REVEALED: The first Harrogate Town legends to be inducted into club's new Hall of Fame

The late Johnny Walker, who supported Harrogate Town for 77 years, and George Dunnington, who is a Life President at the club, will be inducted at the official launch event for the Hall of Fame early next month.

The two legends were chosen by Harrogate Town’s Hall of Fame committee chaired by supporter Bernard Higgins and consisting of a diverse group representing different areas of the club, including the Independent Supporters Club, the Supporters Trust and club officials.

The much-missed Mr Walker first went to a Town match as a boy in 1946 with his dad when the team was known as Harrogate Hotspurs and continued going until ill health intervened.

When interviewed in the Harrogate Advertiser in 2020, the then 86-year-old Mr Walker said: “Harrogate Town are my life. It if wasn’t for the club, I wouldn’t have done anything with my life.”

As well as supporting the club, Mr Walker also worked hard behind the scenes, manning the gates, fundraising and serving on the committee.

George Dunnington, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in recognition of his work in developing Harrogate Town’s ground, was first invited to Wetherby Road in the early 1980s.

As a result of his efforts – and that of a willing band of workers including his brother Alf – Town gained a new grandstand, floodlights, terracing, clubhouse extension, turnstiles, toilets, changing rooms and more.

He was chairman from 1986 to 1998, became president in the 2012/13 season and is still Life President.

Harrogate Town Hall of Fame event will take place on Thursday, February 9 at Cedar Court Hote,

Chairman Irving Weaver and manager Simon Weaver are expected to attend.

More on Harrogate Town at www.harrogatetownafc.com

The Harrogate Advertiser would like to apologise deeply for any distress caused by an earlier version of this article which failed to acknowledge the passing of Johnny Walker last October.