Harrogate united in support for Town
Hundreds packed sports clubs, stadiums and pubs to watch Harrogate Town’s televised FA Cup match this week.
Town lost their second round replay match at Hastings United, eventually bowing out of the competition after losing a penalty shootout.
The game finished 1-1 after extra-time was played, and Hastings won the shootout 5-4.
The cup run marked the furthest Town have ever been in the competition.
Across the district, people turned out to watch the match, which was beamed out live as far as Australia and the USA.
Around 200 people watched at Town’s Wetherby Road ground, and the match was also shown at the grounds of Knaresborough Town and Harrogate Railway.
The Harrogate Advertiser was at Wetherby Road to catch the reaction to Tom Platt’s 90th-minute eqauliser.
350 people piled into the Alexandra pub in Harrogate town centre to take in the big match atmosphere.
Manager Laurence Shirley said: “It was packed out of the door.
“A lot of people came in anticipation of the match, and with it being the local club we kept the volume up.
“There were a few moments, such as when Town scored the equaliser in the final minute, where everyone went crazy for a while.
“The penalty shootout was nailbiting, you could feel it in the atmosphere, it could have gone either way.”
He added: “I knew it would be busy, because people weren’t going to travel south for it.
“People always want to show support for their local club.”
Town were back in action on Saturday afternoon, and 1,444 supporters took up the offer of free entry to the league match against Hinckley United, which Town won 5-0.
Manager Simon Weaver said: “People are talking about the club in the town now, and it was great to see so many young fans at the match on Saturday.
“We want to thank everyone who is watching us at the moment, there is a real buzz about the club.”
See this week’s Harrogate Advertiser for a match report and full reaction to the Hastings match.
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Weather for Harrogate
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 6 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: North west
