Harrogate Town AFC to celebrate 100 years of football

The club is laying on a festival of football to celebrate the milestone.

A parade of ex-players including Jim Hague, the club’s record goalscorer, and Chib Chilaka, fondly remembered by many for scoring the goal that knocked League Two side Torquay out of the FA Cup in 2012, will parade at the club’s CNG Stadium home.

Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver said: “Everyone at the club is looking forward to the celebration of the club’s centenary year.

“Players and managers from the clubs past have been invited back to the CNG Stadium and I think it’s fitting that as many people are involved as possible.

“Everyone that has entered through those gates have played a role in the club’s history and it’ll be good to listen to some stories from ex-players and coaches about their experiences at Harrogate Town.”

Mr Weaver also spoke about some of the club’s history that make him proud to manage the club.

The famous John Charles played his first game for Leeds United at Wetherby Road, and a centre-half called Anthony Nobby Ingham who played for Town in 1947 moved on to Leeds United and become a club legend at QPR. After he retired at QPR they erected a stand in his name.

There was also a former Town player called Maurice Leyland that decided to make cricket his main sport. Mr Weaver said: “He was so talented that he ended up playing for England and scored 137 on his debut against the Aussies.”

The parade begins at 12.30pm, followed by a match between Harrogate Town Under 21s and Bishop Auckland Under 21s, which kicks-off at 1.30pm. Admission is free.