Harrogate Town players happy to ‘have a purpose’ after return to training

There were plenty of smiles on faces as Harrogate Town players resumed group training this week.
Harrogate Town goalkeeper James Belshaw. Picture: Matt KirkhamHarrogate Town goalkeeper James Belshaw. Picture: Matt Kirkham
Harrogate Town goalkeeper James Belshaw. Picture: Matt Kirkham

Tuesday saw Simon Weaver’s squad report back to the CNG Stadium for the first time since the 2019/20 season was suspended in mid-March due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The move to begin training comes as the club prepare for the National League promotion play-offs, which take place next month.

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“It was great to be back,” said Town goalkeeper James Belshaw, one of 17 members of Weaver’s side who attended the first session since lockdown began.

“Everyone was buzzing. We’re happy to have a purpose again after all the uncertainty. If we’re playing in the play-offs then we have a goal, something to get ready for, to strive for.”

Harrogate’s number one trained alongside fellow stopper Joe Cracknell and goalkeeping coach Phil Priestley, while the outfield players were split into three groups of five.

Each of these groups worked with a single member of the Town coaching staff, with one session for two of the groups taking place in the morning, followed by a second session for the goalkeepers and the third outfield group in the afternoon.

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In addition, everyone entering the CNG Stadium had their temperature taken and had to follow a one-way system around the ground in keeping with social distancing regulations.

Players were not allowed to get too close to each other,or even take a shower at the end of training.

“It wasn’t really like going back to normal, I found it a bit weird,” added Belshaw.

“It was strange and I think it will take some getting used to the way we’re having to do things, but the actual training we did went very well.

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“I felt good. I felt fine. It was a tough session, but the hands felt good. My fitness is alright, so I’ve just said to Phil [Priestley]that he needs to be pelting balls at me for the next four weeks so I can get that sharpness.

“In fairness, this group is scarily fit. We always come back for pre-season in good shape, and it was no different this time around.”

Midfielder Joe Leesley was similarly enthused to return to training, despite the unusual circumstances.

The 26-year-old was able to reacquaint himself with his Harrogate team-mates following nine months away from Wetherby road on loan at Stockport County and then Stevenage.

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“It was really nice for me because, as I’ve said many times before, Harrogate Town is a club I’m very fond of and some of my best friends are here,” he said.

“It was brilliant to be back. I was very reluctant to leave here last year, but I had to, but to see the boys again was great.

“It was a fairly typical pre-season session really. We warmed up, did some stretching, some ball work at a distance and then finished off with a really tough run.

“The next couple of weeks will mainly be fitness as we get back into the routine of professional football, but it was nice to get the balls out. It’s been 14 weeks since I last kicked one.

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“There is that element of rust, as there would be in any job you’ve been away from for so long, but to be fair to the lads, everyone has come back in great shape considering we only had a few days notice that training was re-starting.”

It is expected that Town will continue to train in groups of no-more-than six people until the end of next week.

Covid-19 testing will then begin, before players can start to fully integrate.