Proud To Be Town: What to expect from from BT Sport's documentary film about Harrogate Town and the coronavirus crisis

The premiere of a behind-the-scenes documentary about Harrogate Town AFC will be screened on national television on Friday.
BT Sport has made a documentary charting Harrogate Town's journey through the coronavirus crisis all the way to promotion to the EFL at Wembley. Pictures: Matt KirkhamBT Sport has made a documentary charting Harrogate Town's journey through the coronavirus crisis all the way to promotion to the EFL at Wembley. Pictures: Matt Kirkham
BT Sport has made a documentary charting Harrogate Town's journey through the coronavirus crisis all the way to promotion to the EFL at Wembley. Pictures: Matt Kirkham

Proud To Be Town charts the journey of the Wetherby Road outfit as it grapples with returning to the field of play for the National League play-offs during the coronavirus crisis, and the club's eventual promotion to the Football League.

Produced by BT Sport, the first full-length documentary to highlight the profound impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on football provides an insight into the dilemmas and challenges facing sport at present.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Filmed and produced during lockdown, while adhering to social distancing and remote ways of working, Proud To Be Town features self-shot contributions led by Harrogate manager Simon Weaver, along with his family, players and other key figures within the club.

Simon and Irving Weaver on Wembley Way.Simon and Irving Weaver on Wembley Way.
Simon and Irving Weaver on Wembley Way.

So what exactly can Town supporters expect from the film?

Simon Weaver is very much the star of the show, dominating the documentary and even narrating it at times, but he comes across well, in a way that endears him to viewer.

The Town boss' passion for the game and for his club is there for all to see, though it is clear that the task of leading Harrogate into the Football League didn't completely take over his life. The 'gaffer' is obviously a big family man, and the family theme runs strong throughout the film.

Irving Weaver features, of course, as does Simon's wife, Sally, and there is a lovely cameo from Dorothy Weaver.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

There are some intimate moments and a chance to glimpse quite literally behind closed doors and into the everyday lives of Simon Weaver, his staff and his players.

Club physio Rachel Davis features heavily, and viewers will be left with no doubt as to how important a role she plays on a daily basis at Wetherby Road.

What you want from this kind of viewing experience is to learn things that you didn't already know, to be that fly on the wall, to see raw emotion and in-the-moment reactions to big decisions and huge developments before they are sanitised via press officers and the media. Proud To Be Town delivers here.

The way the Town squad reacts to the news that the National-League play-offs will take place (via a Zoom conference call) surprised even me.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Other stand-out moments include Josh Falkingham's half-time address to his team-mates at Wembley and Dorothy Weaver checking that 42-year-old son Simon has taken a packed lunch to training, while reminding him of the importance of washing his hands during the height of the pandemic - there is plenty of humor throughout.

There's also a conversation between Simon Weaver and former Premier League striker Jon Stead the day before Town's play-off semi-final showdown with Boreham Wood which is quite something to behold.

Having made the decision to drop the veteran striker and start new recruit Aaron Martin in his place, Weaver informs Stead of his decision on the eve of the game and watching the exchange that takes place might have some viewers flinching or curling their toes.

All in all, it's a fascinating watch, whichever team you support. But, for Town fans, this is going to be a special viewing experience.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"It was pretty special to be a part of," Weaver himself reflected.

"I think this film provides a unique insight into football and our club. It was a new and novel project and I feel that Harrogate Town comes across brilliantly.

"Watching it brought back all the memories of our promotion at Wembley and had the hairs of the back of my neck standing up."

Proud To Be Town premiers at 10pm on Friday on BT Sport 1 and will be available to watch at any time on the BT Sport app, BTsport.com, and BT TV on-demand from Saturday, October 3.