Stead’s relishing his big day at Wembley
JON STEAD had achieved plenty during a 17-year professional career before signing for Harrogate Town in the summer of 2019.
A former England Under-21 international, the veteran striker played and scored goals in the Premier League for Blackburn, Sunderland and Sheffield United, racking up more than 600 senior apperances across all of English football’s top four tiers.
He played a big part in helping hometown club Huddersfield get promoted out of League Two back in 2003/04 and was also a member of the 2015 Bradford City team who stunned Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea in the FA Cup.
One thing Stead had never managed prior to joining the Wetherby Road outfit was a Wembley appearance, and at 36 years of age he feared that the chance had probably passed him by.
That was until Harrogate secured themselves a National League play-off spot and set up a date with Notts County at the home of football this Sunday by beating Boreham Wood last weekend.
“I was worried that I was going to reach the end of my career having never played at Wembley,” the now-37-year-old said.
“When you get to 36, 37 you don’t expect to get those kind of chances, but a few months ago it looked as if we might be going twice [via the play-offs and in the FA Trophy].
“To then go from two potential Wembley trips to it looking like there’d be none because of the situation with the global pandemic was really disappointing, so really I’m just very grateful to actually get the opportunity.
“If I set foot on that turf on Sunday it will be a magical moment and I’ll cherish every second.”