Why Sunderland friendly is the ideal preparation for Harrogate Town ahead of debut season in League Two

Simon Weaver’s team are set to rub shoulders with the likes of Bolton Wanderers and Bradford City in League Two this term and have been drawn against another ex-Premier League outfit in the shape of Hull City in the EFL Trophy.

Thus, their final pre-season friendly – against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday – should prove to be the ideal preparation for some of the challenges that lie ahead for last term’s National League play-off winners.

“It’s really exciting,” said homegrown midfielder Jack Emmett, one of Town’s longest-serving players.

“I think we all assumed that we would be playing Sunderland at their training ground, so the fact that we are going to play at the Stadium of Light definitely adds something to the game.

“Going to a place like that, even though it’s a friendly, it now feels like a bigger occasion and I feel it’s a good one for us to have just before the season starts. Playing in a big stadium like this should help us prepare for some of the League Two fixtures to come.

“Having said that, we played at Wembley a few weeks ago and nothing is going to reach that level, but I guess it’s just going to become the norm going to big grounds this season.

“It’s a world away from playing in the Conference North and just shows how far the club has come in recent years.”

Town kicked-off their pre-season preparations with a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough Under-23s on Friday, Josh Falkingham and Jack Muldoon netting inside the opening period.

They then tackled Northern Premier League Division One outfit Brighouse Town on Tuesday night and played out a goalless draw on a wet and windy evening.

“We performed very well against Middlesbrough, we looked sharp and could have scored a few more,” added Emmett, who completed the full 90 minutes in central midfield in midweek.

“The Brighouse game was tricky to be fair. It was wet underfoot and windy and the pitch isn’t the biggest.

“It was a scrappy one. Because of the conditions, there wasn’t too much football played, but it’s just about getting minutes under your belt.

“I wasn’t expecting to play the full 90, but it was definitely good to do so. It’s been a while.”

After taking on Sunderland, Town travel to Tranmere Rovers in the first round of the EFL Cup on September 5 before an EFL Trophy clash with Grimsby Town three days later.

They then kick-off their League Two campaign away at Southend United on September 12.

"We've got our first League Cup game, then it's the EFL Trophy then our first-ever fixture in League Two, it feels a bit surreal, there are a lot of firsts at the moment," Emmett added.

"Tranmere away is a bit of a baptism of fire. It's not the easiest first week we could have had as an EFL club, but it's going to be interesting.

"We're making history all the time at the moment and we've just got to try and make sure that we enjoy these occasions.

"The mood in the camp is good and the boys just can't wait to get going now."