Weaver's men travel to Celtic in attempt to reduce fixture backlog
HARROGATE Town boss Simon Weaver thinks their impending fixture crisis will invigorate his players instead of hampering their chances of Blue Square North survival.
Town haven't played since December 15 with their games against Farsley (home and away), Workington and Gloucester City all rescheduled for later in the season.
Stalybridge Celtic were due to visit the CNG Stadium tomorrow but despite valiant attempts to clear the pitch of ice and snow, Town will now head west to play the game at Stalybridge's Bower Fold ground, as they battle to ease some of the fixture backlog (1.30pm).
Tuesday night's hosting of Hinckley United is still scheduled to go ahead as planned (7.45pm).
Weaver's men still have 22 fixtures to squeeze into 14 hectic weeks, something the Town gaffer is relishing rather than worrying about.
"When I was at Ilkeston last season we were playing four games in a week at the end of the season," he said.
"We were playing Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday then Tuesday when we were going for promotion but it brought us together more and we actually went unbeaten over that run.
"I'm positive about it. I don't think it will be a bad thing for us, we've got the players here to cope with it."
Speaking to the York Press, general manager of the Blue Square League's governing body Dennis Strudwick said they currently have no plans to extend the current campaign beyond April 24.
York boss Martin Foyle had voiced his concern after their schedule was decimated by the cold weather, but Swarbrick has rebuffed any chances of a moving the scheduled finish.
"We don't have a crystal ball to see what the weather will be like in the future but I don't think a season has been extended for many years - certainly not in my working career - and it's not on the agenda yet," he said.
"April 24 is the final day and, for one thing, it would not comply with players' contracts to end the season beyond that date.
"You don't start a marathon and then ask the runners to do more than 26 miles and 385 yards.
"That's where the finishing line is and every effort will be made to stick to the season as it stands."
Weaver is aware of the potential problems a mountain of rearranged games could cause but is confident they will get back to action soon.
"It's going to be interesting," added Weaver about the pile-up.
"We've just got to make sure we hit the ground running when we get going again and build some momentum.
"We've been training indoors and the players had a really good gym session the other day, so we're preparing for it and we'll be ready.
"Luckily I managed to watch Stalybridge before the weather hit. We've got to hit them hard, don't give them anytime on the ball.
"They like to play a passing game but they take one or two chances at the back and that's something we have to attack."
Town's revised fixture list is as follows: January 19 Hinckley United (H); 23rd Stafford Rangers (A); 26th Farsley Celtic (A); 30th Corby Town (H).
February 6 Alfreton Town (A); 9th Blyth Spartans (A); 13th Gainsborough Trinity (H); 16th Vauxhall Motors (A); 20th
AfC Telford United (H); 23rd Gloucester City (H); 27th Gloucester City (A).
March 2 Farsley Celtic (H); 6th Stalybridge Celtic (A); 20th Fleetwood Town (H); 23rd Workington (H); 27th Ilkeston Town (A).
April 3 Southport (H); 5th Hyde United (A); 10th Blyth Spartans (H); 17th Hinckley United (A); 24th Northwich Victoria (H).
Blue Square North
P Pts
Southport 23 48
Fleetwood Town 23 45
Hinckley Utd 21 40
Eastwood Town 21 37
Droylsden 20 36
Corby 21 35
Stalybridge 17 34
Alfreton Town 21 34
AFC Telford 22 32
Ilkeston Town 19 28
Workington 19 24
Gloucester 22 24
Redditch 23 24
Farsley Celtic 20 22
Blyth Spartans 18 21
Stafford Rangers 23 21
Northwich 18 19
Solihull Moors 22 19
Gainsborough 21 18
Hyde 20 18
Harrogate Town 20 13
Vauxhall Motors 20 13
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Weather for Harrogate
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 10 C to 24 C
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