TALK OF THE TOWN
Harrogate resident Southgate is boss Weaver’s secret weapon
ALL that was missing as Gareth Southgate delivered a pep talk to the Harrogate Town squad was the England manager’s famous waistcoat.
It was a casually dressed Three Lions boss who gave the National League club’s players the shock of their lives as he strode unannounced into a team meeting.
As a local resident in the spa town more famous for tea rooms than football, Southgate (inset, far right) has struck up a friendship with Harrogate manager Simon Weaver (right).
Before the play-off semi-final against Boreham Wood, Weaver, who has been in charge of the North Yorkshire club since 2009, hatched a plan to use Southgate’s competitive knowledge. “I arranged for Gareth to turn up when we were at a local hotel,” he revealed. “I said to our physio Rachel Davis to get the players into a room for a supposed temperature test.
“That was a cover while I ushered Gareth through the hotel. The only disappointment was that he didn’t come in his waistcoat!
“He’s just a top guy and the players loved listening. It was a great insight. He talked about big occasions – after all, he’s played in a World Cup semi-final.
“My players are at Wembley, which can be nerve-racking. He explained that we all get nervous, we all have apprehensions.
“He talked about his penalty miss at Euro ’96, admitting he should never have taken one because he doesn’t like being on the first tee at golf. It was an eye-opener, really refreshing and a big help.”
It worked and Harrogate won 1-0 to set up today’s trip to Wembley to face Notts County.
“Gareth is genuine about his support for the club,” added Weaver. “He texted me last Saturday night, congratulating us on our semi-final win. It adds to the buzz.”
Victory for Harrogate would see them in the
Football League for the first time in their 106-year history and a fitting finale to a new BT Sport documentary about the club, Proud To Be Town, due to be shown in September.
The players and support staff travelled south last night, training en route, with Weaver saying: “We’ll have a few drinks after Wembley, no matter what, to bring some closure to our amazing journey.
“It’s not certain when the EFL season starts, but if we manage to beat Notts County, we’ll still be floating by the time it kicks off – whenever that is!
“My players would love to be known as Football League players.
“That would be some legacy.”