ABOUT
T WN ISSUE THREE SUMMER 2021
VIDEO FEATURES
INSIDE TRAINING OUR DAY AT WEMBLEY JON STEAD RETIRES EFL AWAY DAYS TOWN’S ACADEMY LAUNCH
PLUS WIN A REPLICA TOWN THIRD SHIRT
SEASON REVIEWS FROM THE GAFFER & SKIPPER Simon Power Joe Cracknell Mark Beck
Harrogate’s Number 1 Family Estate Agent
About Town I 1
Contents Summer 2021
5
I THE GAFFER’S SEASON REVIEW
VIDEO FEATURE
24 I JOE CRACKNELL PLAYER INTERVIEW
PLAYER INTERVIEW
29 I AWAY DAYS VIDEO FEATURE
13 I INSIDE TRAINING VIDEO FEATURE
30 I MARK BECK PLAYER INTERVIEW
14 I SIMON POWER PLAYER INTERVIEW
36 I A SPECIAL DAY - BOLTON AWAY VIDEO FEATURE
19 I JON STEAD CALLS IT TIME VIDEO FEATURE
38 I GOAL OF THE SEASON JOSH MCPAKE - BRADFORD CITY (HOME) VIDEO FEATURE
6 I
FALKS SEASON REVIEW
20 I THIRD KIT REVEAL & COMPETITION FA TROPHY FINAL
23 I CAT 4 ACADEMY LAUNCH VIDEO FEATURE
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W
elcome to the third edition of our quarterly online magazine, produced after what has been a first season in the EFL full of highs and lows.
This edition includes our review of the season, as told by Manager Simon Weaver and partially inspired by the recent #ProudToBeTown documentary. Filming in this style was a new experience for the media team and we would like to thank Simon for taking the time to tell this story with us, hopefully it gives an insight into the emotions within the camp throughout the season. Also included in the edition is the chance for supporters to win one of our new black third shirts. Internally we were excited at the prospect of launching this new kit simultaneously with them being revealed at the first time at Wembley Stadium. The social media ‘blackout’ over our Wembley weekend may have reduced the impact of the launch somewhat, but we were still happy with how the launch went and hopefully supporters were impressed by the end product. Although our season was effectively done and dusted, our final day of the season trip to Cheltenham was special for the fact it was Jon Stead’s 700th and final professional appearance. It was an honour to be present for this moment and this edition features an emotional post-match interview with the man himself. With supporters unable to attend the majority of fixtures in the season just gone, we relaunched our ‘away days’ videos to try and give fans at home a taste of some of the grounds we have visited. Make sure you give these a watch and fingers crossed you’ll be there with us to experience them in person next season.
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Hal
Hal Boxhall-Dockree Media Manager - Harrogate Town AFC
Harrogate Town Football Club The Envirovent Stadium, Wetherby Road Harrogate, HG2 7SA Tel: 01423 210600 Email: enquiries@harrogatetownafc.com
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BOARD Chairman Vice Chairman Managing Director Directors 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 Ticket Office Manager: Hamilton Mattock Community Development: Iain Service Tom Blackburn Youth Development: Josh Falkingham Josh Walsh Child Welfare & Safeguarding: Dave Riley Supporter 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 MEDIA Media Manager: Hal Boxhall-Dockree Media Assistants: Brody Pattison Danny Pugsley Henry Whitaker Photographer: Matt Kirkham Designer and Programme: Rich Saltmarsh PA Announcer Alan Tootill
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4 I About Town
V ID EO FE
OUR FIRST SEASON
TU A R E
AS TOLD BY SIMON WEAVER
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6 I About Town
THE SKIPPER’S
SEASON REVIEW
Prior to our final home fixture against Cambridge United fixture, Josh Falkingham reflected on what has been a rollercoaster ride in our maiden year as a Football League club. Interview by Henry Whitaker THE YEAR THAT WAS 2020 won’t ever be forgotten and for me, and how it ended playing out for the football club, the euphoria and absolute buzz of getting promoted was a moment we’ll never forget. An amazing couple of weeks followed and we all felt on cloud nine. Sometimes I’d sit down and just have a minute to think about it all. It just makes me smile, even right now as I’m writing this it gives me such a good feeling, it was just a brilliant period for everyone involved with the club. There was about two or so weeks away from football before we were back in for pre-season but it felt like we only had a week off, the downtime just went in a snap. It was a week to enjoy what we had achieved but the second week was us starting to focus on returning to training the following Monday. We knew it was going to be difficult and we didn’t want it to start slowly, we wanted to continue the buzz and excitement. Heading into preseason, it felt like our second of the year as when we returned for the National League playoffs, we put absolutely everything into that 6-8 week period. It was full-on and looking back, I don’t think we ever felt like we got a true break to switch off before life in the Football League began. Saying that, the short break did allow us to come back full of confidence, momentum and
have that feeling that no matter who we played, we could win. We wanted to start fast and we did that in the best fashion. It was on Saturday 5th September that our Football League journey began and it came in the Carabao Cup against Tranmere Rovers. It was a new competition for us, a new quality of opposition and the first of many new stadiums we’d visit throughout the season. We took that game seriously and got a fantastic result. I think we probably deserved to win that game within the 90 minutes but it went to penalties and we managed to win. I won’t let anybody forget that as it was my penalty which sealed it and I did not take penalties! Just a few days later at Southend, we couldn’t have started life in League Two any better. It was an unbelievable start to go away from home and put four goals past a club that has been a Football League Club for decades. We just weren’t phased or worried by the occasion or the attention on us. We just took it in our stride and we were unbelievable that day. For the build-up and everything going around it, it was the perfect start. September was a crazy month and another memorable occasion followed four days after our first League Two win, as we travelled to the West Midlands to face Premier League side West Brom in the second round of the Carabao Cup. We were in front of the Sky Sports cameras About Town I 7
An opening day 4-0 win at Southend was the perfect start to life in League Two
for the first time and it felt like the whole world was watching. It was great to play in that stadium against Premier League opposition and we could take a lot of credit from that game in what was another massive moment for the club. We just wanted to make ourselves, the club, and most importantly, our supporters proud. We went there with no pressure for a result but the club was in the spotlight and we wanted to put in a good performance. I think we did that and it took three great goals to knock us out of the competition. That game makes me think back to when I first joined the club in 2017. I remember me and the Gaffer spoke about the plan and the first step was to get promotion out of the National League North. We all wanted to play higher and the conversation followed to ‘how far can we go?’. It’s not been a fluke to get to this stage. It’s been a lot of hard work and it’ll continue to be pushing forward. I always say it - standing still and taking a step sideways or back, it’s a recipe for disaster. Four years ago when I joined, if someone had asked me whether I thought we’d get these types of games in 2021, although the question may have surprised me at first, I think my answer would be yes. It’s where we wanted to go and we wanted to get better and still do now. 8 I About Town
Those first two weeks of the season were historic and they set the standard. By the time September ended, we’d played our first ever Carabao Cup game, our first ever League Two game and remained unbeaten in the league for that month. We then ended September by securing our second trip to Wembley for the FA Trophy final, having beaten Notts County. It was a hectic month but we had so much belief within the dressing room and when things do go well, it does make you feel like you can beat anybody. We knew how hard it would be going to Notts County but to go to Wembley again was an opportunity we didn’t want to miss out on. Writing this having not even played the final yet, just shows how mad and crazy a year it’s been. Moving into October and our second month in the Football League, two games stand out to me and one of them is the away win against Bradford City. I think I’d say it was one of my favourite results this season. I’ve always been one of those lads who loves a derby game. There’s something about them that makes you want to make sure that you walk away with the win, no matter what. When I first joined, York City was the derby game and then Halifax and Hartlepool became the local games.
Playing at West Brom in the Carabao Cup was another huge moment for the club
from the end of October until November where we really struggled to pick up wins in the league. It started against Colchester and then continued for seven games. After the first couple defeats, I think the general feeling was that it was OK to not win every game but then we kept dropping points and we hadn’t really had that before. There is no doubt it was a difficult period for us as no one wants to be a part of results that don’t go your way. That month or so was a big learning curve. I think the main lesson was realising how relentless every game in this division is. We were so high, to begin with, and then came crashing down with a string of poor results. It wasn’t good for anybody and was a harsh lesson for us to learn.
This season, the derby was Bradford and as a Leeds lad growing up watching Bradford against Leeds in the Premier League, knowing what their stadium is like and the size of the club, it was the game I looked for. The mindset was to come out of that game with three points. It was an all at it performance and 1 to 11, everybody had a top game. Lloydy [Lloyd Kerry] stuck the goal away well and made it a really good night. The next week saw us finally back in Harrogate for our first Football League game at the EnviroVent Stadium. It was another big moment after the club had put in so much effort to allow us to go get and promoted. We were desperate to get a result and it was quite fitting that we played Barrow, the side we came up into the Football League with. Obviously, before we could return to Harrogate we played a few games at Doncaster Rovers’ Keepmoat Stadium and I must say a huge thank you to everyone there who allowed us to play at their stadium. They have a fantastic facility and stadium where we could start our Football League journey. There’s no place like home though and although it was an empty EnviroVent Stadium, there was still a real buzz to be back home. We succeeded in getting the three points with Mullers scoring with a fantastic finish.
That one hit or moment where you switch off can kill you and it did to us several times. It was hard to rebuild that momentum and push through it, but we had to be strong and have the mentality that the next game was the only one that mattered and that it was a chance to turn it around. I’d also say that period felt like we were in between games for a long time. We had cup games thrown in between and it made it hard to put a run of good league results together. It felt stop-start and one step forward, two steps back. We know how vital momentum is and what two or three wins can do for the league position and confidence.
Lloyd Kerry celebrates scoring the winner at Valley Parade in front of the Sky cameras
Six League Two games had now been played and we were sitting quite nicely in 7th place in the table. What followed is what I call ‘the start of the rollercoaster’. We entered a period About Town I 9
Jack Muldoon scores the winner against Barrow in our first ever EFL home game at the EnviroVent Stadium
We then got a 1-0 win at Mansfield in late November and that was massive for us. The game before we lost 3-0 at Leyton Orient but had played quite well only for Danny Johnson to score a hattrick and completely change the game. We were 2-0 down out of nowhere and that scoreline is hard to turn around away from home in this division. I know people at home might see it differently but we didn’t see or feel that coming within the game. We knew going to Mansfield, the pitch was starting to turn and it wasn’t going to be a pretty night of football. It was a case where we needed to roll our sleeves up and get through it. We got that opening goal in the first half and hung on well. The mindset was so strong that night and I think that showed in the performance. That win was supposed to be the beginning of the turnaround but then we faced Blackpool in the second round of the FA Cup, a side who was going to do everything to get into the third round of the competition. We lost that tie 4-0 and the scoreline made it seem like a battering in the end. The last 20 minutes of that game left us so deflated but they were a strong side and it just ran away from us. The FA Cup game just came at the wrong time for us. With where our confidence and form was at, I think we needed a run of league games following 10 I About Town
the win at Mansfield to kick on. Again, it was one step forward, two back. Nonetheless, we still went into the next fixture against Scunthorpe United looking for a positive result but it turned out to be the worst result and performance of the season, in my opinion. It was a strange game and that wasn’t Harrogate Town Football Club. It was a freak performance, a freak result and simply not us. I remember thinking during the game ‘what’s going on?’ there was nothing we could do to stop it. It was a complete blip and we deserved the 5-2 beating. We just had to pick ourselves back up after that. As players, we just had to be so strong mentally and no that performance just wasn’t us. The next game was against Forest Green and it was a really important one for us as we saw the return of fans and I think that helped us put in a performance which was more like us. Although we lost the game, it was by fine margins. It was a strange feeling for us on that day, hearing the claps and hearing the roar. There were about 400 of you but it felt like 4000. It was fantastic to see so many familiar faces in the stands and hopefully, it was a little taste of what’s to come next season. December was a busy month and we had seven
The win at Mansfield was a massive moment for us. Mark Beck got the goal that night
We got some really positive results which catapulted us up the league table and it just showed what happens when you do put a run of wins together. Suddenly, you go from looking over your shoulder at the teams below, to having a chance of jumping into the playoff spots. Another huge boost came in January with the addition of some fresh faces. The Gaffer spoke to the whole group and said that once January arrived, he would strengthen the group. It’s what we needed. Game by game, it was taking it out of us and we needed freshness. The lads came in and fair play, they were bright, full of energy and gave us a buzz and boost. When you see that, it gives you that extra 10-15%.
games scheduled. We lost narrowly away to Morecambe and then three days later had the very tough task of going down to Exeter on Tuesday night, playing in front of a couple of thousand fans. Exeter had been scoring for fun so far in the season but we really had the bit between our teeth that night and put in a top performance to get the 2-1 result, it was just brilliant. Exeter was the furthest possible place to go on a Tuesday night but the club looked after us and put us up for two nights in the hotel. We felt a little added pressure to go and get a result as we owed the club for looking after us. You want to look after the people who look after you, that’s how this football club does it. The games kept coming at a crazy pace as we then hosted Salford at the EnviroVent in front of even more fans, and then just after Christmas, we got nine minutes of football against Carlisle before that game was called off due to a frozen pitch. We then had a period at the start of January where Covid was in some clubs and we had some bad weather. We had nearly two weeks without a game at one point, it felt like a mini-break from the hectic schedule. One game in three weeks made for a strange period. It all added to the carnage of the season. Games were being put back and instead of normally going into the second half of the season where we’d go back to just Saturday kick-offs, instead, we had a load of Tuesday games to come. I think in a weird way, it enabled us to turn a corner and go on a good run. That little, slight stop in action gave the bodies a chance to recharge. The legs needed a bit of a break.
We dug out a point with Exeter while down to 10 men and then got a last-minute equaliser against Salford, which I think allowed us to build some momentum. It allowed us to fight to where we wanted and believed we should be. We narrowly lost out to Tranmere but played well, and then got two big wins against Newport and Crawley. To go away from home and put three past a Crawley side which defeated Leeds in the FA Cup was a really good result. As we reached the end of February, we had a run of three games that were going to have a significant impact on the rest of our campaign. Although we had moved up the table, the teams behind us weren’t too far away. We faced Mansfield and Grimsby at home before travelling up to Barrow and we knew those three fixtures could create a big gap between us and our opponents. That was pressure. Three games, 10 days and nine points was the perfect outcome. Looking back, they were sixpointers. The pitches were struggling at this stage and the football wasn’t pretty but the fight, hunger and desire was higher than the opposition’s and that’s why we got the results. We were desperate for those wins and deserved them. We’ve since dropped back to the lower midtable positions but the point difference to the teams at the bottom is a lot more than what it was a month or two earlier. It was a big period in the season. Unfortunately, we’ve found ourselves on the wrong end of games against clubs in and around us. It was a frustrating period because I think that if we could have carried on getting results, About Town I 11
We travelled to Exeter for a Tuesday night game and came a way with a fantastic 2-1 win in front of a few thousand home fans.
who knows where we would have been. We gave ourselves that chance but didn’t take it.
When the summer comes, it’ll be a chance to rest, recoup and then get ready all over again.
In the last few games, the feeling is coming back to how it was at the start. It’s about grabbing onto the moments and having belief and confidence. It comes and goes, so when it does come around, it’s about holding onto it for as long as possible.
I’ll be expecting another intense campaign next season and the return of fans will add so much, even if it might feel a little strange, to begin with. It’s been a crazy season but we’ve still loved it. Hopefully, we can cap it off with a trophy win at Wembley and we’ll see you all cheering us on in the stands at the start of next season.
The home win against Bradford in mid-April which secured our safety was for you, the fans. The weather was nice and hopefully, everyone was watching that in the sun with a beer and you could enjoy it when the full-time whistle blew. It meant you could celebrate safety and hopefully get to see us playing again in the EFL next season. We have just two more league games to go plus of course the FA Trophy final which we’re all looking forward to. It’s gutting that none of you will be able to join us on Monday, it really is gutting. The reason why we were so buzzing when we won the semi-final was that we knew the FA was going to hold back and see if fans, family and loved ones could experience what we experienced last year.
Josh March opens the scoring from the spot in an important 3-1 win at Crawley
Unfortunately, it’s not to be but that’s life sometimes. We all have to deal with that and we can’t go into the game frustrated or feel sorry for ourselves. We need to be winners and have that mentality, you’ll rightfully expect that from us. As a football club, you want to win trophies, as a player you want to win trophies. You the fans, you want trophies and silverware. Everybody wants the opportunity to get that trophy and we’ll be doing all we can to make sure that happens. 12 I About Town
Celebrating at the final whistle after beating Barrow for a third win on the bounce.
V ID EO FE
INSIDE
TU A R E
As the season came to it’s conclusion, we were there to capture what the lads had been working on in training PRE CHELTENHAM TOWN
PRE CARLISLE UNITED
PRE BRADFORD CITY
PRE BOLTON WANDERERS
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SIMON
POWER With lightning-quick pace enough to frighten any professional footballer or reality TV star, Simon Power has had a promising start to his Town career, and at the age of just 22-years-old, this is only the beginning... Interview by Henry Whitaker BORN IN THE IRISH TOWN OF GREYSTONES, just south of Dublin, Power grew up with the dream many young Irish lads have, to make it across the water to play football in England. At a young age, he played for his local side Greystones United where Power first learned the fundamentals of the game and found enjoyment kicking a ball around a field. By 11-years-old, Power had moved onto St Joseph Boys who were a bigger team and played at the highest level for Power’s age group. Training 3-4 times a week, the intensity was increased for the youngster and since St Joseph Boys acted as a feeder team for English clubs, there were eyes on him. However, Power didn’t enjoy that intensity in his early teenage years and returned to Greystones before changing his mindset when he turned 16. “I realised I could potentially have a career when I turned 15/16 years-old,” Power explains. “I was starting to develop physically and my game was improving big time. It was something I definitely wanted to achieve and the help and praises of those around me encouraged me to pursue that. It’s every young Irish lad’s dream to get across the border and play in England.” At 16, Power joined Cabinteely FC which was another step up and the moment where he
started to get his head down and dedicate his time to becoming a footballer. The Irishman explains that in Ireland, most aspiring footballers get the move across to England at 16-years-old, so now was the moment to put everything into it. Power heard rumours that Premier League and Championship clubs were interested but unfortunately, nothing materialised and Power continued to play football in his home country. He admits that at this point he had “lost a bit of hope” as he says it’s rare to see youngsters over the age of 18 goes across to England and become a success. Nonetheless, Power powered on playing but this time with University College Dublin (UCD) and it’s where his career began to make important strides forward. Power was playing with the Irish national youth teams which gave him experience playing against better players as well as with them, West Ham midfielder Declan Rice being a standout name. It was the added motivation Power needed to keep his dream of playing in England alive. Now nearing 19 years-old, Power signed with a footballing agency and it led to scouts taking a keener interest in the winger. One of the clubs to show significant interest was Norwich City, as Power explains. About Town I 15
“While still playing for UCD, we won the final of the competition. I’m sure my agent got a scout to come to look at me in that game and it was one of the best I’ve played. I scored two, won the trophy and it was then that Norwich got in contact with me, along with a few other clubs.”
proud of myself to get there, it was just a dream come true to me.”
Power was set for a few trials with the first being Norwich. That one went ahead and the winger impressed the Norwich hierarchy so much that they told him they wanted him to join as soon as the January transfer window opened. It meant the other trials were cancelled and Power signed for the East Anglian side in January 2018.
However, there was no time to stay like that as the hard work was just beginning. Power spent his first year with the Norwich under 23s side and it was all about focusing and developing to try to make it into the first team. With the standards set by Norwich, there was no room for disappointment or bad performances.
That childhood dream to play in England had now become reality.
In January 2019, Power had done enough to earn himself a loan move to Dutch side Dordrecht. Only a select few from the Norwich academy had been sent out to Holland, one being Todd Cantwell who’s now a regular in their first team.
“There was a range of emotions after I signed. I was relieved, excited and proud because I kept working hard and kept my head down behind the scenes.” Power continues, “I have to give Cabinteely and UCD a lot of credit as, without them, I wouldn’t have got the move to Norwich. They gave me the platform to showcase my talent. From being in a small town in Greystones, you rarely see people come out and make that move so I was immensely 16 I About Town
Power was now a professional footballer for the first time in his life and that first drive into Norwich’s training ground was a moment that left him “starstruck”.
Power’s loan move lasted six months and he found himself in and out of the team which just wasn’t enough. He returned briefly to Norwich before heading way up North to Ross County in July 2019, in what Power describes as “another culture shock”.
SIMON POWER
“It wasn’t a successful loan for me,” he admits. I injured my hamstring at the start of the season and I couldn’t get back into the team. On top of that, it’s about four hours north of Edinburgh and Glasgow which made it a difficult loan all round for me.” The unsuccessful move led to Norwich recalling the winger and he dropped down to the National League North before the end of January 2020. The loan move to Kings Lynn was an opportunity for Power to rebuild some confidence and form which had gone missing. Power admits that he was a “little reluctant” to move down to the division but didn’t really know what to expect. “It’s a drop from to Scottish Premiership to NonLeague but honestly though, I didn’t know what to expect. Once I actually got there, it wasn’t that bad at all. We had some really good players and did well. There would be success for Power and his teammates as a curtailed 2019/20 season saw Kings Lynn promoted to the National League on points per game. Power would return to The Linnets for the start of this season and found playing in that side allowed him to enjoy his football.
“The lads there were spot on and once I’m in a good dynamic, I thrive and play my best football. My style of play and pace was something Kings Lynn didn’t have and I brought some excitement for the fans. They really got behind me and when that happens, my confidence goes through the roof and it’s why I did well there.” Playing at that level put him on a stage that many Football League managers look at. It meant that when returning to Norwich, crunch talks were needed. “I wasn’t too sure where my future was,” Power admits. “I asked Norwich where I stood and they told me I wasn’t going to get a contract. It was a bitter pill to swallow at the time as I wanted to be a success there and make my way into the first team but it didn’t work out. On the plus side though, I had done really well at Kings Lynn so English Football League teams were wanting my signature. It’s a mad industry,” he adds. “I couldn’t have done much better with Kings Lynn but it just wasn’t enough for the people at Norwich.” January 2021 comes around and Power is now on the end of serious interest from sides in League Two. One of them was Harrogate Town, who had already done business with Norwich for the loan signing of midfielder William Hondermarck.
About Town I 17
With clubs to choose from, Power opens up that with his former teammate already in North Yorkshire, it aided his decision to sign for Town.
I’ve never experienced before. Once I played a few games and the lads saw what I could do, it helped to break the ice and settle in quicker.”
“I had other clubs in League Two looking at me but when I sat down with the people at Norwich they told me William Hondermarck was going to Harrogate and that helped as I know him and have played with him. I had a good few phone calls with the Gaffer and he explained what it was like with Harrogate and he said I’d get game time. They were looking for more youth in the team and with my attributes, he saw me as someone who could hurt a lot of teams in the league. It’s worked out perfectly, everything he has said has come true and it’s been the perfect move to come here.”
Powers move to Harrogate has been different from others in the fact that he’s signed during a pandemic when going out and taking in your new surroundings just isn’t the same.
Since arriving, Power has made eight appearances in total, scoring against Crawley Town and playing a huge part in an upturn in results for Simon Weaver’s side. The Irishman puts some of that strong start down to how easily he’s been able to settle and fit into the group. “I feel like this is the quickest I’ve ever settled into a club,” Power admits. “I’ve had numerous moves but the dynamic and buzz here is just something 18 I About Town
For the first few weeks, Power, along with the rest of Weaver’s new signings were all staying in a hotel and it meant that although there wasn’t too much to do, it allowed the new lads to bond. Power has now moved out of the hotel and into his own place, ready to knuckle down and help push Harrogate up the table. “I’m giving 100% each game and hopefully I can chip in with a few more goals and we can climb up the table as we have in the last few games. I’m extremely positive about the future with this team. From the few games I’ve played, they’ve all been top half teams and we’ve got a result from most of them. That can only fill me and the team with the confidence to kick on.”
V ID EO FE TU A
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E
Following our final fixture of the season, Jon Stead announced his retirement from the professional game. We caught up with the striker after his 700th and final career appearance.
R
AFTER 700 APPEARANCES STEADY CALLS TIME ON HIS 19 YEAR PRO CAREER
THIRD KIT We took the opportunity to reveal our new third kit for the upcoming 2021-22 season at Wembley Stadium as we lifted the 2020 FA Trophy.
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V ID EO FE TU A R E
WIN A NEW TOWN THIRD SHIRT
We’re giving readers of our online magazine the chance to win their very own replica third shirt! CLICK HERE TO ENTER OUR COMPETITION TO WIN A THIRD SHIRT About Town I 21
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V ID EO FE TU A R E
CAT 4 ACADEMY In April 2021 we announced the formation of a late development Category 4 Academy, allowing 16-18 year olds the opportunity to train full time with the club.
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Joe
CRACKNELL Hull-born and raised but now playing in the Football League with Harrogate Town, Joe Cracknell just loves Yorkshire. The goalkeeper has been a key part of Simon Weaver’s squad for the last four years and now, the 26-year-old tells us his story. Interview by Henry Whitaker CRACKNELL WAS BORN AND RAISED in the East Yorkshire port city of Kingston upon Hull and lived just a short walk away from the Tigers’ training ground and stadium. He was brought up a supporter of his local club and would go to the games with his dad, who would sit him on the barriers at Boothferry Park to give him the best possible view. A young Joe Cracknell witnessed Hull’s back to back promotions between 2003-2005 and was at Wembley in 2008 to see Dean Windass volley the ball into the top corner, which would earn Hull their first stint in the Premier League. By that year, Cracknell was already a part of Hull City’s academy set-up after being scouted during an indoor tournament at the age of 10 years old. From the very beginning, Cracknell loved being in goal, “diving around and getting in the way of the ball”. At the age of just 14 years old, Cracknell had already played for the reserve side against North Ferriby in what was a surprising moment for the keeper. “I rocked up expecting to be on the bench and all of the sudden they told me I was playing and it was a huge surprise,” Cracknell explains. “That was an early experience of men’s football and it was a bit of a shock and daunting, to be honest, being thrown right into the deep end.”
Cracknell vaguely remembers playing with now Leeds United captain Liam Cooper during his youth days and recalls more vividly seeing a young Ryan Fallowfield running around the Hull City training ground. “I tried to keep an eye on him the best I could and he was then as he is now, someone who has so much energy,” Cracknell says with a grin. The goalkeeper’s youth team competed at a good level and were involved in some big tournaments, including the Milk Cup in Northern Ireland. The Hull youngsters came up against Premier League academies and narrowly lost out to Chelsea on penalties in the knockout stages. His development was moving along nicely and the dream of becoming a professional began to seem “reachable”. At 16, Cracknell made the next step after signing a two-year youth scholarship and he was thrown straight into the action. The young goalkeeper had just finished school but suddenly found himself fast-tracked to the first team for a pre-season tour in Slovenia. However, Cracknell so nearly missed out on the trip, as he explains. “I started with the youth team on a Monday and then on the Tuesday afternoon, the youth team manager pulled me in and said the first team is going away and they want to go with me. I got home, told my mum and she was delighted About Town I 25
for me but gave me the news that my passport had expired. I had to travel up to Durham to get my passport on the Thursday and then flew out that Saturday.” Cracknell was now up in the mountains with the first team, being put through his paces in a gruelling pre-season camp. However, one of the main issues the Hull lad had was the lack of English TV channels in the hotel room. “I remember being sat in the hotel room with basically no English TV. I think we had the Euro Sport channel so watched the Tour de France. It was roasting hot in Slovenia so the training sessions were really hard work,” he goes on to add. “We had 4-5 different types of sessions a day. We’d be in the gym and doing lots of running at the earliest and latest points of the day. It felt like we just slept, trained and then repeated. I had gone from being an under-16 player to joining the first team. I was looking around seeing all these professionals that had been around for years. It made it such a good experience but also a strange one from being a Hull fan just watching to suddenly feeling a real part of the club.” 26 I About Town
Two successful years with the youth team saw Cracknell offered a pro deal at 18 years old. As a local lad from a family full of Hull supporters, it made for a very proud and happy Cracknell household. “It was a proud moment for my family to watch me go through the academy all the way up to the first team at our local club. It took me and my family back a bit and there was a bit of disbelief, to be honest.” Cracknell joined an experienced goalkeepers’ union of Allan McGregor, Steve Harper and Eldin Jakupović but it meant playing opportunities for the youngster were incredibly slim. The Hull keeper spent a lot of time playing for the reserve team before spending a month on loan with Scarborough Athletic. The next season he re-joined Scarborough on another loan but this time for the season and that allowed him to get a good amount of game time, something Cracknell thought was “important” to have at a young age. Unfortunately for Cracknell, no first-team opportunities with The Tigers then arose and at the
end of the season, he had a sit down with manager Steve Bruce who told him it would be best for him to move on. It was the news Cracknell didn’t want to hear. “It was deflating to leave as I’d been at the club for so long and progressed nicely through the ranks,” Cracknell admits. “My last day at the club was the day we got relegated from the Premier League so that was a tough time to leave. It then just hit me quickly and there were a lot of thoughts going on in my head about where I could end up next but fortunately, I moved on to Bradford and that settled me down.” Cracknell’s time at The Bantams began in the 2015/16 season under Phil Parkinson. The keeper was heavily involved with the first team but was the second choice and spent all his time on the bench. Nonetheless, in his first season, Bradford finished fifth in League One and came up against Millwall in the play-off semi-finals. The first leg saw The Bantams lose 3-1 at home, putting the Lions in control for the second leg and it led to a hostile atmosphere at The Den in which the two sides drew 1-1. “Being involved with that at Millwall’s ground was an interesting atmosphere,” Cracknell says. “By the time the referee had blown the full-time whistle, there were 5000 fans on the pitch and we raced down the tunnel. There were a few rushing down there, I included. In the first game, we set off quite well but it went from 1-1 after they scored a free-kick to 3-1. It got away from us really quickly. That campaign was my first time on the bench for a whole season and I felt a real part of that squad, it was just a shame that we fell short.” Unable to force himself into the starting XI come the start of his second season, Cracknell went on loan to National League North team Bradford Park Avenue for a month. The keeper made a handful of appearances before being recalled by The Bantams where he spent time on the bench and in the stands watching the League One side look for promotion. Stuart McCall was now the manager and when the season ended, Bradford had again successfully secured their spot in the playoffs. Victory over Fleetwood Town in the semi-finals set up the tie with, funnily enough, Millwall. It was a chance for revenge but the Yorkshire
side failed in their attempt, losing 1-0 to the Lions at Wembley Stadium. At the end of that 2016/17 campaign, Cracknell’s time at Bradford came to an end and he moved on to join Harrogate Town in their first season as a full-time club. “I remember coming on trial in the preseason and think I had a week at Notts County the week before,” Cracknell remembers. “I signed on the Friday, just in time for our first match of the season the following day.” Acting as Town’s number two keeper, Cracknell has featured predominantly in cup competitions, including last season’s FA Trophy in which he helped secure another date at Wembley for the club. The keeper also became the first goalie in Town history to play in the Football League, producing a heroic performance against Tranmere Rovers in the first round of the Carabao Cup. The two sides couldn’t be split after 90 minutes, leading to a penalty shootout in which Cracknell shone. “It’s something I look back on with really fond memories,” he says with a big smile. “I don’t remember another game where I’ve finished and seen so many messages pop up on my phone. It was a crazy time and the lads were so happy for me, I really enjoyed it. Playing in previous cup games, I’ve always seen it as an opportunity to show what I can do. I try to be reliable in my performances and the good run last season gave me confidence that when I did come into the team, I could play my game and enjoy it.” What followed was a string of strong performances in League Two, Papa John’s Trophy and the Carabao Cup - where Cracknell came up against Premier League side West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns. “For me, it went so quickly but I had a good run and some good results. There were some big moments for the club early on in the season and fortunately I was involved in them.” The return to full fitness of James Belshaw meant Cracknell’s time in the starting XI for league games was over and then just after Christmas, Cracknell suffered a freak knee injury while training. After leaping to catch a high ball, the goalkeeper let it pass him and he then landed awkwardly and found himself in agonising pain. About Town I 27
Scans revealed ligament damage and it would be three months before he could return to action.
only has positive things to say about his time at the club and being part of the GK’s union.
Before this, Cracknell had never been injured while at Harrogate and he was an ever-present in the matchday squad. Having that routine ripped up made for a frustrating period on the sidelines.
“You look back from joining the club in the Conference North to where we are now, a lot has happened in such a short space of time. For a lot of clubs, it can take years to get promoted. I’ve been fortunate to be part of the journey from the start and be a part of a great group. Our goalkeeping coach Phil [Priestley] is really good with us and speaks to us at the right times and we’ve got a good working relationship. It’s important it’s a close-knit group and Phil is a vital part of that.”
“It was tough not just physically but mentally as well,” Cracknell admits. “I was in a brace for the first six weeks and even going up the stairs at home was challenging. I was watching the games on the laptop and found it strange not being able to turn up to train with the lads for six weeks, it was hard.” The keeper began training in March and then returned to the matchday squad for the first time in 2021 against Bolton Wanderers. Being back on duty for the 3 o’clock was a moment Cracknell had been looking forward to. “It felt like a normal weekend again. I was excited to get up early, travel to the match and be a part of it again. It was a big moment for me.” Now in his fourth season with Town, Cracknell has been one of a core group of players to have been on this remarkable journey from the National League North to the Football League. Looking back on the success, the goalkeeper 28 I About Town
With a trip to Wembley on the horizon and Cracknell breaking into the starting XI against Bradford last time out, he’s hoping the opportunity to play at Wembley will come his way. “We’ll see what comes on the day. Of course, it’s in the back of my mind that now I’m back training, I can make sure I’m ready for that if called upon. The aim will be to make it a memorable day again. I’ll just keep cracking on, train how I am and just aim to play as much as I can. It’s a great squad, both staff and players, and I enjoy being a part of that. I’ll give it my all and hopefully, more opportunities will come my way.”
V ID EO FE TU A R E
AWAY
We have visited many grounds for the first time this season. We go behind the scenes for our first ever visits to Glanford Park, the Lamex Stadium and the New Lawn.
SCUNTHORPE UNITED 20.02.21
STEVENAGE FC 06.03.21
FOREST GREEN ROVERS 13.03.21
About Town I 29
30 I About Town
MARK
BECK
Mark Beck. Harrogate Town’s big man up top whose career has seen the heights of League One football and the lows of part-time action in the Conference North. Now back in the Football League after a seven-year absence, the Sunderland born striker tells his story... Interview by Henry Whitaker
EARLY FOOTBALLING MEMORIES for Beck are mainly him kicking a ball in his parents garden or house, “ruining the grass or breaking ornaments in the living room,” as he describes it. Born in the football-crazy land that is Sunderland, he grew up watching the Black Cats in the era of Nigel Quinn and Kevin Phillips playing up top, a partnership which scored a combined 194 goals in all competitions from 1997-98 to 2002-03. Not some bad role models to have... Maybe to the surprise of some, despite his height advantage, Beck wasn’t a striker until 15 years-old. Instead he played centre midfield for his local team Fulwell Juniors, a club he stayed with for 12 years. Beck was also never in any footballing academies and instead played for his school and the County Durham team. His path so far had never led him to think he would even get the chance to become a professional footballer and had plans to look down the route of becoming an architect. It all changed for Beck at the age of 16, as the big man explains.
“I was playing for Durham County boys against Cumbria and there was a scout from Carlisle United watching the game. I scored and got an assist in that and was then invited to a trial game with the under 16s in which I did well in and scored.” From there, Beck explains how things went from “0-100 real quick” as before he knew it, he had been offered a scholarship with the Cumbrian club. He was the first from that age group to be offered a scholarship despite only playing 60 minutes of football for the club. “A few of the academy lads thought it was outrageous,” Beck explains. “But at first, I had no clue how big a deal that was. I went looking around Brunton Park and it was just a whirlwind. I had never thought about becoming a footballer but suddenly the opportunity was in front of me.” Beck had started playing football for the fun of it to now having the chance to make a living from it. He signed his scholarship with the League One club in 2010 and was thrown straight into the action. For someone who had never been exposed to this environment before, Beck admits that he “struggled” during his first year and it led to talks About Town I 31
with his youth team manager Eric Kinder, who told him he was going to need a big second year to earn a professional contract. The striker recalls talking to his dad who told him it was going to be a “waste of the two years” if he wasn’t to make the most of this opportunity. Those words hit deep with Beck and at the start of his second year, the Black Cats fan hit the ground running. Goals were flying in from all directions and it even prompted the first manager Greg Abbott to take a keen interest in the forward. Beck’s development meant the Carlisle hierarchy wanted him to experience men’s football so they sent him out on a one month loan to Workington AFC in March 2012. Funnily enough, Beck then made his first senior debut against Simon Weaver’s Harrogate Town, albeit the club was very different back then to what it is now. “I don’t think I’ve ever told that story to anyone before,” Beck chuckles. “That was my first taste of men’s football and it was proper old school. Just men kicking lumps out of you. The few games I played were good though, I scored a goal in my few games.” Beck returned to Carlisle at the end of the month and because of an injury to a Carlisle striker, Beck 32 I About Town
was promoted up to the first team. He was now 18-years-old but still a scholar. The striker explains how previous players to have gone on loan to Workington had been offered a pro contract, so at the back of his mind, he knew something might come his way. However, he wasn’t resting on his laurels. He trained with the first team for the remainder of the 2011/12 season and ended up making his Football League debut coming on as a substitute at Brunton Park against Charlton Athletic, who needed to win to clinch the title. Beck remembers the exact moment he stepped on the pitch, in what he describes as another “whirlwind moment”. “It [the stadium] felt packed,” he admits. Charlton had brought loads of fans with them and it was ridiculous, it was so loud. When I came on I don’t think I even looked at the stands. Greg Abbot was in my ear telling me to tell someone to take a corner and that’s all I thought about from the second I came on. I ran on and looked straight at the guy who I needed to tell, I didn’t look around me at all. I had tunnel vision and just did what the manager said.” Carlisle went on to lose the game 1-0 but five days later, Beck was offered his first professional deal with the club. Beck explains how assistant
manager Graham Kavanagh took him and the other lads who were getting a contract for a training session. There were only four of them and they all looked at each other knowing they were the better lads out of the youth team. They trained in the morning and then were each individually pulled into Kavanagh’s office in the afternoon to give them the confirmation of the pro contract. Beck recalls Kavanagh saying that it was down to him to take the chance in the first team. The striker was now part of a good Carlisle set up with the likes of Harrogate Town assistant manager Paul Thirlwell (Thirs) leading the team. To the surprise of no one, Beck confirms that Thirs is the same now as he was just under 10 years ago. “Thirs was tough and scary,” Beck laughs. “He’d let you know if there was something up, just like he does now, to be honest. Coming through as a young lad, I wasn’t the finished article so I was still growing into my body and I was a bit sloppy. If a pass went astray in training, he’d be on me but not in a bad way. He’d just let me know the standards that were required. Relentless is the word to describe him, but in a good way.” Beck stayed in and around the first team during his debut year as a professional footballer and
made a handful of appearances for the Cumbrians. The big striker was used as an impact sub which surprised Beck, who at 18-years-old, didn’t think he’d get a sniff. “I kept coming on a lot 70th minute and that was ridiculous for me, I didn’t expect to be that involved straight away. I got my first start against Doncaster who I think won the league that year. I remember playing against Rob Jones, a big, bald centre back. I remember thinking this is proper men’s football now. He was a big, horrible, nasty defender.” Beck’s first goal came in the League Cup against Ipswich on 28 August 2012. The then-teenager scored a 90th-minute equaliser to take the game to extra time and he then set up the winner for teammate David Symington to cause a cup upset. “I keep saying whirlwind but it was another one of those moments. My mates and I who came through the youth team were buzzing after the game and went straight back to our digs and put Sky Sports News on to watch our goals back. We were waiting all night and we were buzzing when they came.” In the same season, Beck was also called up for international duty but not for England. He has a Scottish grandad who right now is very happy after
About Town I 33
set of lads. We finished third that season and got in the Championship play-offs which I scored in but we missed out on the final after Hamilton beat us in the second leg.” On his return to Brunton Park, Beck saw another change of management as Kavanagh was sacked and replaced by Keith Curle. The big striker was liked by Curle and was offered a new contract to stay with the Cumbrians. Beck then went on to make just short of 30 appearances in League Two during the 2014/15 season but hadn’t done enough to keep Curle happy and at the end of the season, he parted ways with Carlisle United. He moved onto Yeovil but Beck admits that the move “went bad”. The striker made just a handful of appearances and failed to hit the back of the net.
Rangers recently won their 55th Scottish league title. It meant the striker was eligible to play for Scotland and he was called up for the under 19 European Championships in 2013. Beck scored his first goal against Belgium in a group stage match and then came up against England number one Jordan Pickford in the same stage of the competition. Scotland failed to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition but Beck would then be called up for the under 21s side and sat in the stands with Andy Robertson as neither were able to break into the team. The Scottish left-back has gone on to have an alright career since... Early into the 2013/14 season, Abbott was sacked by Carlisle and Kavanagh took charge. As Beck was struggling to get a run of games together, he went north of the border, joining Falkirk on loan from January until the end of the season. “That was the first club where I got a consecutive run of games and I really enjoyed it there,” Beck says. “They’re a really good club and it was a good 34 I About Town
“I wanted to stay in the Football League. I was naive and thought I was a League Two player because as I had scored a few goals in League One and Two. Yeovil had just gone down from League One and I thought they’d be a good side still but it didn’t work like that. You don’t get a long period of chances in football and I didn’t play well or score any goals at Yeovil.” Six months after signing for Yeovil, Beck joined Conference side Wrexham on a six-month loan deal. However, the striker once again struggled and failed to score a single goal. It was a rough season for Beck as he was beginning to doubt whether he was good enough to continue as a full-time footballer. “That year was the worst I’ve had, football-wise,” says Beck. “It kicked my confidence not scoring. I didn’t want to be at Yeovil and they didn’t want me. I left by mutual consent and it was a weight off my shoulders as I meant I could go back home. I couldn’t wait to get away, to be honest.” Beck moved back up north and to Darlington, who were playing part-time football. Home comforts and the lower level allowed Beck to regain some confidence and form which boosted his 2016/17 season. The striker scored on his debut and went on to bag another 18 goals that campaign. His contributions helped Darlington finish in the playoffs but they were not able to partake as the
club couldn’t meet the regulations needed if they were to be promoted. Nonetheless, Beck started the next season with The Quakers but he wouldn’t be there for much longer. The striker was in talks with York City and so nearly signed for the Minstermen before a late swoop by Harrogate Town changed his mind. Town had recently turned professional and had started the season like a house on fire which Beck loved. He signed for Simon Weaver’s side in November 2017 and has been with us ever since. Beck has since made over 80 appearances and has more than 30 Town goals to his name. The Mackem man has also been part of both promotions from the National League North and the National League. When thinking about the last three years, Beck describes it as another “whirlwind” period. “If someone had said to me when I signed for Harrogate that I’d be in League Two in three years, I’d have said it’s ridiculous. I fancied us to get out the National League North but the Conference is a hard league. I never imagined doing what we have. Both promotions are obviously stand out moments,
as well as my first goal which was at Wrexham away. That was bittersweet because I didn’t score while with them but against them I scored two and put them out of the trophy. That was my first good memory with the club. Wembley was of course amazing and also my goal against Grimsby last month. It was my first one back in the Football League since October 2014.” For what the future holds for Mark Beck, this season is his main focus. The striker has had a torrid time with injuries as a hamstring injury has kept recurring. However, in recent weeks, Beck says he hasn’t felt the pain that was there for well over a season. “I just want to see this season out without any more injuries, touch wood. I’d like to get a few more games, a few more goals and hopefully help the team kick on for the playoffs. The aim at the start of the season was to stay up or finish mid-table but now the aim can be to push into the playoffs. If we can do that or next year look to strengthen again, we can kick on for playoffs for sure.” About Town I 35
SEASON
36 I About Town
V ID EO FE TU A R E
One of our final away fixtures of the season was a trip across the Pennines to play former Premier League side Bolton Wanderers, and we were there to capture it all...
MEET OUR SUPPORTER LIAISON OFFICER About Town I 37
GOAL
Congratulations to Josh McPake who pipped Jack Muldoon and George Thomson to win our Goal of the Season award. Here are the highlights from the game against Bradford City in which Josh’s wonder-strike sealed another season of EFL football for Town...
38 I About Town
V ID EO FE TU A R E About Town I 39
Harrogate Town AFC The EnviroVent Stadium Harrogate HG2 7SA
harrogatetownafc.com 40 I About Town
