TOWN GO WITH THE NEW NORM
Covid chaos won’t derail us, says Hall
HAND SANITISER, oneway systems, temperature checks and sweaty car journeys home – Connor Hall is getting used to the new normal as Harrogate Town build towards the play-offs.
Town finished second in the National League on points per game and await the winners of Boreham Wood and FC Halifax Town in their home semi-final.
Hall, 27, says the Harrogate squad believe they could have won the title had the season been played out in full.
But now they’re back in training preparing to reach the Football League via the scenic route and defender Hall says Simon Weaver’s side are glad to be back on the training pitch – even if it’s meant learning the Covid protocols.
“To start with we obviously had to social distance so we had five in one half, five in the other half and we had to stay in our groups for the first two weeks,” Hall said.
“We have to enter the building one-way, hand sanitise when we get in, temperature check and then walk through to the pitch. We leave our stuff by the pitch, train and then straight after get back in our cars all sweaty – there’s no showers or anything like that! It’s strange but it’s been nice to be back with the boys and start grafting towards something.
Cautious
“The first week back was tough but it’s got to be like that. We’ve not got long to the play-offs and it’s going to be straight into the games but we’re looking forward to it. We’ve got a great chance and we’ll see where it takes us.”
The squad kept in regular contact throughout the hiatus and they held lockdown quizzes via Zoom. But Hall joked the questions are now being asked by the players to make sure they’re adhering to the rules.
“We’re constantly asking the physio can we do this, can we do that, are we allowed to put this in this bin?” Hall said. “After every drill we have to hand sanitise. Every time we go to the toilet it’s hand sanitiser before, hand sanitiser after. It’s a never-ending cycle but it shows how much work has to go in behind the scenes just to get us on the training pitch.
“We’re testing once a week and we’re trying to be cautious about where we go out, like not waiting in queues at shopping centres and places like that.
“The club have just said to us, ‘Be wise about it’. Because, at the end of the day, if one person brings it in then that massively interrupts preparations. If you’ve got two or three main players who test positive just because they’ve gone to the supermarket and they miss a game, it’s massive, isn’t it?
“It’s common sense, all the boys have got their heads switched on so hopefully we don’t have any problems.”
History
Hall, the former Biggleswade Town and Brackley Town defender, joined Weaver’s Harrogate last summer and he’s established himself in the backline.
He says the squad are feeling positive about their chances and he’s determined to keep playing his part as they chase history of getting the club into the EFL for the first time.
“I’ve loved every minute of it,” Hall said. “We’ve had loads of great wins, loads of successful performances. We had a little blip at the start of the season but other than that, as a team, we’ve been really good and really solid. We’ve scored loads of goals and won loads of games – it’s been really enjoyable playing with a group of lads who all want to do well and succeed.
“Since the day I walked through the door they said they think we can win the league this year and be in League Two next year. You think, ‘Every gaffer says that’, but you could quickly see they truly meant it.
“If the season went on for another two months, who knows, we might have won the league. It’s been a brilliant season – if we could finish it by getting promotion that would be the perfect season.”