On The Road
THE FAMILY-RUN CLUB THAT’S CHANGING THE OLD FOOTBALL ORDER IN NORTH YORKSHIRE
For decades it was the Steel City derby that fixated the Weaver household. Now there is a new show in town.
on Saturday, Irving Weaver, a Sheffield Wednesday supporter with half a century’s service, and son Simon, a former Hillsborough trainee, were at a teeming Wetherby road to see the first competitive meeting between their adopted club Harrogate Town and York City. Harrogate claimed bragging rights to maintain their position as surprise early pacesetters in National League North, 11 points ahead of York, a club yet to check the momentum of consecutive relegations.
The Weavers’ Harrogate success story is not one scripted overnight. It was seven years ago this November when Bill Fotherby, the former Leeds chairman, relinquished control of the club and Weaver senior — a housing developer with a £145million fortune — chuckles that he was ‘in the wrong place at the right time’.
Simon Weaver was just two years into management, and needed a break, when his dad became his chairman.
‘He’s been in business a long time, worked ever so hard, and fought through recessions, and he didn’t want to throw money at it without having a plan for sustainability,’ said Weaver junior.
‘I feel I owe him so I work my socks off for him. Hopefully I am starting to repay the faith.’
The fatherson duo addressed the sustainability issue by altering the club’s infrastructure. New covered stands, partfunded by FA grants, meant more than their average 300 crowds could be sheltered in the event of inclement weather. other facilities were improved gradually. Last year, they shelled out £500,000 for a 3G pitch.
Harrogate went full time in the summer, training in the day and freeing up the pitch for evening hire, meaning it will pay for itself over three years.
York’s visit attracted 2,800: a record for a league match. The spectators included cricket commentator and Sportsmail columnist David Lloyd (right).
In addition to £30,000 in gate receipts, it offered the chance to ‘capture the hearts and minds of more locals’, according to the chairman.
The upgrade to fulltime actually saw a drop in the club’s wage bill as youth was targeted during summer recruitment. Their average wage is now £350 a week. Harrogate averaged three goals a game heading into the derby. But two were good enough to provide York with another kick on their way down. Jordan Thewlis won a penalty on the quarter hour that Joe Leesley smashed straight down the middle. Then, six minutes after the restart, Liam Agnew scored with a deflected shot. ‘You’re not famous any more,’ the home support taunted the York fans. It was 22 years ago this week that York, as a League one club, sauntered into old Trafford and defeated a Manchester United team including David Beckham, ryan Giggs and Phil Neville 30. ‘It was one of those nights that were hard to believe,’ said Paul Coultate, a 64yearold fan at both games.
York have been in steady decline ever since and their quest for League status in time for moving into their new councilbacked £ 40million stadium in two years’ time is already looking a long shot.
York’s manager is Gary Mills, the youngest winner of a European Cup medal with Nottingham Forest in 1980. Schooled by Brian Clough, Mills now preaches a more direct style.
York hit the post late on, but it was left to Harrogate’s players to celebrate a famous derby win — once they had mopped out the changing rooms and showers.