Issue 21 - Harrogate Town vs Southend United by pixelbuilders

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HARROGATE TOWN AFC OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

SOUTHEND UNITED

SATURDAY MARCH 27, 2021 THE ENVIROVENT STADIUM 3PM KICK OFF

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Harrogate Town Football Club The Envirovent Stadium, Wetherby Road, Harrogate, HG2 7SA Tel: 01423 210600 Email: enquiries@harrogatetownafc.com BOARD Chairman Vice Chairman Managing Director Directors Associate Director Strategy Director Finance Director Life President Vice Presidents

Irving Weaver Howard Matthews Garry Plant Angus Taylor Dave Riley Mike Partridge Paul Stone Julian Davis George Dunnington Clive Dunnington David Batty

FOOTBALL First Team Manager: Simon Weaver Assistant Manager: Paul Thirlwell Goalkeeper Coach: Phil Priestley Chief Scout: Lee Barraclough Head Physiotherapist: Rachel Davis Assistant Physiotherapist: Cyra Smith Sports Psychologist: Phil Lee Fitness Coach: Darren Simpson OPERATIONS General Manager: Ben Sadler Community Development: Iain Service Tom Blackburn Youth Development: Josh Falkingham Josh Walsh Child Welfare & Safeguarding: Dave Riley Supporters’ Liaison Officer: Phill Holdsworth Facilities Manager: Ady Fletcher Head Groundsman: Iain Bullock 1919 Venue Managers: Tricia Lightfoot Hamilton Mattock Retail Manager Claire Kontominas Club Chaplain: Rob Brett

12 4

MEDIA Media Manager: Hal Boxhall-Dockree Photographer: Matt Kirkham Matchday Programme: Rich Saltmarsh Media Assistants: Brody Pattison Danny Pugsley Henry Whitaker PA Announcer Alan Tootill

The parent company of Harrogate Town Football Club is Harrogate Town AFC Ltd and the ultimate controlling party of Harrogate Town AFC Ltd is R.I. Weaver who is the significant shareholder. Company Reg. No. 2523873

CONTENTS

4 Boss’s Notes 7 From the Skipper 8 From the Board 10 Action Replay: Morecambe 12 Player in Focus: Jay Williams 18 This Week in Town’s History 21 The Opposition: Southend United 26 The Ex-Files 28 Community Foundation 32 Stats Zone 34 League Two Midweek Round-up 36 Results and Fixtures 38 Squad & Management Team 42 Up Next for Town 44 Today’s Teams TOWN MATCHDAY PROGRAMME Editor & Designer: Rich Saltmarsh Contributors: Henry Whitaker, Phil Harrison, Rich Saltmarsh, Hal Boxhall-Dockree, Iain Service, Mark Walker, Simon Weaver, Josh Falkingham Photography: Matt Kirkham Printed by: JJ Sports Promotions

THE BOSS’S NOTES

T HE M A N AG ER

SIMON WEAVER WE’VE HAD A GOOD WEEK of training ahead of today’s game against Southend. They will be a stern test and a different proposition from what we faced in the first game of the season. They now have a more direct approach when necessary and mix their game up. It will be a physical scrap at times. This is something, however, that we’ve become accustomed to in League Two, even more than in the National League.

Working on the delivery of crosses and getting on the end of them has been a priority of ours in training this week. The video analysis shows up what we already know - that the movement in the box needs to be better in order to get across defenders or drag defenders into areas to free up space for others to attack. We will continue to work on this and other key areas of our play as we all strive to improve.

When looking back at our games, especially the home ones, we’ve had to adapt to the pitch and go a little more direct at times. The 3G pitch used to allow us to pass the ball at pace and it really helped us play some attractive football. We’ve recently played some good football too at home but it’s fair to say it’s more mixed up now because neither the roll or bounce is predictable. This isn’t the fault of anyone, it’s just a brand new pitch not having the time to bed in due to all the fixtures. Hopefully by the start of next season we will have as good a pitch as any other team in League Two.

Finally, let’s hope the FA have a rethink about allowing the fans from both Harrogate Town and Concord Rangers to attend the FA Trophy Final. Our supporters have been through enough and clearly deserve to be making the journey to Wembley with the team. The experience for both teams will be so much better with the noise and excitement of the fans. Thank you for showing the passion and desire to be there with us at Wembley and for putting the pressure back on the FA to reconsider its stance.

Last week’s game was a frustrating one. To concede in the first minute was a poor start and Morecambe were close to adding more goals in the first twenty-five minutes. We have to learn not to be too anxious when things go against us and to stay disciplined, keep our shape and build our game up. We lost the game 1-0 but were left to rue not converting one of the chances that went begging. A total of thirty-five balls were put into the Morecambe box and yet we failed to score.

Back in the present now and we must fight hard today to overcome a resolute Southend team. All the performances between now and the end of the season count towards our team that will take us out at Wembley and forwards into next season. Enjoy the game!

Simon 5

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FROM THE SKIPPER

T HE C A P TA I N

JOSH FALKINGHAM WE FACE SOUTHEND TODAY, the team we played in our first ever League Two match back in September. We won 4-0 that day and it was the perfect start to life in the Football League. We just continued where we left off from the Promotion Final just a few weeks prior, and I think the Southend match has probably been one of our best games of the season to date. The way we got after the ball and then how we kept it was superb. The weather was of course great that day and the pitch was fresh which allowed us to play the way we wanted and show what we’re all about. We’ll be looking to make sure we do the double over Southend and get back to winning ways after two difficult games against Forest Green and Morecambe. The last few matches probably tell the story of our season in that results have been too inconsistent. Recently we’ve been on a good run and we’ve taken positives from those games but on the whole, getting results on a consistent basis has been a problem for us. It’s felt like we’ve been taking two steps forward and then one step back. This season has been a huge learning curve for all of us. The style of football, how difficult its been

to get on it and try and play to our strengths, it’s been tough. However, we’ve put ourselves in a really good position and it’s important we stay positive and get the results needed to make the last 10 games mean something. It’s the business end of the season now and Southend are going to be fighting for their lives. We know we’ve got to be on our guard and make sure we don’t take anything for granted, which I’m sure we won’t. We know how tough the game will be and they’ll be looking to put things right from our last meeting. We’ll be up for it and fighting just as much as them. We’re not too far off those play-off spots and I’ve never had a season here where a game meant nothing. With 10 to go, every game means a lot. We’re not mathematically safe and we’re not mathematically unable to get into the play offs either. We’re in a position where we’ve earned the right to really express ourselves and enjoy the last 10 games and put the pressure on ourselves to be at our best.

Falks 7

FROM THE BOARD

M A N AG IN G D I R EC TOR

GARRY PLANT

IT IS HARD TO GRASP that we are nearing the last phase of our first season in the EFL. We have grown up very quickly to meet all the demands on and off the field. Matches come around relentlessly and the squad has been managed through a very sharp learning curve. When Saturday comes we are all football managers, we all pick a different side and that’s one of the passions of the game, we can all indulge our love of football. One day soon we hope we can have a pint in our hand to help lubricate our football knowledge. In reality we can only scratch at the surface of the work that goes into match preparation, the physical and coaching aspects are matched equally by research and analysis. It has been mentioned on a number of occasions that everyone at the club contributes to the success, staff and volunteers. It would be remiss for us to forget their contribution. Over the last two weeks momentum has grown through the supporter’s petition to either change the date of the FA Trophy Final or to allow it to

be a test event with up to 10,000 supporters attending. We have been regularly chasing The FA for a date but when it was issued it came as a bolt out of the blue. The last we heard there were over 1200 signatures on the petition and it has gained interest from football people around the globe including the Far East, Australia, USA and Scandinavia. We would like to thank everyone that signed the petition and also thank Phill Holdsworth the Supporter Liaison Officer for organising everything. As we move through the easing of lockdown, remain vigilant and hopefully a return to the terraces is in sight. #PTBT

Garry

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ACTION REPLAY

VS.

MORECAMBE SATURDAY 20 MARCH 2021 THE ENVIROVENT STADIUM KICK OFF 3PM

0 1 Smith og (1) Town Belshaw, Fallowfield, Jones ■, Smith, Hall, Falkingham, Thomson, Power, Martin (Beck 75), McPake (Kiernan 87) Unused subs: Burrell, Francis, Williams, Minter Morecambe Letheren, Mellor, Knight-Percival ■ ■, Davis, Gibson ■, Kenyon, Diagouraga, Wildig, Stockton ■ (Cooney 79), Mendes Gomes (McAlinden 82), O’Sullivan ■ Unused subs: Pringle, Denny, Price, Halstead

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE MATCH HIGHLIGHTS & REACTION

ACTION REPLAY MATCH STATS ■ TOWN ■ MORECAMBE POSSESSION %

45 TOTAL SHOTS

9 SHOTS ON TARGET

2 PASSES

428

365 FOULS

12 CORNERS

3 OFFSIDES

1 YELLOW CARDS

4 RED CARDS

PLAYER IN FOCUS

JAY WILLIAMS

JAY WILLIAMS One of Town’s newest recruits is the youngster Jay Williams. Dubbed the ‘next Warren Burrell’ by his manager Simon Weaver, his versatility and attitude put him in good stead for the future... By Henry Whitaker

DESPITE ONLY BEING 20-YEARS-OLD, Williams has seen and been through a lot in the early days of his footballing career. From living in a one-room flat as a kid to winning youth titles and breaking into the Northampton first team, Jay Williams has had one heck of a journey already. The first memories of football for Williams are all with his dad, Brian. Whether it be in the park at weekends or while playing for his school team in Northampton, Delapre Dragons; Brian was always there. Williams grew up only seeing his dad every other weekend after his parents split at a very young age. However, the time with his dad were moments he treasured deeply. “It was my dad who would take me to all of it,” Williams explains. “It would be him picking me up from my mums, watching me play football and then

taking me back home. When you see someone that you don’t get to spend a lot of time with, those moments are amazing. I then got to see him once a week and My dad would be working a 12-hour shift and then still manage to fit the time in for me.” Williams has a lot to thank his dad for as those trips to and from football at such a young age won him the interest from some big football clubs. He had trials at Aston Villa who saw huge potential in the Northampton lad. However, Williams was too young to sign and so was instead asked to keep coming back to Villa and wait for the chance to sign when he turned nine-years-old. At first, that’s what Williams did but the travelling to and from training meant he found himself skipping school and that wasn’t something his mum was willing to allow as she said school had to be the priority.

PLAYER IN FOCUS

Luckily for Williams, Coventry City were also wanting the youngster to join their academy and as it was much closer to home, that’s where he signed at the age of nine. He was there for four years but like so many young footballers, he found he just couldn’t enjoy the intensity and schedule of a professional academy. “I did fall out of love with football at that age as I just wasn’t having fun,” Williams admits. “I was away from my friends, travelling all the time and at 12 years old I didn’t enjoy that. Williams was released by Coventry and was now living with his dad in what was a one-room flat. However, he was happy being with his dad and although he had left Coventry, he didn’t leave the footballing environment. Instead, he joined Northampton’s academy at the age of 13. His first three years with The Cobblers went swimmingly but in his final year, he almost threw

away the opportunity of a scholarship. Williams admits he was “in the wrong crowd of people as a teenager” and that it meant he skipped school and that was something Northampton wasn’t going to tolerate. They brought him in with his dad to chat and with Williams expecting to be offered a scholarship, he got the reality check of his life. “I went to sit in the office with one of the youth coaches and he just started shouting at me in front of my dad. My dad is someone who wouldn’t let anyone shout at me but he just sat there and looked at me and that’s when it really hit me. I knew I must be doing something really bad,” Williams adds. On the drive home, I felt a way I’ve never felt before in my life. When we got out of the car, I went to my dad and said ‘I’m sorry, from now on I’m going to change.’ I shook his hand for the first time in my life.”

JAY WILLIAMS Williams was told by Northampton that he had to turn up to school for two weeks straight or the scholarship wouldn’t happen. He agreed and was later offered a scholarship with The Cobblers. Looking back on that period, Williams admits he wishes he could have told his former self to “just grow up”. Nonetheless, with that now firmly behind him, Williams had his focus solely on making it as a professional footballer. He explains how in his second year as a scholar, it was the “best team he had been involved with”. It was a group of mates playing some great football and winning titles. Williams was the captain of the team which won the EFL Youth Alliance South East Division title and it led to him and several others moving up to train with the first-team squad under the reign of Justin Edinburgh. However, once Edinburgh left, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink took over and it meant opportunities for the young Cobblers became very slim. “No one went near the first team, Hasselbaink didn’t know we existed” Williams states. “It was his assistant Dean Austin who loved the youth team. He’d always come over and watch us and I remember him saying to us that we have to keep working hard.”

look at the bags. I’ve gone to leave, walked past the manager’s office and then someone has knocked on the window to get my attention. I went inside and they said ‘where are you going?’. I went back to the bags and mine was at the very end. I remember just smiling.” As the season began, Austin departed following a poor start to the campaign. Keith Curle came in as his replacement and had a focus on improving first team results which meant once again, the academy lads were pushed to one side. However, that changed when Curle turned up to watch Williams and his teammates in action in the FA Youth Cup. The Cobblers youth captain impressed and a week later, Williams made his firstteam debut in September 2018 against Wycombe Wanderers in the EFL Trophy. Williams laughs as he explains the prospect of coming up against Adebayo Akinfenwa was one that left him on edge for the occasion. Jay Williams playing for Northampton Town

Hasselbaink was in charge of Northampton from September 2017 to April 2018 before Austin took temporary charge of the club. However, he was unable to stop the Cobblers from being relegated to League Two. Austin would remain in charge for the start of the 2018/19 season and it meant Williams got his opportunity to stake a claim in the first team. There was a big squad at the start of that season and for the pre-season tour in Spain, some players would miss out. Williams explains how he found out he’d be one of the scholars to join the squad in Spain. “There were changing rooms on either side of a long corridor and in one changing room were bags with the names on them with the players that would be on the trip,” he explains. “I still got changed in the youth changing room so didn’t even

PLAYER IN FOCUS hard tackles and the assistant manager was loving it. I ended up playing a lot that season and looking back on it, that was a lot for me as an 18-year-old, it was a big thing for me.” The young lad from Northampton had now played in two first-team competitions with his local team but Williams was yet to sign his first pro deal. Manager Keith Curle had offered Williams a contract in October 2018 but he held off signing following the advice from his agent at the time. January 2019 came around and Williams still hadn’t put pen to paper and that didn’t please Curle. On an away day to Forest Green, all the players are sitting comfortably on the coach before a yell of ‘JAY’ ricochets through the aisle. Curle has called Williams to the front of the coach and it’s crunch time for the youngster.

“I was so nervous as I was playing centre back. Luckily, he didn’t play and I did really well. We lost that game but the newspaper highlighted my performance.” Williams had now established himself as part of Curle’s plans and a month after his senior debut, he made his league debut coming on against Macclesfield Town in the 5-0 away win. Just over 70 minutes had been played before Williams was told to end his warm-up and get ready to enter the fray. However, he wouldn’t be playing in a familiar defensive position. “The Gaffer called me over and said ‘you can play midfield, can’t you?’ I’ve looked at the dugout and they’re all nodding at me so I’ve gone yeah, yeah, yeah and then got ready to come on. Williams adds, “I think everyone loved my performance as I came on and just smashed everyone. I made two or three

“This raspy voice shouted my name and then I saw the assistant then give me a nod,” Williams explains. “I go to the front and Curle goes ‘Why haven’t you signed the contract?’ I nearly fell into the seat. He told me to get my agent on the phone right now as he had stuck his neck out for me to get the contract and he felt I was taking the mick out of him. I get my agent on the phone and I don’t think there was anything he could say,” he laughs. Soon after, Williams signed his first professional deal and was part of seven academy players that season to make the grade with Northampton. Williams carried on the good form with The Cobblers for the rest of the 2018/19 season, making a collection of appearances in midfield. Northampton went on to finish 15th in League Two that season but before the next campaign could even get started, there was unrest in the camp. Williams explains how the changing room had turned “toxic” and many first-team players couldn’t get on with the coaching staff, which led to daily shouting matches at the training ground.

JAY WILLIAMS Curle overhauled the squad and brought in players who had an abundance of Football League experience. Unfortunately for Williams, it meant he was put onto the periphery and struggled to make it into the matchday squad. The young Cobbler admits that season was a “low point” as he started to “pick up bad habits” and was losing his love for football all over again. Williams went out on loan to Kettering but it was a drop in standard from playing in the Football League. Then Covid hit and everything stopped. Northampton had been doing well that season and were nicely placed in the playoff spots when the season was paused. When it was announced that the playoffs would go ahead, Williams was surprised to get the news that Curle had included him in the squad and although he didn’t feature at Wembley for The Cobblers promotion final success, he has that winners medal. Williams was now thinking maybe he still had a future with Northampton but those hopes were crushed when he sat down with Curle at the end of the season. Williams was told there would be no contract on the table and that “in the next two years he would either be in the Championship or knocking around at non-league clubs”.

after their manager got in contact with the Town Gaffer. Weaver invited Williams in for a trial but after a couple of sessions, he got a concussion and couldn’t train for two weeks. When he did come back, he possessed the skills and attitude Weaver looks for in a footballer but Williams reveals that the Gaffer told him he was definitely a “curveball” and didn’t expect him to turn his head. Williams signed in January and made his Harrogate debut against Cambridge in the same month. The Town man then went on to score his first goal in men’s football against Forest Green earlier this month. Although enjoying those moments, Williams focus is on the next game and playing games. “That debut made me feel like I now have to work harder, I can’t fall off it again,” he says. “I know where I was and I don’t want to go back. It’s that you can’t work harder than me mentality. I’m just going to keep working hard and see where it takes me.”

The news had capped off a pretty rough year for a lad who was yet to turn 20-years-old. It was all becoming too much for Williams and what he really needed was someone to take him and get him back on track. He needed his dad. Williams moved back in with his father and started to get in the mind-set to reignite his career. “When I moved back with my dad, things started getting better. I was training the hardest I’d ever trained and everything has been up since. My mindset has been different, I feel so much clearer and I have no distractions. I didn’t have a club for a while though and that was really hard as it was getting close to me going out and getting a real job. It was a period where I realised so much more about myself but I was living off my dad.” Williams ended up at Kettering in November 2020 which caught the attention of Simon Weaver

FROM THE ARCHIVES

THIS WEEK IN TOWN’S HISTORY

KEY MOMENTS FROM THIS WEEK OVER THE YEARS...

In 2010 Town played Ilkeston Town away in the Conference North and left the New Manor Ground with a 3-3 draw thanks to goals from Roy Stamer and a brace from Lee Ellington.

Lee Ellington controlling the ball against Ilkeston Town in 2010

MARCH

by Phil Harrison Club Historian

In 1987 Town hosted Boston

FC (no connection to Boston United) for a Northern Counties East League Premier Division fixture and won 3-1 thanks to goals from John Demickjy, Paul Williamson (pen) and Jack Smith. Smith played 171 Jack Smith (12) games for Town between 1980-88. In 1958 Harrogate welcomed Yorkshire Amateur reserves to Wetherby Road for a Yorkshire League Division Two fixture but lost 3-1 with recent signing John McEwan scoring Town’s consolation goal. McEwan joined from neighbours Harrogate Railway Athletic where he had scored 65 goals in 86 games John McKewan for the Rail. MARCH

In 1996 Town travelled to Ashton United for a Northern Premier League Division One match and came away with a 4-1 victory thanks to goals from Lee Dutton, Richard Ward, Pat McDaid and former York City’s Ricky Greenough who played 165 (12) games for Town between 1991-98. Town were saved from relegation due to Fleetwood Town going into liquidation. MARCH

Ricky Greenough

FROM THE ARCHIVES In 1964 Town faced Scarborough reserves away on Easter Tuesday in Yorkshire League Division One and won 4-1 in front of a crowd of 559 at the Malcolm Ezard McCain Stadium with Harrogate’s goals coming from Eric Kelshaw, Dave Ezard and two from his brother, Malcolm Ezard who moved from centre half to centre forward. Town finished third that season. MARCH

APRIL

In 1929 the old Harrogate AFC had a difficult Easter Monday game at home to league leaders (by 13 points) Bradford Park Avenue reserves losing 5-3 with Bert Smith (2) and Sam Currie on Sam Currie target for the hosts. Currie finished top scorer with 26 goals from 28 games. That day Park Avenue had six first teamers in the side who had played a few weeks earlier against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in the Football League Second Division. APRIL

In 2018 Town beat Blyth Spartans 5-1 at home in the National League North with John McCombe, Dominic Knowles, George Thomson and Jake Wright (2) on target for the hosts in an emphatic win. This was of course Town’s promotion winning season where they finished second behind Salford City and then won the play-offs, beating Brackley Town in the final.

Jake Wright climbs highest to head Town’s second goal against Blyth Spartans in 2018

TODAY’S OPPOSITION

SOUTHEND UNITED Founded in 1906 as Prittlewell United, the name was changed to Southend United a month later. The Shrimpers were admitted to the Second Division of the Southern League, winning promotion to the First Division in 1908. In 1920, they became founder members of Football League Division Three where they stayed for the next 44 years before being relegated to the Fourth Division in 1966. They spent the next 24 years yo-yoing between the third and fourth tiers. Back-to-back promotions saw them in the Second Division for the first time in 1991 where they stayed for six seasons before back-to-back relegations saw them back in the lowest tier again in 1997. A revival began with promotion in 2005 followed by the League One title in 2006, taking the Blues back to the second tier but only for one season. In 2009-10 Southend faced winding-up orders from HMRC over unpaid tax bills and with a transfer embargo imposed by the Football League until a settlement was reached, the team suffered on the pitch and relegation to League Two was an inevitable consequence.

In 2015 Phil Brown led the team, via the play-offs into League One, but after escaping relegation on goal difference in the 2018-19 season, Brown was replaced by Sol Campbell. But, more financial difficulties and another transfer embargo saw Southend relegated to League Two last season and Campbell left and was replaced by Mark Molesley. With the transfer embargo still in place until the HMRC debt was paid, Southend struggled on the field at the beginning of this season with just one win in the first 15 games. But with the half million pound debt reportedly paid in October, the club was able to focus on the football and won four out of six to close up on the teams above them. Able to strengthen in January, the Blues brought in a number of players, and although they still sit in the relegation places, their defence has tightened up significantly in recent weeks and they have been picking up points including creditable 0-0 draws at Cambridge United and at home to Salford City as well as a thumping 3-1 win at Forest Green Rovers, keeping them in touch with the teams above.

FOUNDED 1906

NICKNAME The Blues, The Shrimpers

ROOTS HALL Capacity 12,392

RECORD SCORER Roy Hollis 135 (1954-1960)

RECORD APPEARANCES Alan Moody 506 (1972-84)

RECORD TRANSFER FEE PAID £750k Stan Collymore Crystal Palace November 1992 RECORD TRANSFER FEE RECEIVED £7.5m Stan Collymore Nottingham Forest June 1993

TODAY’S OPPOSITION

THE BLUES PLAYING SQUAD BETWEEN THE STICKS

Mark Oxley

1. Mark Oxley

Joining Southend in July 2016 from Hibernian, the 30-year-old began his career at Rotherham United in 2007 before joining newly promoted Premier League club Hull City in August 2008 where he subsequently spent time on loan at Walsall, Grimsby Town, Burton Albion, Oldham Athletic and Hibs during seven years at the Kcom. After being released by the Tigers in 2015, he signed on a permanent basis for Hibs for a season before joining Southend where he has now featured over 150 times.

13. Harry Seaden

Coming through the Academy at Southend where he has been since the age of 13, the 19-year-old made his Blues firstteam debut in February 2020 after having brief loan spells at Cambridge City and Dagenham & Redbridge in 2019.

AT THE BACK 2. Elvis Bwomono

Now in his fourth season in the Southend first team, the 22-yearold Ugandan international started his career as a youth

6. Tyler Cordner

player at Queens Park Rangers before switching to the Blues academy at the age of 14 and signing pro with the club in October 2017. After making 30 League One appearances for in 2018-19, he was a near ever present last season, missing just one of United’s 35 league games. and now has over 125 Southend appearances to his name.

3. Nathan Ralph

Signing for the Blues in July 2019 from Dundee, the 28-year-old came through the youth systems at Ipswich Town and Peterborough United and without a first-team appearance and after a loan spell at Kettering Town joined Yeovil Town in August 2014. With 41 appearances for the Glovers in three seasons, he joined Newport in June 2015 and was loaned out to Aldershot Town in February 2016. He then moved to Woking and spent two seasons there before joining Scottish Premiership Dundee in May 2018, winning the club’s Player of the Year award.

5. Shaun Hobson Elvis Bwomnono

22-year-old started his career at Burnley in 2014 before signing for Bournemouth in 2016. Whilst there, he spent time on loan at Eastbourne Borough, Chester and Eastleigh before joining Weymouth on loan at the start of the 2019-20 season and was an integral part of the Terras’ side that clinched promotion to the National League via the playoffs in August 2020.

Joining the Blues in September from AFC Bournemouth, the

Signing in January on loan from AFC Bournemouth after spending the first half of the campaign on loan at Scunthorpe United, the 21-year-old is a graduate of the Cherries youth team. This is his fourth loan period away from the Vitality Stadium having also spent the 2018-19 season at Havant & Waterlooville and the first half of last season at Ebbsfleet United.

12. Tom Clifford

After starting in the academy at Spurs, the 22-year-old switched to Southend’s youth set-up in 2010, before signing pro in 2018, following a loan spell with Bishop’s Stortford. He spent some time on loan at Concord Rangers last season before returning to the Blues and getting a regular place in the starting line-up.

23. Greg Halford

Signing in December, the experienced 36-year-old started with Colchester United and has gone on to play in the Premier League for Reading, Sunderland and Wolves, as well as playing for Charlton Athletic, Sheffield United, Portsmouth, Nottingham Forest, Brighton, Rotherham United, Birmingham City and Cardiff City in the Championship and Aberdeen in the Scottish

SOUTHEND UNITED

24. Jason Demetriou

Signing in July 2016, the 33-yearold Cypriot international came through the youth ranks at Leyton Orient and signed his first pro contract with them in July 2006. He went on to make over 150 appearances for the O’s before moving to Cypriot first division side AEK Larnaca in 2010. After five years in Cyprus, which included a stint with Anorthosis Famagusta, he returned to English football with Walsall in July 2015 before his move to Southend the following year and has now racked up over 150 appearances for the Blues. He also has 51 caps for Cyprus.

26. Harry Lennon

Signing for Southend from Charlton Athletic in June 2018, the 26-year-old came through the Addicks youth system and made 40 appearances in total in five seasons at The Valley. Whilst there, he had a loan spell with Cambridge United and twice with Gillingham.

42. Sam Hart

Returning to Southend permanently in November 2020 after spending the second half of 2018-19 on loan at Roots Hall, the former Liverpool Jason Demetriou

Mark Molesley

Appointed: August 2020 Age: 39 Mark Molesley became Manager at Southend United in August 2020 after a hugely successful three seasons in charge of Weymouth where he oversaw backto-back promotions to take the Terras into the National League. The 39-year-old combined his managerial role at Weymouth with a coaching position in the U23 side at Bournemouth and left the Vitality Stadium with a glowing reference from the Cherries’ former boss Eddie Howe.

IN THE DUGOUT

Premiership last season. He has amassed over 500 appearances in his 18-year career.

A midfielder in his playing days, Molesley came through the youth set-up at Hayes. Spells at Cambridge United, Aldershot Town, Stevenage and Grays Athletic followed before he joined Bournemouth in 2008, making 52 appearances. After his departure in 2013, he went onto play for Exeter City, another stint at Aldershot and then Weymouth for two seasons before retiring to become First Team Manager.

trainee, made the switch to Blackburn Rovers in August 2017. Loans to Port Vale (whilst at Liverpool), Rochdale (twice) and Shrewsbury Town as well as Southend gave the 24-yearold good first-team experience before his release from Rovers and re-joining the Blues.

48. John White c Signing for Southend in July 2013, the 34-year-old is into his eighth season with the Blues and has made over 250 appearances for the club. He has become fan favourite since making the move from Essex rivals Colchester United, whom he started his youth career with at the age of 11 and subsequently spent nine years at as a pro making 255 appearances for the U’s. Prior to his move to Roots Hall, he had a short loan spell with Southend in 2009 and made six appearances before returning to Colchester.

THE ENGINE ROOM 4. Alan McCormack

Re-signing for Southend in September, the 37-year-old previously made over 150 appearances for the Blues before leaving in 2010, having signed from Preston North End in January 2007. The Irishman went on to play for Charlton Athletic, Swindon Town and John White

TODAY’S OPPOSITION Brentford after leaving Roots Hall, before successful spells at Luton Town and Northampton Town where he won promotions in three consecutive seasons. He has racked up over 500 career appearances in total.

the ranks before signing pro with the club in the summer 2019. He joined Harlow Town on loan in July 2019 playing 21 games for the Hawks, before returning to Roots Hall to make his first-team debut in October 2019.

7. James Olayinka

15. Lewis Gard

Signing for the Blues in October on loan from Arsenal, the 20-year-old came through the Gunners youth set-up and has featured for their U21s in the EFL Trophy for the past three seasons and was on the bench in the Community Shield win over Liverpool in August 2020. He had a brief loan spell at Northampton Town last January.

8. Timothée Dieng

Signing for Southend in July 2018 from Bradford City, the 28-year-old began his career at Brest in France playing mainly in their B team but with a handful of first team appearances. In July 2014, he joined Oldham Athletic and made 68 appearances in two seasons before joining fellow League One Bradford City in July 2016 playing 78 times for the Bantams over two seasons. Now in his third season at Roots Hall, he has made over 100 appearances for the Blues.

11. Tyrell Egbri

Joined Southend’s youth set-up in 2015 and progressed through Timothée Dieng

Progressing through the ranks of Southend’s Academy from the age of eight, the 21-yearold made his first-team debut in April 2018 but a twin medial ligament injury restricted his game time last season.

20. Ashley Nathaniel-George

Signing in October 2020 from Crawley Town, where he made 57 appearances in two years, the 25-year-old was in Arsenal’s academy until the age of 14 and has since come through the nonleague game in the. After being on a scholarship at Wealdstone, he joined Potters Bar Town in late 2015, before moving to Hendon in 2017 before joining Crawley in June 2018.

27. Harry Kyprianou

The 24-year-old Cyprus youth international started at Watford before switching to Southend in September 2015. He was loaned out to Lowestoft Town in 2016 where he played 13 games. Now in his sixth season at Roots Hall he spent October on a shortterm loan at Bromley.

to Dagenham & Redbridge’s youth set-up. Spells on loan at Chelmsford City, St Albans City, Hastings United and then permanently with Billericay Town followed, and then Grays in February 2015. Later that year he signed for Burton Albion and then Port Vale in July 2016 before moving to Bromley and then Dulwich Hamlet. He joined Crawley in June 2019, and made 50 appearances before moving to Southend.

UP TOP 9. Simeon Akinola

Joining on loan from AFC Bournemouth’s academy in September where he has been since the age of 12, the 21-yearold’s switch to Roots Hall was extended to a season-long loan in January. He made his pro debut for the Cherrie’s in 2018 and spent last season on loan at Forest Green Rovers.

Signing for Southend in September 2020 from Barnet, the 28-year-old started his career at Boreham Wood making his senior debut in January 2011. He was loaned out to Billericay Town in November 2011 and then Harrow Borough in February 2012 before making that move permanent and after 23 goals in 78 games joined National League Braintree Town in August 2014. After more than 100 games for the Iron, Akinola joined League Two Barnet in January 2017 and went on to score 24 goals during his threeand-a-half years at The Hive.

44. Nathan Ferguson

10. Brandon Goodship

28. Kyle Taylor

Signing in January from Crawley Town, the 25-year-old started at Norwich City before moving 24

Nathan Ferguson

Joining Southend in June 2019 from Weymouth, the 26-year-old started his career

SOUTHEND UNITED at Bournemouth at the age of 12 and after turning pro was sent out on loan to Blackfield & Langley, Dorchester Town, Hayes & Yeading United, Yeovil Town and Braintree Town. In January 2017 he joined Yeovil Town permanently until the end of the season and moved to Weymouth that summer. In two seasons with the Terras he scored a 75 goals in 83 league appearances which earned him a move to Southend.

17. Reeco Hackett-Fairchild Joining Southend on loan in January from Portsmouth, the 23-year-old, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Bromley, started his career in the youth sides of Fulham and Brighton before joining Dagenham & Redbridge in July 2014. He moved to Charlton

Simeon Akinola

Athletic in 2016 and made 24 appearances for the Addicks before joining Bromley in summer 2019. After eight goals in 25 appearances at the start to the 2019-20 season, he joined League One Portsmouth in January 2020 before being loaned back to Bromley.

Reeco Hackett-Fairchild

18. Emile Acquah After progressing through Southend’s academy and turning pro with the club, the 20-year-old was loaned out to Harlow Town in August 2018 where he scored nine times in 30 appearances before being recalled. On his return to Roots Hall he made his first-team debut in March 2019 before heading to Maidenhead United on loan in January 2020 only to be recalled without playing a game for the Magpies to cover for injuries before re-joining Maidenhead two months later. This season has been his breakthrough season for the Blues featuring regularly in the starting line-up.

30. Ricky Homes

Joining Southend in February, the 33-year-old started his career in the Blues academy but was released and joined Chelmsford City in 2005. He has gone on to play in League Two, League One and the Championship, accumulating over a combined 300 EFL games at Barnet, Portsmouth, Northampton Town, Charlton Athletic, Sheffield United and Oxford United.

RECENT LINE-UP v Walsall (H) D0-0

Tuesday, 23 March 2021

Dieng

Goodship Nathaniel-George

Hackett-Fairchild Ferguson

Hart

McCormack

White

Hobson

Demetriou

Oxley SUBSTITUTIONS:

57’ Goodship ‹› Akinola; 73’ McCormack ‹› Olayinka; Subs not used: Mellis, Cordner, Holmes, Taylor, Seaden 25

THE EX-FILES

THERE HAVE BEEN JUST TWO PLAYERS WHO HAVE TURNED OUT FOR BOTH TOWN AND SOUTHEND IN RECENT YEARS Town’s Club Historian, Phil Harrison profiles them

Lee Nogan

Jason Harris

1987-88 & 1993-94 (both on loan) Apps: 14 I Goals: 0

2001 Apps: 5 I Goals: 0

2004-06 Apps: 12 (10) I Goals: 2

2001-02 Apps: 2 (5) I Goals: 1

Welsh international, Lee Nogan began his career with Oxford United in 1987, playing 77 games for the U’s. Whilst at the Manor Ground, the forward had his first loan spell at Southend United in September 1987, playing nine games and making his debut in a 1-0 defeat at Mansfield Town. In Summer 1991, he signed for Watford playing 117 games over four years at Vicarage Road. He also returned to Southend United on loan in 1994 playing another five games for the Shrimpers. He joined Reading in 1994, playing 102 games for the Royals before leaving for Grimsby Town in August 1997, then Darlington, Luton Town and York City from 2000-05 where he played 181 times. He was signed by Town in March 2005 by his former team mate Neil Aspin and made a scoring debut in a 4-2 home win over Redditch United and left at the end of 2005-06 to manage Whitby Town. By 2014 he had joined back up with Neil Aspin as his assistant at FC Halifax Town, Gateshead and then Port Vale until January 2019.

Sutton born striker Striker Jason Harris began his career at Crystal Palace in 1994, however only played twice for the Eagles. Whilst at Selhurst Park, he had loan spells at Dover Athletic, Bristol Rovers and Lincoln City before signing for Leyton Orient in 1997 for £20,000. He went on to play 40 games for the O’s before joining Preston North End the following season and then Hull City the season after that. After a short spell at Southend United at the beginning of the 2001-02 season where he played five games and made his debut in September 2001 in a 3-2 home win over Carlisle United, Harris joined Town for the first of two spells in December 2001. He made his debut from the bench on 8th December 2001 in a 2-1 win at Trafford. After joining Nuneaton Borough in February 2002, he returned to Wetherby Road in the October and totalled seven appearances and one goal for Town before moving on to Goole Town.

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Announcement of new programmes being delivered by the Community Foundation • Improving Health and Wellbeing • Creating and maintaining stronger, safer and more connected communities • Enhancing Life opportunities

Community Bootcamp with Louie Swain To get yourself fit and active in the build up to Summer the Community Foundation have timetabled a Community Boot Camp session, led by ex-Town player and Personal Trainer Louie Swain. The weekly Monday session held on the Stray (near St Aidans) will target adults, abiding by all the latest Covid guidelines. We are asking for anyone interested in joining us to email: community@harrogatetownafc.com the cost will be £20 for 7 sessions. The start date will be Monday 19th April, 2021.

Our bootcamp is designed for adults, no matter your level of fitness, we will improve your physical and mental wellbeing.

Where... On the Stray near St Aidans School

When...

Every Monday 19th April – 19th July 6:30-7:30pm

With your instructor Louie Swain...

Sessions will be planned and lead by former Harrogate Town player Louie Swain, a fully qualified and trained Personal Trainer.

£20 ONLY

FOR THE SEVEN WEFULL EK NO CASH S! ACCEPTED !

To register your interest please call 07832 323324 or email community@harrogatetownafc.com

All sessions will comply with the latest Covid-19 guidance and regulations

to start in July We are thrilled to be linking up with Man V Fat to deliver a weekly football league that targets those who would like to use football to combat their weight, lifestyle challenges. The league will run from King James School in Knaresborough, starting in early July. As much as the session is aimed at losing weight, there is also a great social element and some healthy competition. Players are rewarded each week by their team receiving a goal bonus for collective weight loss! You can visit https://manvfat.com for more information and to pre-register, or email: community@harrogatetownafc.com to learn more 28

COMMUNITY BOOTCAMP with Louie Swain

Over the next few weeks and months the Community Foundation will be delivering some amazing projects, directly working towards our Community objectives of;

Harrogate Town AFC CIO is a registered charity No. 1186826

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

HTAFC Community Foundation to join the Twinning Project

NCS (National Citizen Service) Summer Programme Recruitment If you know any Yr11’s that have some spare time over the Summer, why not encourage them to join our NCS programme. With this being the first year of us becoming Delivery Partners for the NCS Programme, we are keen to provide a wonderful experience for all the 16-17 year olds who join. This is not just for footballers, with a diverse amount of young people expected to sign up. More details can be found on the NCS website, along with a chance to register. NCS Harrogate are delivering a 3 week programme and a 2 week programme this Summer. THREE WEEK PROGRAMME (including 1 week residential) 12th – 30th July 2021 Weekdays only TWO WEEK PROGRAMME 9th – 20th August 2021 Weekends only For any questions please email: community@harrogatetownafc.com

We are excited to announce a partnership with the Twinning Project and Wealstun Prison in Thorp Arch near Wetherby. The aim is to engage prisoners to improve their mental and physical health, wellbeing and obtain a qualification which will help improve their life chances and gain employment on release. The Twinning Project is a partnership between Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and professional football clubs with the objective of twinning every prison in England and Wales with a local professional football club. Iain Service – Community Manager explains, ‘To be involved in the Twinning Project is really exciting. This allows us to showcase HTAFC within the prison, inspire people to better themselves and create real opportunities once released from prison. This work also directly links with our Community Objectives’. Be sure to follow the progress of the Twinning project over the next few months. We will be posting regular updates on our social media and also through website and matchday programme pages.

Would you like to work for us to deliver our NCS Programme? We are currently recruiting both Assistant Team Leaders and Team Leaders to make this Summer’s NCS Programme one to remember. More details about our NCS vacancies can be found on the Community website – www.htafccommunity.co.uk

For more details about Harrogate Town AFC Community Foundation, or to get involved as a participant or volunteer, please email community@harrogatetownafc.com 29

0) and gland (no. 21983 red charity in En nd and Wales. gla En Mind is a registe in ) 48 43 42 pany (no. a registered com 30

LIVE STREAM

Watch all Town’s EFL fixtures, home and away, LIVE!

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INCLUDIN COMMENT G ARY

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live.harrogatetownafc.com

STATS ZONE STATS ZONE

STATS ZONE

US V. THEM HOW WE COMPARE IN THE LEAGUE

LEAGUE POSITION

GOAL TIMINGS

Minute For Against

16-30 9 10 31-45 11 5

POINTS

48 GOALS SCORED

YELLOW CARDS

SECOND STRAIGHT YELLOWS REDS

HOME 16 AWAY 25

FAILED TO SCORE

61-75 4 9

HOME 15 AWAY 16

76-90+ 5

GOALS SCORED

YELLOW CARDS

TOP SCORER

MOST ASSISTS

SECOND STRAIGHT YELLOWS REDS

Jack Muldoon

50 HOME 25 AWAY 25

George Thomson

LAST FIVE LEAGUE GAMES

Stevenage

6 Mar (A)

9 Mar (H)

13 Mar (A)

TOP SCORER

MOST ASSISTS

Tom Clifford

Jason Demetriou, Sam Hart and Ashley Nathaniel-George

LAST FIVE LEAGUE GAMES

Colchester Forest Green Morecambe United Rovers

W1-0 L0-1 W3-0 L1-2

L0-1

Oldham Athletic

Tranmere Rovers

Stevenage

6 Mar (A)

9 Mar (H)

13 Mar (H)

D0-0 L0-2 D0-0

20 Mar (H)

10 YEAR LEAGUE RECORD

Scunthorpe United

D1-1

20 Mar (A)

Walsall

D0-0 23 Mar (H)

10 YEAR LEAGUE RECORD

NLN#

NL#

2 3

NLN

L2#

NLN

11 12

46-60 2 11

GOALS CONCEDED

2 Mar (A)

31-45 1 10

HOME 13 AWAY 9

GOALS CONCEDED

Barrow

16-30 5 7

HOME 15 AWAY 25

CLEAN SHEETS

4 4

0-15

FAILED TO SCORE

61-75 8 5 76-90+ 6

Minute For Against

POINTS

46-60 3 11

HOME 22 AWAY 26

GOAL TIMINGS

CLEAN SHEETS

3 4

0-15

LEAGUE POSITION

NLN

11 12

NLN

10/11

11/12

12/13

13/14

14/15

15/16

16/17

17/18

18/19

19/20

L1 L1$ 10/11

11/12

12/13

13/14

14/15

15/16

L1 = EFL League One; L2 = EFL League Two; NL = National League; NLN = National League North

16/17

17/18

18/19

19/20

STATS ZONE SEASON PLAYER STATS 2020/21 # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 -

Player James Belshaw Ryan Fallowfield Dan Jones Josh Falkingham Will Smith Warren Burrell George Thomson Will Hondermarck Mark Beck Aaron Martin Jake Lawlor Joe Cracknell Brendan Kiernan Connor Kirby Jon Stead Lloyd Kerry Jack Muldoon Calvin Miller* Connor Hall Ed Francis Tom Walker* Josh March Melvin Minter Kevin Lokko Jay Williams Josh McPake Mitchell Roberts Simon Power Josh Andrews Jack Emmett**

League Two ■ A G 33 (0) 0 23 (2) 0 3 11 (3) 0 5 29 (5) 0 7 1 22(0) 2 1 31 (2) 0 5 1 36 (0) 3 2 0 (1) 0 10 (8) 2 25 (8) 5 3 14 (3) 0 1 3 (0) 0 12 (11) 1 10 (6) 0 3 3 (10) 1 17 (6) 2 5 25 (8) 12 8 (2) 1 31 (1) 1 1 1 13 (2) 1 1 1 (6) 0 10 (4) 5 2 0 (0) 0 0 (1) 0 2 (2) 1 14 (0) 2 1 1 (0) 0 1 10 (2) 1 0 0 (2) 0 0 0 (0) 0 -

■ 1 1 -

TOWN TOP 3’s Cups A G 2 (0) 0 4 (0) 0 3 (1) 1 5 (0) 0 4 (0) 0 7 (0) 0 4 (3) 0 0 (0) 0 4 (3) 1 4 (3) 1 4 (0) 1 6 (0) 0 4 (2) 2 4 (3) 0 2 (4) 1 7 (0) 1 6 (0) 0 2 (1) 1 4 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 5 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 5 (0) 1 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 1 (0) 0

Season Town Career A G A G 35 (0) 0 179 0 27 (2) 0 151 3 14 (4) 1 18 1 34 (5) 0 173 7 26 (0) 2 70 5 39 (2) 0 259 12 40 (3) 3 173 30 0 (1) 0 1 0 14 (11) 3 125 31 29 (9) 6 42 6 18 (3) 1 21 1 9 (0) 0 17 0 16 (13) 3 69 11 14 (9) 0 23 0 5 (14) 2 51 9 24 (6) 3 184 17 31 (8) 12 135 45 10 (3) 2 13 2 35 (1) 1 75 6 13 (2) 1 15 1 6 (6) 0 12 0 10 (4) 5 14 5 0 (0) 0 0 0 5 (1) 1 6 1 2 (2) 1 4 1 14 (0) 2 14 2 1 (0) 0 1 0 10 (2) 1 12 1 0 (2) 0 2 0 1 (0) 0 229 22

APPEARANCES

(including on as a sub)

36 George Thomson 34 J osh Falkingham 33 J ames Belshaw Warren Burrell Aaron Martin Jack Muldoon

GOALS 12 Jack Muldoon 5J osh March Aaron Martin 3G eorge Thomson

ASSISTS 7 George Thomson 6A aron Martin 4 Jack Muldoon

PITCH MINUTES 3211 George Thomson 2970 James Belshaw 2803 Connor Hall

Top 3’s (League Two 2020/21 only) A = Appearances; () = Games on as sub; G = Goals; Second Yellow *Out on Loan; **Left Club

BACK IN STOCK TOWN 2020/21 AWAY SHIRT

Available to order online!

PLUS

NEW LEISURE RANGE

PLUS replica home and goalkeeper shirts, official training wear, goodies and much more... Visit the Club Shop today at

harrogatetownafc.com/online-store 33

LEAGUE TWO ROUND UP

MIDWEEK

ROUND-UP A LOOK OVER TUESDAY NIGHTS GAMES IN LEAGUE TWO

Luke Spokes (left) celebrates scoring Grimsby’s crucial winner against Barrow

by Mark Walker, PA Media Forest Green Rovers’ bid to close the gap on leaders Cheltenham Town ended in frustration as they were held to a goalless draw at Mansfield Town. It could have been worse for Mark Cooper’s side, who were indebted to goalkeeper Lewis Thomas following a string of fine saves to keep Mansfield at bay. Forest Green had chances to break the deadlock and still occupy the final automatic promotion place, three points off top spot, but the stalemate did little for either side at their respective ends of the division. Play-off chasing Tranmere Rovers failed to take advantage as they were forced to come from two goals down to salvage a point in a 2-2 draw at Colchester United. The Us led through Harry Pell’s first-half opener and Brendan Wiredu’s strike early in the second period before Rovers came to life. Danny Lloyd converted a 62nd-minute penalty after Tommy Smith had handled and Jay Spearing hauled them level with a deflected low effort five minutes later. Keith Hill’s side stay fourth, behind Forest Green on goal difference, with 10 games to play. Rock-bottom Grimsby Town gave themselves a lifeline by securing three crucual points at Barrow - the Mariners’ first win in eight games. Luke Spokes’ 71stminute goal sealed a 1-0 victory for Paul Hurst’s side and lifted them to within seven points of Barrow, who now sit third from bottom after their four-match winning run came to an end. Keith Curle registered his first win as Oldham Athletic manager following a 2-1 home victory against play-off hopefuls Exeter City.Curle had drawn three and lost one of his first four games in charge since taking over from Harry Kewell, but goals in either half from Kyle Jameson and Alfie McCalmont got the monkey off his back. Jack Sparkes pulled one back for Exeter midway through the second period, but they remain four points outside the top seven.

Southend United stay second from bottom as a goalless home draw against Walsall did little to boost their survival chances. The Shrimpers, who played the final 23 minutes with 10 men after Sam Hart was sent off, are still six points behind Barrow with nine games left. Conor Wilkinson’s late winner clinched Leyton Orient a 1-0 win at Carlisle United and extended the Londoners’ unbeaten run to four matches. Carlisle goalkeeper Paul Farman was caught in no man’s land when attempting to clear a long ball and Wilkinson lobbed him in the 88th minute to steal all three points at Brunton Park. Defeat for Chris Beech’s Carlisle left them with just one win in their last 12 fixtures. Scunthorpe United halted a run of five games without a victory with a hard-fought 2-0 success against mid-table Bradford City at Glanford Park. Abo Eisa gave the Iron an early lead and after Bradford had twice hit the woodwork through Charles Vernam and Elliot Watt, Devarn Green fired the home side into a two-goal lead.

LEAGUE TWO TABLE 2020/21

P 1 Cheltenham Town 36 2 Cambridge United 37 3 Forest Green Rovers 36 4 Tranmere Rovers 36 5 Bolton Wanderers 36 6 Morecambe 36 7 Newport County 36 8 Exeter City 35 9 Salford City 35 10 Crawley Town 35 11 Leyton Orient 36 12 Carlisle United 34 13 Harrogate Town 36 14 Bradford City 35 15 Stevenage 37 16 Scunthorpe United 36 17 Oldham Athletic 37 18 Mansfield Town 37 19 Port Vale 37 20 Walsall 36 21 Colchester United 37 22 Barrow 35 23 Southend United 37 24 Grimsby Town 36

HOME W D 9 4 10 5 8 6 10 1 9 4 9 4 9 4 9 3 8 10 9 5 7 6 10 2 6 4 7 6 7 6 7 4 5 2 4 9 6 5 5 5 7 6 5 7 4 4 3 6

L 5 4 3 7 6 4 4 5 0 4 5 5 7 4 5 8 12 6 8 8 5 6 11 9

F 26 24 26 27 23 26 19 33 28 26 24 32 15 17 20 22 25 25 23 17 25 25 13 12

A 19 14 19 20 20 21 16 17 12 16 17 22 16 14 13 25 34 27 21 22 22 24 25 24

AWAY W D 10 4 9 2 9 5 8 7 8 5 8 4 7 5 5 8 5 2 5 4 7 2 4 4 8 2 6 3 3 10 6 2 7 7 5 7 5 3 3 11 1 9 5 1 3 7 4 4

L 4 7 5 3 4 7 7 5 10 8 9 9 9 9 6 9 4 6 10 4 9 11 8 10

F 22 31 23 23 24 25 27 26 13 21 16 14 25 21 11 16 29 19 23 21 10 16 9 15

A 14 20 18 21 23 28 21 25 17 28 22 20 25 26 19 20 28 21 30 23 29 20 25 30

GD 15 21 12 9 4 2 9 17 12 3 1 4 -1 -2 -1 -7 -8 -4 -5 -7 -16 -3 -28 -27

Pts 65 64 62 62 60 59 57 53 51 51 50 48 48 48 46 45 45 43 41 40 39 38 32 31

Last updated 23 March 2021

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PROUD TO SUPPORT 35

FIXTURES & RESULTS 2020/21 DATE

OPPOSITION

COMP

RES

ATT PTS POS STARTING XI

SEPTEMBER Sat 5

Tranmere Rovers (R1)

1-1

Town win 8-7 on pens

Cracknell

Fallowfield

Burrell

Smith

Hall

Falkingham

Tue 8

Grimsby Town

2-2

Grimsby earn bonus point by winning 5-4 on pens

Cracknell

Fallowfield

Burrell

Smith

Lokko ● ■

Kirby

Sat 12

Southend United

4-0

Cracknell

Fallowfield

Burrell

Smith

Hall

Falkingham

Wed 16

West Bromwich Albion (R2)

0-3

Cracknell

Fallowfield

Burrell

Smith ■

Hall

Falkingham

Sat 19

Walsall

2-2

Cracknell

Fallowfield ■ Burrell

Smith

Hall

Falkingham

Tue 22

Notts County (Semi-Final)

1-0

Cracknell

Fallowfield

Burrell

Smith ●

Hall

Falkingham

Sat 26

Port Vale

0-0

Cracknell

Fallowfield

Burrell

Smith

Hall

Falkingham

12 Belshaw

3 4

1 3

OCTOBER Sat 3

Bolton Wanderers

1-2

Tue 6

Leicester City U21’s

3-1

Mon 12

Bradford City

1-0

Sat 17

Barrow

1-0

Tue 20

Grimsby Town

2-1

Sat 24

Colchester United

Tue 27

Stevenage

Sat 31

Newport County

Fallowfield

Jones ■

Smith

Hall

Falkingham ■

Belshaw

Burrell

Jones ●

Lokko

Lawlor

Kirby

Belshaw

Fallowfield

Burrell

Smith

Hall

Falkingham ■

Belshaw

Fallowfield

Burrell

Smith

Hall

Falkingham

Belshaw

Fallowfield

Burrell

Smith

Hall

Falkingham

1-2

Belshaw

Fallowfield

Burrell

Smith

Hall

Falkingham

0-0

Belshaw

Fallowfield ■ Burrell

Smith

Hall

Falkingham ■

1-2

12 Belshaw

Jones ■

Burrell

Smith ●

Hall

Falkingham ■

14 Belshaw

NOVEMBER Tue 3

Tranmere Rovers

0-1

Jones

Burrell

Smith

Hall

Kirby ■

Fri 6

Skelmersdale United (R1)

4-1

Cracknell

Jones ■

Burrell

Lokko

Lawlor ●

Falkingham

Tue 10

Hull City

0-2

Cracknell

Jones

Burrell

Lokko

Lawlor

Kirby

Sat 14

Crawley Town

1-1

12 Belshaw

Fallowfield

Burrell

Lawlor

Hall

Falkingham

Sat 21

Leyton Orient

0-3

14 Belshaw

Fallowfield

Jones ■

Lawlor

Hall

Falkingham

Tue 24

Mansfield Town

1-0

12 Belshaw

Fallowfield

Jones ■

Burrell

Hall

Falkingham

Sat 28

Blackpool (R2)

0-4

Burrell ■

Hall

Lawlor

Lokko ■

Falkingham ■

Belshaw

DECEMBER Tue 1

Scunthorpe United

2-5

15 Belshaw

Kirby

Burrell

Lawlor

Hall ●

Falkingham

Sat 5

Forest Green Rovers

0-1

410

17 Belshaw

Fallowfield

Burrell

Lawlor

Hall

Falkingham

Sat 12

Morecambe

0-1

17 Belshaw

Fallowfield

Burrell

Lawlor

Hall

Falkingham

Tue 15

Exeter City

2-1

1,559

17 Belshaw

Fallowfield

Burrell

Lawlor ■

Hall

Falkingham

Sat 19

Salford City

0-1

495

17 Belshaw

Fallowfield ■ Burrell ■

Lawlor

Hall

Francis

Sat 26

Oldham Athletic

2-1

16 Belshaw

Fallowfield

Lawlor

Hall

Francis

Burrell

JANUARY Sat 9

Cambridge United

1-2

18 Belshaw

Roberts ■

Burrell ■

Lawlor

Hall

Francis

Tue 19

Exeter City

0-0

18 Belshaw

Williams

Burrell ■

Lawlor

Hall

Falkingham

Fri 22

Salford City

2-2

18 Belshaw

Williams

Francis ●

Lawlor

Hall

Falkingham

Tue 26

Tranmere Rovers

2-3

20 Belshaw

Francis

Burrell

Lawlor

Hall ■

Falkingham

Sat 30

Newport County

2-1

20 Belshaw

Francis

Burrell ■

Lawlor

Smith

Falkingham Falkingham

FEBRUARY Sat 6

Crawley Town

3-1

14 Belshaw

Francis

Burrell

Smith ■

Hall

Tue 9

Cheltenham Town

0-1

15 Belshaw

Francis

Burrell

Lawlor

Hall

Falkingham

Tue 16

Carlisle United

1-0

12 Belshaw

Francis ■

Burrell

Smith

Hall

Falkingham

Sat 20

Scunthorpe United

1-3

15 Belshaw

Francis

Burrell

Smith

Hall

Falkingham

Tue 23

Mansfield Town

1-0

13 Belshaw

Francis

Burrell

Smith

Hall

Falkingham ■

Sat 27

Grimsby Town

1-0

12 Belshaw

Fallowfield

Jones

Smith

Hall

Kerry

Tue 2

Barrow

1-0

Belshaw

Fallowfield

Jones

Smith ■

Burrell

Kerry ■

Sat 6

Stevenage

0-1

Belshaw

Fallowfield

Jones

Smith

Burrell

Kerry

Tue 9

Colchester United

3-0

10 Belshaw

Fallowfield

Jones

Smith ●

Burrell

Falkingham ■

Sat 13

Forest Green Rovers

1-2

Belshaw

Fallowfield

Jones

Smith

Burrell

Falkingham

Sat 20

Morecambe

0-1

13 Belshaw

Fallowfield

Jones ■

Smith

Hall

Falkingham

Sat 27

Southend United

W 15:00

Fri 2

Walsall

W 15:00

Mon 5

Port Vale

W 15:00

Sat 10

Bolton Wanderers

W 15:00

Tue 13

Leyton Orient

W 19:00

Sat 17

Bradford City

W 15:00

Tue 20

Oldham Athletic

W 19:00

Sat 24

Carlisle United

W 15:00

Fri 30

Cambridge United

W 19:00

Cheltenham Town

W 15:00

MARCH

APRIL

MAY Sat 8

KEY:

TOWN SCORE SHOWN FIRST ● Goal /  Penalty /  Own Goal

SUBSTITUTES Kerry ●

Thomson

Walker

Martin

Muldoon

Stead (73), Beck (82), Emmett, Kiernan, Kirby, Lokko

Kerry

Kiernan ●

Walker

Stead

Muldoon

Martin (58), Beck (64), Thomson (75), Falkingham, Emmett, Hall

Kerry ●

Thomson

Beck

Martin ● ■

Muldoon ● ●

Stead (58), Walker (75), Jones, Kirby, Lokko, Minter

Kerry

Thomson

Beck

Martin

Muldoon

Stead (61), Jones (63), Kirby (79), Kiernan, Walker, Lokko, Minter

Kerry

Thomson

Beck

Martin ●

Muldoon ●

Stead (71), Jones, Kirby, Walker, Lokko, Minter

Kerry ■

Thomson

Kiernan ■

Martin

Muldoon

Beck (70), Kirby (80), Stead (90), Lawlor, Lokko, Walker, Minter

Kerry

Thomson

Beck

Martin

Kiernan

Stead (65), Kirby (76 ■), Walker (80), Jones, Lokko, Minter

Kirby

Thomson ● ■

Beck

Martin

Miller

Kiernan (56), Walker (69), Stead (75), Burrell, Kerry, Cracknell

Kerry

Emmett

Kiernan ●

Stead ●

Walker

Miller (79), Martin (87), Fallowfield, Falkingham, Beck, Hall, Cracknell

Kerry ●

Thomson

Miller

Stead

Muldoon

Martin (80), Kiernan (82), Jones, Kirby, Walker, Cracknell

Kerry

Thomson

Miller

Stead

Muldoon ●

Kiernan (66), Martin (72), Jones, Kirby, Walker, Cracknell

Kerry ■

Thomson ■

Miller

Martin

Muldoon ● ●

Kirby (75), Kiernan (84), Stead (90), Jones, Walker, Cracknell

Kerry

Thomson

Miller

Martin

Muldoon

Stead (37 ●), Kiernan (57), Jones (82), Kirby, Walker, Cracknell

Kirby

Thomson

Miller

Stead

Muldoon

Kiernan (63), Beck (70), Walker (78), Jones, Lokko, Cracknell

Kerry ■

Thomson

Kiernan

Martin

Muldoon

Kirby (40), Beck (85), Stead, Walker, Lokko, Cracknell

Kerry

Thomson

Kiernan

Martin

Muldoon

Walker (70), Stead (75), Lokko (90), Emmett, Beck, Cracknell

Kirby

Walker

Miller ●

Beck ●

Muldoon

Thomson (64), Kiernan (64), Martin (69 ●), Jones, Lokko, Cracknell

Kerry

Kiernan

Beck

Martin

Walker

Thomson (59), Stead (78), Falkingham, Muldoon, Miller, Hall, Belshaw

Kerry ■

Thomson

Walker

Kiernan

Muldoon ●

Martin (45), Jones (76), Kirby (76), Stead, Beck, Cracknell

Kerry

Thomson

Kiernan

Martin

Muldoon

Burrell (45 ■), Stead (60), Kirby (60), Walker (84), Lokko, Cracknell

Kerry

Thomson

Miller ●

Beck

Muldoon

Kiernan (67), Martin (82), Lawlor (88), Kirby, Walker, Cracknell

Kerry ■

Thomson

Miller ■

Beck

Muldoon

Kiernan (63), Kirby (88), Fallowfield, Stead, Martin, Cracknell

Kerry

Thomson

Miller

Beck

Muldoon ●

Kiernan (45), Martin (68), Stead, Cracknell

Kirby

Thomson

Kiernan

Martin

Muldoon

Beck (90), Kerry, Stead, Miller, Lokko, Cracknell

Kirby

Thomson

Kiernan

Martin

Muldoon

Stead (80), Beck, Kerry, Miller, Lokko, Cracknell

Kirby

Thomson

Kiernan ●

Martin

Muldoon ●

Francis (59), Miller (83), Stead, Kerry, Lokko, Cracknell

Kirby ■

Thomson

Kiernan

Martin

Muldoon

Kerry (73), Miller (85), Stead, Lokko, Cracknell

Kirby

Thomson ● ●

Kiernan

Martin

Muldoon

Falkingham (72), Kerry (90), Miller, Stead, Lokko, Cracknell

Kirby

Thomson

March ■

McPake

Muldoon ●

Williams (54), Falkingham (65 ■), Kerry (65 ■ ■), Stead (82), Hondermarck (82), Minter

Francis

Thomson

Kiernan

Martin

Muldoon

Fallowfield (76), Kirby (79), March (83), McPake, Hondermarck, Minter

McPake

Thomson

Kiernan

Martin

Muldoon ●

Power (74), March (74), Hondermarck, Kirby, Lokko, Minter

McPake ● Thomson

Kiernan

Martin

Muldoon

Power (60), March (60 ●), Hondermarck, Kirby, Williams, Minter

Power

Thomson

March ● ■

Martin ●

McPake

Muldoon (86), Hondermarck, Kiernan, Kerry, Williams, Minter

Power ●

Thomson

March 

Martin ●

McPake ■

Lawlor (70), Muldoon (73), Kerry (73), Andrews (89), Kiernan, Minter

Power

Thomson

March

Martin

McPake

Muldoon (75), Fallowfield (75), Andrews (89), Kerry, Kiernan, Minter

Power

Thomson

March 

Martin

McPake

Beck (72), Lawlor (76), Kerry (84), Muldoon, Kiernan, Minter

Power

Thomson

March 

Martin

McPake

Beck (70), Muldoon (88), Kerry, Lawlor, Kiernan, Minter

Power

Thomson

March

Martin ●

McPake

Kerry (63), Jones (71), Muldoon (76), Beck (76), Fallowfield, Minter

Power

Thomson

March

Martin

McPake

Burrell (68), Beck (68 ●), Muldoon (68), Falkingham (81), Francis, Minter

Power

Thomson

March

Beck

McPake

Muldoon (63 ●), Falkingham (63), Martin (63), Francis, Lawlor, Minter

Power

Thomson

Muldoon

Beck

McPake

Falkingham (63), March (72), Martin, Francis, Lawlor, Minter

Kerry

Thomson

March

Beck ●

McPake ●

Muldoon (23), Francis (68), Kiernan (68), Martin (63 ■), Lawlor, Minter

Francis

Thomson

Muldoon

Beck

McPake

Martin (56 ■), Kiernan (56), Hall (56), Williams (80 ●), Lawlor, Minter

Power

Thomson

Muldoon

Martin

McPake

Beck (75), Kiernan (87), Burrell, Francis, Williams, Minter

Saturday 27th March 2021 Fixtures Exeter City v Salford City Forest Green Rovers v Bolton Wanderers Carlisle United v Cambridge United Colchester United v Bradford City Crawley Town v Port Vale Grimsby Town v Walsall 1st sub / 2nd sub / 3rd sub / 4th sub / 5th sub; ■ Yellow Card / H* At Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster

Harrogate Town v Southend United Leyton Orient v Oldham Athletic Morecambe v Cheltenham Town Newport County v Scunthorpe United Stevenage v Barrow Tranmere Rovers v Mansfield Town

Second Yellow Card / ■ Red Card

SQUAD & MANAGEMENT TEAM

FIRST-TEAM PLAYING SQUAD N O

IN A PT A C

IN N A LO

James

Ryan

Belshaw

Dan

Fallowfield

Josh

Jones

Will

Falkingham

Warren

Burrell

Smith

IN N O N A LO

George

Thomson

Brendan

William

Connor

Kiernan

Aaron

Beck

Hondermarck

Mark

Jake

Martin

Jon

Kirby

Lloyd

Stead

Joe

Lawlor

Kerry

Jack

Cracknell

Connor

Hall

Muldoon

IN N O N A LO

Josh

Francis

Melvin

March

Kevin

Minter

Lokko

N O

Roberts

N A LO

Mitchell

N O

McPake

Jay

Williams

Josh

Simon

Power

Josh

Andrews

MANAGEMENT TEAM

Simon

Weaver MANAGER

Paul

Thirlwell

ASSISTANT MANAGER

Phil

Priestley

GOALKEEPER COACH

Lee

Rachel

CHIEF SCOUT

HEAD PHYSIO

Barraclough

Davis

Proud to support Harrogate Town Football Club

Call 01423 524 322 or visit www.howardmatthews.co.uk 39

HELPING FAMILIES ENJOY FOOTBALL AT HOME The ‘homemade waste pipe goal’. Waste pipes, push-fit knuckle bends and some barrier fencing. It doesn’t seem like much, but sometimes it’s all you need to transform your garden into a proper footy pitch.

OFFICIAL TRADE & HARDWARE RETAIL PARTNER

For the latest news and to share your match day experiences, follow…

EFL

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EFL

NEXT UP FOR TOWN AT HOME

Po rt Vale

Ryan Fallowfield challenges Devante Rodney (Vale’s top scorer) in the reverse fixture in September

Monday 5th April 2021 Sky Bet League Two, 3pm

Overall it has been a fairly disappointing season for Port Vale. At the end of October, the Valiants sat in the play-off positions and things were going well for one of the pre-season favourites, but a disastrous November in which they lost all five of their league games and then just five wins since, has seen them drop to 19th position in the table (at time of going to print). The curtain came down on John Askey’s tenure early in January, with Danny Pugh taking interim charge and David Flitcroft becoming Director of Football before Darrell Clarke was brought in as manager from Walsall on 15th February. After two draws and a loss, Clarke picked up his first win against Newport County a couple of weeks ago and then followed that up with a win at Colchester last weekend. With the play-offs realistically out of reach and relegation extremely unlikely, Clarke will

be keen on preparing for next season and ending the campaign in a more respectable position than the one five wins since November has left them in. In the reverse fixture at the end of September, Town came away from Vale Park with a very creditable 0-0 draw against a team that had won their first two league games and were the early pace-setters with Cambridge United.

ORDER YOUR PRINTED MATCHDAY PROGRAMME FROM THE CLUB SHOP TODAY

ON THE ROAD

Walsall

Friday 2nd April 2021 Sky Bet League Two, 3pm It has been a strange season for Walsall initially having held the country’s longest unbeaten league run until the end of October. Stretching back into last season, the Saddlers had managed 13 league games without defeat going back to February 2020. But since beating Port Vale 4-3 on December 19, Walsall have just one win in the last 17 games (at time of going to print), which has seen them drop from promotion hopefuls around Christmas to looking over their shoulders at the wrong end of the table. Brian Dutton became Walsall’s head coach in February 2021 after Darrell Clarke joined Port Vale. After relegation from League One in 2019 ended a 12-year stay in the third tier, the highlight of which was a third-place finish in 2015-16 that culminated 42

RELIVE OUR FIRST EFL HOME GAME

in a play-off semi-final defeat, the Saddlers finished 12th last season and hopes were high that they could challenge for promotion this season. The reverse fixture was Town’s first ever ‘home’ game in the Football League, although it was played at Doncaster Rovers’ Keepmoat Stadium, and ended in a 2-2 draw. Rory Holden 4th-minute opener was cancelled out by Aaron Martin in the 32nd minute before Jack Muldoon gave Town the lead 10 minutes later only for Josh Gordon to score a late 81st-minute equaliser, following in on his penalty that was initially saved by Joe Cracknell.

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Being a long standing Harrogate based company, Cardale Asset Management has been associated with Harrogate Town AFC for many years as a proud supporter and sponsor. Our CEO, Richard Whiteley, is also a regular attendee at the stadium. Here at Cardale Asset Management we believe it is very important for the business to be part of, and support, the local and extended community. Cardale is delighted to be part of Harrogate Town’s success and long may this continue.

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HARROGATE TOWN

SOUTHEND UNITED

1 James Belshaw 2 Ryan Fallowfield 3 Dan Jones 4 Josh Falkingham c 5 Will Smith 6 Warren Burrell 7 George Thomson 8 William Hondermarck 9 Mark Beck 10 Aaron Martin 12 Jake Lawlor 13 Joe Cracknell 14 Brendan Kiernan 15 Connor Kirby 16 Jon Stead 17 Lloyd Kerry 18 Jack Muldoon 20 Connor Hall 22 Ed Francis 24 Josh March 25 Melvin Minter 26 Kevin Lokko 27 Jay Williams 28 Josh McPake 29 Mitch Roberts 30 Simon Power 31 Josh Andrews

1 Mark Oxley 2 Elvis Bwomono 3 Nathan Ralph 4 Alan McCormack 5 Shaun Hobson 6 Tyler Cordner 7 James Olayinka 8 Timothée Dieng 9 Simeon Akinola 10 Brandon Goodship 11 Terrell Egbri 12 Tom Clifford 13 Harry Seaden 14 Rob Howard 15 Lewis Gard 16 Harry Phillips 17 Reeco Hackett-Fairchild 18 Emile Acquah 19 Eren Kinali 20 Ashley Nathaniel-George 21 Matt Rush 23 Greg Halford 24 Jason Demetriou 25 Michael Klass 26 Harry Lennon 32 Louis Walsh 27 Harry Kyprianou 42 Sam Hart 28 Kyle Taylor 44 Nathan Ferguson 29 Jacob Mellis 48 John White c 30 Ricky Holmes 50 Nile Ranger

MANAGER: Simon Weaver

NEXT HOME

MANAGER: Mark Molesley

MATCH OFFICIALS Referee: Leigh Doughty

NEXT AWAY

Assistant Referees: Robert Merchant / Craig Taylor

PORT VALE

Fourth Official: Shaun Hudson

SKY BET LEAGUE TWO MON 5 APRIL - 3PM

WALSALL

SKY BET LEAGUE TWO FRI 2 APRIL - 3PM

O U R PARTNE RS

Harrogate’s Number 1 Family Estate Agent

HARROGATE STEEL DESIGN

M A N U FAC T U R E

I N S TA L L

Issue 21 - Harrogate Town vs Southend United

Articles inside

This Week in Town’s History

Community Foundation

The Opposition: Southend United

The Ex-Files

Player in Focus: Jay Williams

From the Board

From the Skipper