Harrogate Town confident that new grass pitch will be ready for League Two clash with Barrow AFC

Promotion to the Football League (EFL) for the 2020/21 season meant that the Wetherby Road outfit have been forced to rip up their synthetic 3G playing surface and replace it with turf.

Work began in early August, almost immediately after Simon Weaver's team beat Notts County 3-1 at Wembley in the National League play-off final to secure EFL status for the first time in their 106-year history.

The process was expected to take 10 weeks to complete, and Town managing director Garry Plant has confirmed that everything that has gone to plan thus far, and that there is no reason why the club will not be able to entertain Barrow on October 17.

"The pitch is looking smashing, we are really happy with the progress," Plant told the Harrogate Advertiser.

"We've been cutting the grass almost every day, it's been striped and is thickening up nicely. We're on schedule and it should be ready for our home fixture against Barrow on October 17.

"You're always in the hands of the weather with something like this, but the weather has been kind to us. Initially, we used some germination sheets which really brought things on quickly. We've did everything possible to enhance to speed of the process during the early stages of this project.

"From now on it will be a case of continuing with the fertilisation treatment and constant watering.

"It was heartbreaking to see the 3G being pulled up, but the plastic revolution is over now."

With their own ground out of action during the opening weeks of the campaign, Town arranged to play their first three 'home' fixtures of 2020/21 at Doncaster Rovers' Keepmoat Stadium.

Weaver's men drew 2-2 with Walsall there on September 19, tackle Bolton Wanderers this Saturday then host Leicester City under-21s next Tuesday.