Fans will help drive us on and we must stick together, says Harrogate Town's Ryan Fallowfield

Ryan Fallowfield says that Harrogate Town's players must stick together and look to harness the energy of their returning fans if they are to get back to winning ways.
Harrogate Town right-back Ryan Fallowfield in action against West Bromwich Albion. Pictures: Getty ImagesHarrogate Town right-back Ryan Fallowfield in action against West Bromwich Albion. Pictures: Getty Images
Harrogate Town right-back Ryan Fallowfield in action against West Bromwich Albion. Pictures: Getty Images

The Sulphurites have been given the green light to admit up to 500 season-ticket holders to Saturday’s League Two encounter with Forest Green Rovers, the first time spectators have been allowed inside Wetherby Road since early March.

Their return could not be more timely given that Town were thrashed 5-2 by Scunthorpe United in midweek, a defeat that follows their 4-0 FA Cup mauling by Blackpool and a sequence of results which has seen them garner just five points from the last 24 on offer.

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The significance of having supporters back is not lost on former Hull City defender Fallowfield, who has also given an insight into the current mood inside the Harrogate dressing room.

Harrogate Town's Ryan Fallowfield delivers the ball into the Walsall box during the 2-2 League Two draw between the sides back in September.Harrogate Town's Ryan Fallowfield delivers the ball into the Walsall box during the 2-2 League Two draw between the sides back in September.
Harrogate Town's Ryan Fallowfield delivers the ball into the Walsall box during the 2-2 League Two draw between the sides back in September.

“It’ll be massive. We could do with that extra boost at the moment and a driving force to help us along," he told the Harrogate Advertiser.

"Results aren't going for us at the minute, but we've got the fans back and we just have to find a way. Usually, as a group, we have managed to find a way in the past.

"I don't think there's any kind of issue with belief in the changing room. We're a strong group. I wouldn't say that we're lacking in confidence. Since we were promoted, I've never not believed that we are good enough.

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"We've played well and won a number of games in League Two. We've also been dominant in some other games but just not had the results to go with the performances.

"For me, it's just about sticking together. That's how we'll get through this. We're coming off a bad result, but that was the case when we went to Mansfield the other week and we showed there what we can do when we dig in and stick together."

It has been almost nine months since Town last played a league fixture in front of supporters, and Fallowfield says that things simply haven’t been the same since Covid-19 forced sport behind closed doors.

“We’ve been playing for such a long time without anyone inside the stadiums that we’ve now got used to anyone being there, so we will have to adjust again," he said.

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“But, it will be a big positive when we get the supporters back.

“I imagine all the lads are thinking the same because it doesn’t matter which club you’re at, all players will tell you that football just isn’t the same without the crowd.”

This weekend’s clash with Forest Green should see Fallowfield able to return alongside the club's fans, the right-back having missed Town’s last two games due to a hamstring strain.

“I was touch and go for the Scunthorpe game on Tuesday,” he added.

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“To be honest, I really wanted to play but I trained on the Monday and I knew that I wasn’t quite 100 per cent. If I’m gonna go out there and play I want to be right, it’s no good to the team if you’re not in peak condition.

“Also, I didn’t want to risk making my hamstring worse before it was ready and then end up missing six or seven matches down the line for the sake of playing in one.”

Town's clash with Forest Green on Saturday kicks-off at 3pm.

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