Harrogate Town prepare for another trip to Wembley

Harrogate Town are preparing for a second trip to Wembley after reaching the FA Trophy Final.

Town clinched a place in the final after beating Notts County 1-0 at Meadow Lane last night.

Will Smith got the only goal of the game to defeat County as both sides met again just over a month since the National League Play-Off Final, which Harrogate also won.

Town will now play Concord Rangers at Wembley in the final, though a date is yet to be confirmed.

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The victory followed an announcement from Prime Minister Boris Johnson that a phased return of fans in October would be paused.

https://twitter.com/HarrogateTown/status/1308524021529620480?s=20

The FA had planned to hold both the FA Trophy and FA Vase Finals with up to 1,000 fans in attendance on September 27, but postponed the games earlier this month amid a rise in coronavirus cases.

Town boss, Simon Weaver, said he hoped to see supporters back in stadiums when they play in the final.

“We have had some difficult games along the way, but it was so important tonight that we did it for the supporters.

“Hopefully when it is Wembley time they will be allowed back in the stadiums.

“We said in the team talk ‘do it for the supporters tonight’.”

Meanwhile, Irving Weaver, chairman of Harrogate Town, said yesterday that clubs would reach a “cliff edge scenario” if a return of fans is delayed further.

He said:

“From mid-March through a normal close season we were helped by furloughing our employees. Now back into full swing anticipating fans returning, the black hole is upon us. Around thirty percent of a club’s total income is derived through the turnstiles. Without a subsidy the pain will be severe.

“I know that the government are well aware of the situation. Let us hope that there is help on the way, not just for football but for spectator sport in general.”

Harrogate Town could be heading to Wembley….again!

Harrogate Town are one game away from playing at Wembley for the second time in two months — and this time fans would be able to enjoy a special day out.

The government confirmed that last season’s FA Trophy final at Wembley will go ahead on September 27 as a pilot event for the safe return of fans to sporting events.

Town are due to play Notts County, who they beat in the National League play-off final 3-1, in a one-legged semi-final with the winner going on to play the winner of Halesowen Town vs Concord Rangers. A draw will take place to decide whether Town’s semi-final will take place at Doncaster Rovers, which will be hosting Harrogate Town until their new grass pitch is laid, or Notts County. The date is to be confirmed.

The government has not said how many supporters Town could bring if they reach the final, but non-league grounds were opened last weekend with an initial 15% capacity, which will rise to 30% from Monday, August 31.

As Wembley has a capacity of 90,000, it could potentially mean all Town fans who want to attend would be able to if the government allows the stadium to be 30% full.

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It was uncertain whether the FA Trophy would be finished when the season was curtailed in March due to the lockdown. The government warned that the fans pilot could not happen if coronavirus rates rise.

Harrogate Town supporter Rob Nixon told the Stray Ferret that having another chance to go to Wembley would be a “dream”.

He said:

“Being able to go watch us play at Wembley would be a dream for all town fans, especially after missing out last time round. We still have a tricky tie against Notts County to negotiate, but it’s a huge incentive for the players knowing that they’ll get to play in front of a crowd this time if they win.”

On Tuesday, Harrogate Town supporters were able to watch their team play in person for the first time since March as Brighouse Town allowed 100 Town supporters to attend a pre-season friendly, which ended 0-0.

Match preview: Harrogate Town vs Notts County

Harrogate Town will play Notts County at Wembley later today with the winner playing in the English Football League next season.

Not quite a David vs. Goliath occasion — the National League play off final will be a meeting between two clubs that have tasted different fortunes throughout their histories.

On Sunday, the Magpies will be hoping to return to league football where they have spent 157 of their 158 years, whereas Harrogate Town hopes to enter a new frontier.

Notts County are the oldest professional football league club in the world and are even former FA Cup winners, but there won’t be any fans who can remember them lifting the trophy in 1894.

Harrogate Town will walk out at Wembley for the first time this weekend. Picture Credit: Matt Kirkham Harrogate Town

They’ve been managed by some of the biggest names in English football including Howard Wilkinson, Howard Kendall and Sam Allardyce.

County were relegated from League Two in 2019 but bounced back strongly in the National League finishing just three points behind Town in third position.

In their one league encounter this season, County beat Town at the CNG Stadium 2-0, with goals from Kristian Dennis and Enzio Boldewijn.

They were due to play each other again over two legs in the semi-final of the FA Trophy, which was curtailed due to the lockdown in March. It still might go ahead which could lead to another day out at Wembley for the winning club.

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County beat Barnet in their play off game last week to reach Wembley and looked impressive with goals from Kristian Dennis and Callum Roberts.

They are the best-supported club in the division with an average attendance of 5,200 whereas Harrogate welcomes around 1,300 to the CNG.

But social distancing is a great leveller and they won’t be able to count on extra fans at Wembley with the game played behind closed doors.

Town are the current favourites with the bookies at 6/4 with Notts County at 7/4 which manager Simon Weaver isn’t fazed by.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“That’s fine and it means we must have played well and done well in the season. We know Notts County have a very strong squad and a lot of strength in depth.

“They have without doubt a lot more league experience than us but we hope to cause them problems.”

Striker Aaron Martin made his debut for Town in the tie with Boreham Wood, and he will hope to start ahead of Jon Stead and Mark Beck following an energetic performance.

But Jon Stead has big-game experience from his time in the Premier League which Weaver may look to count on.

Notts County manager Neal Ardley is expected to name the same side that beat Barnet last week.

 

Harrogate Town cancels watch party at CNG Stadium

Harrogate Town has cancelled a party it had organised for fans to watch tomorrow’s promotion final at the CNG Stadium.  Town travel to Wembley tomorrow for the first time in the team’s history as the players bid to enter the Football League.

Fans though are not allowed to attend the big game due to coronavirus . So the club had set up the ticketed event at the Harrogate stadium.

Now it seems new advice means the fans will have to find somewhere else to watch the historic game.

A statement on the Club’s website said:

Following the latest guidelines issued by central Government we have been contacted by North Yorkshire County Council Public Health who have strongly advised that it would be preferable that our Promotion Final watch party event be cancelled.In light of the latest guidelines, the advice from Public Health and the statutory rights available to Public Health to stop the event we have very little choice but to cancel the event.Full refunds will be processed next week for anyone who has purchased a bubble.

Please accept our sincere apologies for these unfortunate circumstances which are completely beyond our control.

We must act on the advice of Public Health and in the best interests of everyone involved, supporters and staff.

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Below is a list of bars and venues in Harrogate that are showing the game live, which will be broadcast on BT Sport at 3pm.

The Harrogate Arms, Parliament Street (online bookings only)

Bilton Working Men’s Club, Skipton Road (non-members welcome)

Manhatten Snooker Club, Beech Avenue (non-members welcome)

Mojo, Parliament Street (online bookings only)

Prince of Wales, Starbeck High Street

Harlow Hill Sports and Social Club, College Street 

Bilton Cricket Club, Bilton Lane

The Woodlands Hotel, Wetherby Road

The following pubs are showing the game but are already fully booked:

The Alexandra, West Park

The Last Post, Cold Bath Road 

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From Knaresborough Celtic juniors to Wembley

If Harrogate Town get promoted to the English Football League on Sunday, Jack Emmett will be the toast of the town.

Jack, 26, is the only Harrogate-born player in the squad and has made about 220 appearances.

After unsuccessful trials with Leeds United and Doncaster Rovers – the latter of which said he was too small to make the grade – he didn’t have any great aspirations when he first trained with Town during sixth form at Harrogate Grammar School.

Accountancy was to be his career; football was a hobby. But his life, along with the fortunes of the club, have transformed since then. He told the Stray Ferret:

“Everything was completely different when I joined. The team, the ground, the crowds, the professionalism… we were a bit of a head it, kick it team trying to get out of the Conference North on a grass pitch with a big slope in the corner.

“Every year since then we’ve built on things. It’s incredible really.”

The club’s decision to go fully professional in 2017 was the key moment, said Jack, who started out at Knaresborough Celtic juniors. Town signed several new players and were immediately promoted in 2018 to the National League.

Now they are heading to the most famous stadium in the world for the chance to play in the fourth tier of the English game.

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Standing in the way are Notts County, the oldest professional team in the world whose black and white striped kit was copied by Italian giants Juventus.

Ordinarily County would have thousands more fans cheering them on so playing at an empty Wembley could work in Harrogate’s favour, said Jack.

“Most people fancy them to beat us,” he said. “But I like going in as the underdog.”

Midfielder Jack, who has a year left on his contract, was a substitute in the 1-0 play-off defeat of Boreham Wood last weekend. But hot weather and Wembley’s big pitch could see the bench play a big part.

With no fans allowed, his family won’t be there to see it. He said:

“They booked a holiday in Wales so they wouldn’t have been able to make it anyway.”

He also feels for the fans.

“It’s such a shame they can’t be there with us. Hopefully we can win it for them. Having grown up in the town I know how much it would mean to people.”

Harrogate Town to show play-off final on big screen

Harrogate Town has offered a limited number of fans the chance to watch Sunday’s play-off final with fellow supporters at The CNG Stadium.

The club will show the match against Notts County on a 25 square metre TV overlooking the pitch at Wetherby Road.

Tickets are £35 per bubble. Each bubble can consist of up to six people and the tickets must be collected in advance.

Anyone attending needs to wear trainers. People can either bring their own seating or sit on the artificial grass.

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One person per bubble will then be able to collect their ticket from the club office from 11am to 3pm tomorrow and Saturday and 11am to 1pm on Sunday.

Alternatively, tickets can be collected from the courtyard outside the Victoria Shopping Centre on Saturday from 10am to 4pm

With coronavirus restrictions in place, fans will not be able to travel to Wembley to watch the game so the screening will be the closest fans will be able to get.