Harrogate Town manager looks up to ‘principled and honest’ Gareth Southgate

Harrogate Town boss Simon Weaver has paid tribute to Gareth Southgate, who he said has paved the way for football managers to be “principled and honest”.

Weaver told the Stray Ferret that he first met at the England manager, who lives locally, at a gym and they have built up a friendship over the years.

Ahead of the National League play-off final at Wembley last summer, Weaver invited Southgate to give the Town players a motivational team-talk before the biggest game in their history.

Weaver said:

“His emotional intelligence is second to none.

“He’s obviously an outstanding communicator. His values show great honesty.”

The Town boss said that during his own playing career, managers wouldn’t always explain why he was left out of a game, which led to a loss of respect.

In a team full of superstars, he said it is a credit to Southgate’s man-management skills that the players are all firmly behind him, no matter who is chosen for the final 11.

He said:

“There’s no dissent in the squad. The buy-in from his players is second to none.”

But he said it’s a mistake to label Southgate as “just a nice guy”.

“He’s not controversial but has a steely edge.”

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Weaver said Harrogate should “cherish and be proud” of Southgate, and said that he tries to run Harrogate Town with similar values.

Weaver added:

“He’s the perfect fit for an England manager, no job is too small. I look up to him and I can’t help but admire him.

“He’s paved the way to be principled and not have a big front.”

He also has an amusing anecdote. A couple of years ago, Weaver bumped into Southgate in a clothes shop in Harrogate and they had a long chat. Afterwards, the shop owner nudged the Town boss, not knowing who he was, and asked:

“Was that really Gareth Southgate?”

Frustration as Harrogate Town game abandoned after 10 minutes

Harrogate Town’s game against Carlisle last night was abandoned after just 10 minutes when the referee decided the pitch was unsafe.

The club had asked volunteers to clear snow at its ground on Wetherby Road before a 5pm pitch inspection,

Their efforts appeared to be rewarded when referee Martin Coy agreed to let the match kick off at 745pm.

There was more good news for the 576 home fans when midfielder Connor Kirkby scored in the first minute to give Town the lead — but minutes later the match was abandoned due to the icy conditions.

Manager Simon Weaver described the referee’s decision as “frustrating”. He added:

“At 5.15pm the game was clearly on in the mind of the referee, five minutes after kick-off it didn’t look to be putting players at risk, no one was playing with any trepidation or hesitation, there was no slipping and we felt the condition had actually improved since 5.15pm.

“Our players were happy after the warm-up and it was taking the stud. It’s frustrating because in the summer in pre-season you can play on much harder pitches.

“I feel for the volunteers who have been here all day clearing the snow off the pitch and doing an amazing job. There were fathers, sons, daughters, mums all on the pitch and it just shows what a close knit group of fans we’ve got with us.”

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Jordan Ford, of Harrogate Town Supporters Group, was at the game. He told the Stray Ferret the referee should not have started the match if he had doubts. He said:

“I thought it was ridiculous to even start the game. The conditions didn’t change within the nine minutes the game was being played.

“It’s a shame as we were playing well and on top. At least the supporters got to witness a live goal, albeit it counts for nothing.”

If the Harrogate district is placed in a higher tier today, it would mean last night’s fixture was the final match supporters could attend until restrictions are eased again.

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.