This Week in Town’s History

KEY MOMENTS FROM THIS WEEK OVER THE YEARS...

by Phil Harrison Club Historian

MARCH In 2010 Town 27 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 28

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.

MARCH In 1958 Harrogate welcomed 29 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 for the Rail. John McKewan

MARCH In 1996 Town travelled to Ashton United for 30 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. Ricky Greenough

In 1964

31 MARCH 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 McCain Stadium with Malcolm Ezard 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.

In 1929 the old 1 APRIL 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 target for the hosts. Currie Sam 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. 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.

APRIL 2

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