Josh Falkingham returns to starting line-up to help inspire Harrogate Town to derby victory over Bradford City

The 34-year-old lined up in a holding midfield role as the Sulphurites beat local rivals Bradford City 2-1 at Wetherby Road thanks to strikes from Stephen Dooley and Ellis Taylor.

The quality of the attacking play which led to those two goals was obviously one of the key factors behind Town’s success, but the impact of their returning skipper was undoubtedly another.

Always one of the first names on the team-sheet and virtually an ever-present when fit during his first six seasons at Wetherby Road, Falkingham was far less involved last term.

He made just 28 appearances in all competitions during 2023/24, starting only one of the club's final 21 fixtures of the campaign, and playing the sum total of 12 minutes from March onwards.

The former Leeds United man began the current season exactly where he finished the last one, on the substitutes' bench and wasn't even included in the match-day squad for August 31's home defeat to Barrow.

He was given three minutes off the bench away at Cheltenham earlier this month before eventually getting a run-out from the start when Town entertained Liverpool Under-21s in the EFL Trophy last week.

And having reminded Simon Weaver what he was missing in terms of a vocal presence and natural-born leader on the field of play, Falkingham kept his place for Saturday's clash with the Bantams.

Charged with anchoring Harrogate's midfield and protecting their back four, the way that he went about his business ensured that the Sulphurites were both more competitive – and had a solid platform to go and play from.

Moving forward, Falkingham is desperate to be able to contribute more.

"I’ve played nowhere near the amount of football that I would have liked, but that’s the person that I am, the character that I am,” he said.

"I was given the opportunity on Saturday and hopefully I can keep building myself up and get back to the levels of performance that I have always felt that I can give for this football club.”

On being a vocal presence, he added: "I’ve never changed. I am who I am and I don’t do it [shout] because I’ve just got back in the team.

"I don’t do it purposely for anything, I just do it because it means so much to me as a player.

"I think that it helps others, there’s no doubt about that, and that’s what I want and that’s what I’ve always tried to do - but ultimately I have to perform well.

"I have to look at myself first and if I don’t perform but I can shout, it means nothing. I’ve got to perform well and be that voice and do the extra bits that I can do and hopefully that allows people to perform to a higher level and will always help this team when I’m on the pitch.”

Falkingham and his team-mates return to action on Tuesday evening when they entertain MK Dons, and Town’s captain is demanding more of the same following what was a largely positive showing against Bradford.

"Saturday was a good day, there’s no doubt about that, the fans have gone home happy,” he added.

"But, come Tuesday night, we have got MK Dons and we have got to repeat that [performance]. We’ve got to be consistent.

"When we have been successful, which we have, we’ve managed the season as a whole. We haven’t just looked at one game and thought ‘that was amazing’.

"We have to be consistent in our performances and we have to make sure that we keep on a straight line.”