How chats in the school-yard helped Harrogate Town win the race for sought-after Glasgow Rangers prospect Josh McPake
Simon Weaver has revealed how his friendship with a key figure at Glasgow Rangers helped ensure that Harrogate Town won the race for sought-after young attacker Josh McPake.
The Sulphurites pulled off something of a transfer coup last week, landing one of Scottish football’s hottest talents under the noses of a couple of their League Two rivals.
Town beat off reported interest from Salford City and Forest Green Rovers to secure the services of the highly-rated 19-year-old on a loan deal until the end of the season.
While there were a number of factors which led to both the Ibrox club and McPake himself plumping for Wetherby Road, Harrogate’s cause certainly wasn’t hurt by the fact that boss Weaver has become acquainted with Gers manager Steven Gerrard’s number two.
“Apparently there were a few other clubs in for Josh, so it’s pleasing that things have worked out for us and we’ve been able to bring him here,” Weaver told the Harrogate Advertiser.
“Gary McAllister’s kids go to the same school as my kids and obviously he’s the assistant manager up at Rangers.
“We’ve known each other a while and we talk and I think that relationship has gone in our favour in this particular situation.
"I believe it helped. The feedback we had from the agent involved in the deal was that Gary had said that he knew the management here and that swung it with Rangers.
"It looks like that time invested in the school-yard paid off. We are thrilled to have Josh here."
McPake, who is a Scotland under-19 international, made his Harrogate debut against Cambridge United on Saturday, but couldn't save his new team from slipping to a 2-1 defeat.