Southgate says hello Harrogate

GARETH SOUTHGATE sent Harrogate boss Simon Weaver a congratulatory text message to welcome the Football League’s new boys into the big time.

The England coach, who lives in the North Yorkshire spa town, gave the Sulphurites a pep talk before their National League play-off campaign.

And Harrogate completed a fairytale journey into the EFL for the first time in the club’s 106-year history with a stunning 3-1 win against Notts County at Wembley on Sunday.

Weaver (above) said: “Gareth knows everything about the club and he actually sent me a text message on Sunday night. I said to my wife, ‘Oh, it’s just Gareth Southgate – I’ll get back to him tomorrow!’

“But it’s an honour to get that from him, it’s brilliant.”