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IN CHARGE Historian Phil Harrison reviews the successes and failures of Denis Metcalf 1988/89 Harrogate Town’s managers over the years...

In April 1988 Farsley Celtic’s manager, Denis Metcalf, was in line for the job at Town. He had good credentials having lead Farsley to runnersup in the NCEL Premier Division in 1986/87 and fifth in NPL Division One and West Riding County Cup success in 1983/84.

Current Town manager, Alan Smith, was to continue his role as General Manager but Metcalf demanded he would be coming with Coach Mervyn Beck or not at all. Town already had Graham Shepherd as Assistant Manager and Fergus Donaldson as Coach and the question was whether they could all work together. As he was unable to bring his coach, Metcalf eventually rejected Town’s offer.

For 1988/89 former Farsley Celtic manager Metcalf (player motivator) finally decided to join NPL Division One Town in the Summer with former Town player Gary Watson replacing him at Farsley. Alan Smith, however, began the season as ‘boss’ and Town opened with a 9-1 victory over Winsford United at Wetherby Road (after going behind) to head the table. As a result of the good start Smith won first manager of month for August but would now assume the title of General Manager as Denis Metcalf took over as team manager at the start of September for the visit of Stockton in the F.A. Cup.

Unfortunately, it was a bad start for Metcalf with five out of six league defeats (his worst ever run in management) and Town plummeted from first to fourteenth position. However, after Metcalf brought in Mind you he had recently brought in Graham Gilderdale, Paul Stevenson and Glen Brazier from his former club, Town secured five wins in seven matches up to the end of November 1988. In early December, after a 3-0 victory over Alfreton Town, Metcalf quit after a short, turbulent 103 day spell in charge, leaving Town in tenth spot.

Players and officials were stunned by his resignation especially after results had improved but Metcalf said, ‘I was employed to manage the team but never had full control’. Donaldson stepped into the breach after Metcalf’s departure working alongside Smith. Metcalf managed Town for 23 games, winning 11, drawing two and losing 10.

Denis Metcalf (back row, second from left) with Harrogate Town team of 1988/89