Momentum can take Harrogate even further
HARROGATE TOWN have a huge amount of work to do before their Football League debut five weeks on Saturday, but captain Josh Falkingham says the short turnaround will help the team.
The Sulphurites won Sunday’s Conference play-off final against Notts County.
While they will start life as a league club groundsharing with Doncaster Rovers because they have to replace their artificial pitch with a grass one which will need 10 weeks to bed in, the stepup holds no fear for a team in the sixth tier as recently as 2018.
In the 17 seasons since the Conference was awarded a second promotion spot, no newly-promoted side has gone straight back down and seven have gone up again in the first season.
“We’ve got the opportunity to go to League Two with a belief and a confidence,” said midfielder Falkingham. “I know it’s not been back-to-back (promotions) but it kind of feels like that, two promotions in three years, it really feels like we’re on a roll.”
The match was only Town’s second since March 7, and the Magpies will not play again until October 3, with the National League delaying their 2020-21 season until they hope a limited number of spectators are allowed into grounds.
“We didn’t want to be waiting a couple of months,” said Falkingham. “We were desperate to put the tough yards in, and go straight into that season. We’re just absolutely really looking forward to it.”
Wembley starters Falkingham, James Belshaw, Ryan Fallwofield, Warren Burrell, Lloyd Kelly and George Thomson played for Harrogate in Conference North but should not fear being cast aside according to manager Simon Weaver, who simultaneously became the league’s newest and longest-serving manager.
“Hopefully they’ve got the confidence to know it’s not so brutal here,” he said. “You’ve got to forgive them at times where there’s a mistake because it’s all part of learning. They’ve problem-solved themselves because they’re good, bright young men who have improved to such an extent they’ve earnt two promotions, so who am I to dramatically change that squad?
“It’s been a dream of mine to have the likes of Warren Burrell, Josh Falkingham, Lloyd Kelly and James Belshaw come out of parttime football and have their opportunity in the Football League.”