clubs you go to where you feel like you’re the only one and you’re out of the clique.

“All the members are really supportive. The culture of the club is very social and very supportive. That’s something that we want to keep.”

If you have any local sporting heroes who you think should be featured in Sporting Spotlight, contact calvin@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Season high crowd watch Harrogate fightback against Wrexham

More than 3,700 fans watched Harrogate Town fight back to draw against Hollywood-backed Wrexham FC.

The highest crowd of the season so far braved the cold temperatures to see Harrogate earn a point against the newly promoted side.]

Build up to the game centred around whether Wrexham’s A-list owner Ryan Reynolds and co-owner, fellow actor Rob McElhenney, would make the visit to the EnviroVent Stadium.

Club officials cited the “Hollywood factor” as the reason behind the Wetherby Road side’s fastest selling game.

Instead, all the focus was on the pitch and the small matter of three points being up for grabs.

Wrexham went 2-0 up with strikes from Andy Cannon and Elliott Lee. However, Dean Cornelius reduced the deficit with a goal before half time.

Early in the second half, Andy O’Conner brought Town level with a header from a free kick.

Both Wrexham and Harrogate had chances to take all three points, but in the end shared the spoils.

A crowd of 3,767 – the highest of the season so far – watched the spectacle.

Wrexham fans also packed the newly opened away end at the EnviroVent Stadium after making the 115 mile trip on a Tuesday night.

While the “Hollywood factor” was cited as a reason for those flocking to Wetherby Road, Town will be hoping to build upon the support as they look to secure their EFL League Two status this season.

Harrogate Railway FC duo looking to rebuild and grow

Mick Edwards and Fraser Lancaster want to build something at Harrogate Railway Athletic FC.

After two seasons of promotion pushes, the club has had a reset. Managers and backroom staff have left and a new regime is in charge.

But the parameters of success have changed — both want to build a club from the bottom and aim to have a community-led outfit.

Rebuilding Railway

Mick has Harrogate Railway in his blood.

His grandad, Norman Edwards, was one of three founder members of the club in 1935.

Norman worked on the railway in Starbeck when he founded the club. He and the other founder members sewed together stop and go flags in order to create the now recognisable red and green kit.

Mick himself played for the club, and also had stints at Bradford City and Middlesborough as a youngster.

He returned to club in 2018 as chairman. Now, he wants a community club with an emphasis on youth and, potentially, a drive to fan ownership.

“We’re trying to build something different.

“They [other clubs] are looking for success, whereas for us success is to stay in this league and produce two to three brilliant players and a good type of football which I think we have achieved already.

“That’s what our set up as a club is. It’s building the club all over again and that’s what we want.”

Railway is a volunteer-led club. From the secretary to first team manager, all give up their time up to keep it going.

Fraser Lancaster.

Fraser has worked his way up to first team coach.

He joined the side in the 2015/16 season as a player and went onto become reserve team manager, where he had success with promotions.

Following the departure of Mick O’Connell to Tadcaster Albion at the start of this season, Fraser was drafted in alongside Rob Youhill.

O’Connell led Railway to two play off campaigns. In 2021/22, they lost to North Ferriby in the final and last season fell short in the semi-finals against Horbury Town.

Fraser’s job has been to stabilise the side with an emphasis on utilising young players — the average age of the Railway squad is 21.

Despite the young age, he feels the side is in a good position in the league.

“We’re more than holding our own technically against a lot of these teams.

“Maybe against the direct, physical and experienced sides, some of the lads are not quite used to that yet. The dark arts, shall I say.

“If you’re 17 or 18 and stepping into that, it can be intimidating. But it is a steep learning curve for those players. This season is a learning curve for them.”

Currently, at the time of writing, Railway sit 11th in the Northern Counties East Division One – four steps below the English Football League.

Despite last season’s play-off heartbreak, Fraser is taking it game-by-game and not getting ahead of himself with where the club may finish.

“Let’s see where we end up. I would love us to go and compete in the play-offs, but we are being realistic at the same time.

“Everyone is on the same page.”

Fan-owned club

Mick has ambitions for Harrogate Railway.

The club has a lot of history to look back on.

Railway had two famous FA Cup ties live on television against Bristol City in 2002 and Mansfield Town at home in the second round in 2008, which required temporary stands to cope with demand.

Despite the history, the club needs to regroup and build, says Mick.

He floats the idea of the club being fan-owned, something other non-league sides such as FC United of Manchester have done successfully.

The club is already tied to community, including its relationship with Harrogate Hospital Charity and offering its land for Starbeck Community Day. Last week, the club also held its own fireworks display.

For Mick, success looks different to what happens on the pitch.

He wants to grow the fanbase from the current average of 150 spectators at a home game at Station View in Starbeck to closer to 200.

From there, Mick sees potential for a fan-owned club.

“My aim is for the club to become a fan-owned club.

“You look at the fan-owned clubs and they all do quite well. It’s just something that we’re looking into.”

Mick Edwards

Mick also points to the infrastructure at the ground, some of which dates back to when the club was founded.

The club plans to upgrade its perimeter fence and floodlights with grants from the league.

“Those floodlights have been there for around 35 to 40 years. That fencing has been there I should think since my grandad started.”

To Mick, increasing the volunteers, improving the infrastructure and pushing Railway towards a more community orientated focus is success.

Both believe that Railway is here for Harrogate and has a story to tell. Fraser says:

“You only have to look at the pictures on the wall as you came in of all the past successes, the cup wins and various different things.”

Bottesford Town are next to visit Station View on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the club also has a big draw in the West Riding County Cup against National League FC Halifax Town.

For Mick, the ties are an opportunity to show supporters what Railway has to offer.

“Harrogate Railway has got a good history and it has got a good story to tell.”

If you have any local sporting heroes who you think should be featured in Sporting Spotlight, contact calvin@thestrayferret.co.uk.

The Harrogate open water swimmer set to take on the English Channel

Harrogate’s Millie Bell is addicted to swimming.

The 24-year-old open water swimmer has represented Great Britain at major competitions and now has her sights set on bigger achievements.

Next year, she will take on the English Channel – one of the major endurance tests for swimmers which spans 21 miles.

For Millie, the feat will be a big task, but it is also one that she feels she needs to do.

Starting out

Millie did not start out as an open water swimmer.

Instead, she used to run triathlon while studying at the University of York.

But, soon she was bitten by the swimming bug and never looked back.

The move was organic rather than by design. In 2018, the 24-year-old went to a beginners course at Blue Lagoon in Pontefract to test the waters.

She soon found the open water swimming addictive.

“I was pretty scared when I got in, but I soon got used to it.

“That was the start of everything. I fell in love with open water swimming, the community and everything that came with it.”

Millie swimming from Jersey to France as part of her English Channel training.

Races in open water swimming can range from one mile to marathon lengths of 10 miles.

The competitions are feats of endurance which test the patience and stamina of those who participate.

Millie competes in marathon races and her biggest feat has been Windermere Lake, which stretches for 10 miles and took her five hours to complete.

When asked why the lengths are so enticing for her, Millie said it boils down to her urge to test herself and push her body to the limit.

“I’ve always wanted to challenge myself and see what I’m capable of.”

Winning bronze

Millie’s development as a swimmer has been dramatic.

In January this year, she competed with Great Britain at the World Ice Swimming Championships in the French Alps.

She won a bronze medal in each of her three events.

“Going into it, I didn’t think I stood a chance of getting a medal.

“I swam my first race and I was really happy with my time. When I saw my results and that I’ve got a bronze, I was really quite emotional. I never thought that I would get to compete internationally, never mind get a podium.”

But, for Millie, the next challenge was always around the corner.

In fact, the set piece event is in August 2024 when she will take on the English Channel.

Taking on the channel

The idea to swim the channel has always been there for Millie.

She describes it as an “itch”, but did not fully explore the idea until 2021.

“I remember one day I bought this book about it. I was reading this book and it was about this crazy woman who swam through winter and swam for hours upon hours on end.

“I read a chapter of it and I went: ‘No, that’s crazy. I’m not doing that.’

“A couple of months later, I was looking on Facebook and there was this channel relay looking for people to join. I applied and thought that I wouldn’t get on. But then I got on and it started from there.”

Millie completed the channel relay, which sees swimmers compete in a team and swim for an hour at a time on the English Channel.

But she realised that she wanted to take on the full swim solo.

Last month, she went to Jersey as part of her training which saw her swim from the island to France which is 14 miles and took her seven hours and 22 minutes to finish.

“The distance for me was not too much of a problem. I knew I was capable of doing it because I had swam Windermere a couple of times and that’s 10 and a half miles.”

Millie swimming the channel relay in 2021.

The build up to the swim will test Millie’s body, but also her mind.

Much like other athletes who compete at the highest level, Millie has been working with a sports psychologist to help get her in correct mental state to swim the channel.

“For me, I doubt myself quite a lot.

“Sometimes when you get in the middle of a swim and you’re in the middle of the sea, you start to doubt yourself and you start to panic.

“He [the psychologist] helps me with ways to keep my focus. It’s really important is the mental side. It’s only this year that I have started to realise how important it is.”

She added that the mind can also wander during extended hours of swimming, including being bored.

“When you’re swimming for six or seven hours, what do you think about?

“If I can get my brain so that it doesn’t think about anything then that is absolutely perfect. But when you’re bored, you start to think about everything don’t you? You start to think: ‘Did I say this wrong earlier in the week?’

“Being bored makes me really anxious. Some people get really bored and just want to get out. So boredom can be a bit of an issue. But, for me, panicking is more of an issue.”

The list of channel swimmers stretches back as far as 1875, when Matthew Webb, an English swimmer and stuntman, became the first recorded person to complete it.

In 10 months time, Millie could join that list.

For her, completing the task would be an itch she could finally scratch.

“It’s probably one of the biggest things that I will do in my life.”

If you have any local sporting heroes who you think should be featured in Sporting Spotlight, contact calvin@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Harrogate footballer looking to score Blackburn Rovers to promotion

Blackburn Rovers may have strolled past Harrogate Town in the Carabao Cup recently — but one notable local player was absent from the team sheet.

Harry Leonard, 19, grew up in Harrogate and went to Grove Road Community Primary School and then Rossett School.

His family moved to the town 12 years ago from Rochdale.

Now starting for Rovers up front, Harry — like England star Rachel Daly — started out at Killinghall Nomads before moving onto Pannal Sports.

He signed for Blackburn at just nine-years-old.

Harry (second from right, back row) pictured with Killinghall Nomads.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret, Harry said it felt “unbelievable” to join such an academy set up.

During his rise up the ranks, he rubbed shoulders with players such as Jordan Rhodes, who scored 84 goals for Blackburn over a four-year spell, and midfielder Bradley Dack.

He signed his first professional contract in December 2021.

At the time, he said:

“It’s a little step in what is hopefully a long career here for me.

“You sacrifice a lot, moving over to the area at such a young age and a lot of hard work has gone into it, so I’d like to think that the hard work is paying off, but you can’t hold back in football. You’ve got to keep pushing on, keep working hard and keep getting better.”

Harry signing for Blackburn at nine-years-old.

Manager John Dahl Tomasson gave Harry his big break at the start of this season when the club opened their campaign with a 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion at Ewood Park.

Harry started and scored his first senior goal — 10 years to the day since he signed for Rovers.

He said:

“I was over the moon. It was a good win over a good side.”

Despite playing with the likes of Rhodes and Dack, Harry says he has never had one player that he has modelled his game on.

In fact, much of his inspiration lies closer to home.

He points to Ricky O’Sullivan, his PE teacher at Rossett, and Ryan Ellis, his teacher at Grove Road Primary School, as among those who helped him the most.

https://twitter.com/SkyBetChamp/status/1688109896959393792?s=20

The 19-year-old has started all but one league game in the Championship so far.

With games against the likes of local rivals Preston North End still to come, he says one of the games he’s most looking forward to is the trip to Elland Road to face Leeds United.

“I’ve got friends who will be in the Leeds end.”

Relishing his first senior season in the Championship, Harry said he’s taking each game as it comes.

Ahead of the season, he sat down with coach Damian Johnson to go over how he would approach the coming season.

But, rather than set a target, the discussion was around developing himself in the first team.

“I sat down at the start of the season with him and decided to try and cement my place in the team.

“I’m trying to take it game by game.”

Read more:

Match day ticket rises

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Moving to Harrogate

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Inspirational members

Growing the club

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Rebuilding Railway

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Fan-owned club

Starting out

Winning bronze

Taking on the channel

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