I’m a BeWeaver SOUTHGATE BACKING TOWN LEAGUE PUSH
SIMON WEAVER reckons a pep talk from Gareth Southgate will inspire Harrogate Town to go all the way and reach the English Football League.
The Yorkshire minnows will get the chance to create history y today when they face Notts County y in the National League play-off ff final at Wembley.
The club was languishing in the depths of the sixth tier of English football when Weaver took charge in n
2009 – but barely a decade de later find themselves on the brink of League Two for the first time.
Weaver’s name will be cemented into Harrogate folklore if he can lead them to the promised land and raise the profile of a club which just happens to be owned by his dad, property magnate Irvine Weaver.
Promotion would put Harrogate on the sporting map and make it famous for something other than Betty’s Tea Rooms, quaint streets, historic houses and the Turkish Baths.
But Weaver will never be the most famous manager in the spa town. That accolade belongs to England boss South Southgate, who is a friend of We Weaver’s and visited the club b before their semi-final win over Boreham Wood to speak to his squad.
Weaver (left) admits the in inspirational visit has left his sta stars ‘floating on air’ and riding the crest c of a wave he hopes will take them to promotion.
He said: “I dropped Gareth a line on the off-chance he would be free and could come down and surprise the lads with a chat.
“He was brilliant to be fair – not all high and mighty.
“It helped break up the week. We’ve been progressing well, but I thought it would be something out of the norm.
“He’s not big-time. He answered some questions and it gave the lads a real lift.”