So there we go. After 106 years, Harrogate Town are in the Football League! Enjoy the rest of the weekend – ta-ra.
And here’s Tumaini Carayol’s match report.
Belter.
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Neal Ardley tells Sky that he knew Harrogate would come out fast, but his team didn’t live with it. He acknowledges that better team won, but laments that too many of his players “didn’t turn up” and were nervous. He needed a perfect second-half performance to resolve things, and his team were better but not better enough. Now, he needs to look forwards, and is targeting automatic promotion next season.
Jon Stead takes his medal, finds his cut-out of Jordan Sinnott, who was killed so tragically, and poses for a photo, tears in his eyes. My eyeballs might be sweating.
He goes on to say they do a lot of work on shape, and have tightened up at the back. If you have “honest runners”, he says, you can afford to leave two players up the pitch, and 4-4-2 suits his players, who have pace, aggression and attacking intent.
“Ecstatic ... it hasn’t really penetrated my brain yet,” says Simon Weaver. He goes on to praise “a group of honest lads”, and says that a lot has changed in the 11 years he’s been at the club, and going full-time gave them the impetus to do what they’ve done.
It’s now Celtic 2-1 Hamilton Academical. Rob Smyth has the latest.
🆙🏆
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) August 2, 2020
What a moment for the town and football club!@HarrogateTown ARE Football League 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/Z8P7chVQ7p
As for Notts, they’re in a much better position than previously. They’ll be bullish about sorting things next season, and with decent reason. A little more quality and variety in their passing, and they’ll go close.
Seriously. Sweet Caroline is back on. The influence of Daryl Gurney knows no bounds.
Town jiggle and dance. What an effort!
Falkingham does a little shuffle-turn, Jordan Henderson-style, and gives his lift some absolute welly. He can barely believe what he’s accomplished.
The players fish medals out of a tray, while the Notts players and manager stand there applauding #classytouch #oldskool
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Harrogate Town are in the Football League!
He goes on to say that Town ought to have finished the game in the first half, but when they didn’t and Notts scored, their ability to manage the game allowed them to hang in there and strike back.
Falkingham, the Town captain, struggles to find words. “It’s an emotional time,” he says. “We’re a bunch of lads that have been hungry ... we’ve never played in the Football League, the majority of us ... we’ve been building for this journey, it’s an amazing achievement ... amazing feeling ... och!”
Notts huddle, and Ardley debriefs them, while Town jump about to the now obligatory Sweet Caroline. AI heard a rumour that there are other songs, but it might be wrong.
“I bet Bill Fotherby is lighting another cigar somewhere with a big grin on his face,” says Brian Hamilton. “His clubs have had a great season.”
They really have.
Diamond says they planned to create chances and try to finish the game early. Town knew Notts would come back at them, and were ready to hold it down; he’s now looking forward to an early night.
Full-time: Harrogate Town 3-1 Notts County Harrogate Town are promoted to the Football League after 106 years!
What a performance! They flew at Notts from the off, handled a brief period of adversity, and were still looking for more in the sixth minute of injury time. Simon Weaver is now the longest-serving manager in the top our divisions of the Football League!
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90+4 min Town are still at it! They get the ball into Stead, moving inside onto his right foot, and he punches a curler ... against the base of the post! What a performance this has been from Harrogate.
90+4 min Elsewhere, Odsonne Edouard has given Celtic the lead against Hamilton. You can follow that here.
90+2 min Sky give Diamond man of the match on account of “an important goal at an important time,” but I’d say that the match was won in the first half-hour, so would probably go for Thomson, who scored one and made one.
90+1 min “Buzzing for Harrogate Town being in the Football League,” says Ben Machell on Twitter. “Opposition firms trying to take Betty’s. Fruity divorced mums in white Land Rover Evoques with “WELCOME TO HELL” banners. Shirtless Gareth Southgate letting off pyro by the cenotaph. Yes.”
90 min There we go, a minimum of five added minutes. Harrogate Town are going to play in the Football League!
90 min What an achievement this is going to be. Town have come from nowhere, and they’ve put in a serious turning up this afternoon. They started at pace, maintained it, and save 15 minutes at the start of the second half, have looked a level above their opponents.
89 min We’re expecting five added minutes.
89 min Beck finds Diamond, who larrups a shot from distance straight at Slocombe.
87 min A change apiece: Town send on Beck, who looks like he’s spent the afternoon offering out the sun, for Muldoon; Notts replace Brindley with Kelly-Evans.
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86 min Notts try to dig, but there’s nothing there. Town win the ball back and knock it about confidently, consuming time but threatening too.
85 min Time elapses. Irving Weaves is extremely stressed.
83 min “Harrogate (‘arra gut’) posh?” incandesces Ian. “It’s known amongst the Yorkshire cognoscenti as being all fur coit and no knickers!”
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82 min This game is dying a death now. Notts know.
80 min This game is part of the 2019-20 season, while in Scotland, we’re already playing 2020-21. Bonkers.
78 min “Massive day for Harrogate AFC,” tweets Michael Kilpatrick. “Founded in 1914 and never been in the League.”
If they get there, they’ll have earned absolutely all of it.
76 min We should note what a good change Town made, bringing on Stead. His experience and composure created what looks to be the clinching goal, BUT HERE COME COUNTY! They get the ball wide and Brindley hits the line, cutting back for Thomas, and it looks for all the world like he’s going to despatch a livener, but Belshaw parries his shot away and then Falkingham does brilliantly to stick absolutely all of him in the way of Doyle’s follow-up.
75 min “Will Harrogate be the poshest town to have hosted League football?” wonders my colleague Tom Davies on Twitter. “(Certainly felt the poshest I’d visited as an O’s fan a couple of years back).”
I can’t think of any others.
74 min Notts know the jig is up, and Town are dictating now. They had a little rough patch, but they’re back to looking by far the better team, and there’s Thomson smacking a shot into Slocombe’s midriff.
72 min On the touchline, Ardley was fuming, and well he might be. His team were good for 15 minutes, but that’s rarely enough to win a cup final, and his defenders have really let him down today.
WHAT A GOAL! Harrogate Town 3-1 Notts County (Diamond 70)
Stead does brilliantly, holding up, weaving by a challenge, and sticking the ball in behind, for Muldoon down the right. He crosses low, and there’s Diamond, haring onto it ahead of Brindley, who passes him on, to flick into the far corner! Town are going up!
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70 min We go again. Deep breath.
68 min And that’s drinks.
67 min Have Town ridden it out? They’re starting to take control again, but as long as their lead stays at one goal, they will feel extremely vulnerable.
66 min And they nearly do now! Thomson finds the ubiquitous Fallowfield, who crosses low as he continues his run, and when Turner cuts it out, the ball drops to Thomson, who lashes wide.
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64 min “That is such an awful kit!” emails Paulo Biriani. “County should be playing in their famous colours. What is going on in the world? Harrogate played Pompey in the cup this year and they gave us a mighty scare. They are a very good side. County will do well to beat them.”
What is going on in the world? I don’t think anyone knows the answer to that one, but yes, even though Notts are on top now, Town look a better side, and I’d not be shocked if they scored a third.
63 min Diamond cruises down the right and crosses, but his ball is behind Stead. Town have created near enough nothing in the second half.
61 min Stead replaces Martin. His tattoos appear to be fashionably distressed.
60 min Jon Stead seems to be readying himself.
58 min Nice from Thomas, spinning Hall, who has a couple of hacks and connects with the second. He’s booked, and Notts have another free-kick in a position not dissimilar to the one from which Roberts scored. He’s a little further out this time, and pumps a shot well over the bar. I’d expect Town to change something, and soon.
57 min Ardley did his job at half-time. His players have been very good since then, and there’s Baldwin picking up a loose ball after Wooton challenges well, lamping a shot just wide. Town need to have a think, because the momentum of the game has changed.
55 min And now here come Notts, Roberts taking the ball across the face of the box and absolutely lashing a riser that swings just wide of the near post. That was a great strike, and looked to all the world like the equaliser.
55 min Fallowfield, who had a fine first half, finds himself in space outside the box and weaves around two challenges before Rose unloads him.
53 min Roberts hauls down Diamond and is booked.
52 min Nice from Notts, Rose playing a ball for Thomas down the right; his cross is cleared.
52 min A quiet period, but Town have lost their intensity. It’s going to be a long old half for them, if they can’t relocate it.
50 min Boldewijn finds some space down the left, but runs out of pitch. Notts will be looking to get him on the ball at every opportunity.
48 min Things have changed. Notts look a different side.
GOAL! Harrogate Town 2-1 Notts County (Roberts 46)
This is a great finish! Roberts, who was so good in the semi, punches a curler into the far side-netting, Belshaw taking a step left only for the ball to go right! We got ourselves a ball-game!
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46 min Immediately, Notts win a free-kick just outside the box, just right of centre...
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46 min We go again, with Notts registering two changes: O’Brien and Dennis off, Thomas and Boldewijn on.
Neal Ardley has it all to do, and so do his players. Town look a class above at the moment.
Half-time: Harrogate Town 2-0 Notts County
Town have been excellent, Notts have been execrable.
45+3 min Town stick Notts under, trying to finish the game before half-time and winning successive corners, but they can’t make anything of them.
45+2 min ...and it’s a decent one, Doyle getting a crucial flick to send the ball out for a throw.
45+1 min Fallowfield, who’s been good, shimmies past O’Brien, who brings him down. Thomson will now stick another ball into the box...
45 min Turner wins a tackle. There’ll be three additional minutes.
44 min Diamond appears down the left and thumps over a cross, which is just too strong for Martin. Notts look gone, but if they can keep it at 2-0, Ardley will be able to reorganise and maybe make some changes.
42 min Notts find Wooton inside the box, but he looks cumbersome as he tries to work the ball out of his feet, getting naewhere.
40 min ... but this time, Notts clear ... only for the ball to come back in, one header allowing Burrell to nod on, and Martin is in! He shrugs off his man, then rams a shot against the near post! Notts are extremely fortunate to still be in this.
40 min Rose gives away a silly free-kick out on the right touchline, and Thomson will swerve in...
39 min Yet another ball in behind, forcing Lacey to stretch the ball into touch and away from Diamond.
37 min Doyle humps a cross miles from anyone, and way beyond the back post.
35 min Town knock it about, trying to work another opening – one that would kill the game. Notts need half-time.
34 min “My son, 18 years supporting Notts,” tweets Miroslav. “Has experienced one promotion in that time. It has been dour. Driving back from Swindon when relegated last year was the worst. Today, a celebration at last? No. God awful start. He should have chosen Forest.”
Really?
33 min I guess Notts need to move the ball quicker, and they try with Wooton down the left; he sends Fallowfield out for a bag of sweets, checking back inside, but Burrell heads away a cross seeking Dennis.
31 min I’m not sure what Notts do about this. Ultimately, they’re losing to a slightly better team playing very much better, and are struggling to pick holes between Town’s defence and midfield.
30 min Town are running them ragged! Kerry finds space in midfield and sticks yet another ball in behind, which Muldoon leaves for Diamond, but his attempted one-touch finish dribbles into the nearest defender.
GOAL! Harrogate Town 2-0 Notts County (Hall 28)
AND THERE IT IS! Thomson swings a decent cross in between keeper and back line, where Turner finds himself marking but not marking both Martin and Hall. The former misses the ball in the middle, but the latter does not, barging home, and Town are nearly there! They have been terrific so far, while Turner is having a mare for the ages.
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27 min Fallowfield improvises to flicks a bouncing ball past Bagan and his bowl; Bagan brings him down and is booked. Free-kick Town, just by the right corner of the box, Thomson to swing it in....
26 min Town look the sharper and smarter team, the rapier to Notts’ broadsword. A second goal looks more likely than an equaliser to me, not on the balance of play but on the balance of talent.
23 min And that’s ... drinks. This will never be normal, or right. It’s warm in norf Landan, but it’s a long way from sweltering.
22 min I wonder if our pattern might now be set: Notts huffing and puffing, hoping their strikers will find some inspiration, with Town looking to counter on them.
20 min Another ball into Wooton is collected by Roberts who wriggles but can’t find a shooting lane. Notts are dictating for the now, but Diamond funnels back to avert the immediate danger.
18 min Doyle and Roberts combine down the right, probing but not panicking, before Dennis’ ball, seeking Wooton, winds up behind. Notts are growing into this – they’re getting the ball to stick up front.
15 min Much better from Notts! They send Brindley away down the right, and when he gets to the line, with the Town defence expecting a cross, he cuts back seeking Dennis ... but Fallowfield does brilliantly to hump behind, for a corner which comes to nowt.
15 min This is enjoyable stuff so far.
13 min Town win a free-kick not too far from the centre-circle, on the right, and one pass down the channel, fed in by Falkingham for Muldoon, is enough to create another chance! That is miserable defending, but Notts are reprieved when the ball won’t quite sit up for Muldoon, who prods wide.
12 min Notts are struggling hard to haul themselves into the game. They get a ball into Dennis, who holds up, but his mates can’t get around him and Town clear.
10 min Notts are playing table football, Town are playing Subbuteo.
9 min Aaaaaarrrrrgggh! Turner gets himself into all sorts yet again – he’s had himself a nine-minute nightmare – moving out to win a header then ball-watching as Burrell hits a pass over the top for Martin. He controls beautifully, too – he’s in! – but rushes his shot, sweeping it past the far post. That was the game!
7 min Town are all over Notts here. They think they can finish this, ere an nar.
GOAL! Harrogate Town 1-0 Notts County (Thomson 5)
Town have started with proper intensity, and when Burrell switches play from left to right, Fallowfield advances onto the ball, then stick a cross towards the near post ... where Thomson runs across the slumbering Turner and opens his body to coax a fine one-touch finish across Slocombe!
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4 min Town have settled the faster of the teams - Turner looks a little cumbersome in the middle of the Notts defence – and Diamond shows again, but he’s crowded out.
3 min Turner allows the ball to bounce and Diamond pounces on him, getting an ankle in front of his attempted clearance, but the ball shoots wide of the post. That’s an escape.
2 min Roberts pulls onto the right touchline, showing for a long throw, but he’s quickly crowded out.
2 min For those of you watching in black and white, Notts are in the green shirts.
1 min Rose sticks a ball over the top and in behind, but Belshaw collects easily.
1 min And off we go!
The players take a knee. All black lives matter, people.
Ardley looks extremely, er, pumped.
Er, they’re playing the national anthem?
The League 2 play-off final, in which Northampton whipped Exeter, was one of the best games I’ve seen since lockdown, and why wouldn’t it have been? Hopefully the same rules apply today.
Here come the teams!
Neal Ardley, Notts manager, says that the game will be decided on fine margins, and both he and Weaver will have prepared their teams well, but neither of them have a clue how they’re going to handle the occasion.
We’re watching tape of Roberts, Notts’ centre-forward. Town will need to keep a very careful one on him.
“I’m in a bit of a quandary with this match,” emails Phil Withall. “Notts County have been through a bit of a poor spell, mismanagement and poor planning (Sven!) And have a long and noble history. Harrogate are a classic fairytale waiting to happen, a breath of fresh air ready to join the big leagues. I’m siding with the Yorkshire side purely because having Barrow and Harrogate in the football league makes me happy and, probably, makes football better.”
I can see both sides of this. I guess the sentimental in me wants Notts back, but it’d be nice to get someone new into the league too. I guess Notts shade it, by virtue of being the opposition when one of my all-time favourite goals was scored.
Already into the Football League are Barrow. They won the division, finishing four points ahead of Town and seven ahead of Notts, who played a game more.
Yes, Simon is Irving’s son.
Harrogate’s chairman, Irving Weaver, tells BT that they’ve tried to build the club slowly, and get some excitement going around the town.
Simon Weaver, Town’s manager, says he’s tried to keep things as normal as possible, but it’s been difficult because “It’s come down to this,” – “this” being colossal. He’s not bothered that his team are slight underdogs, and has picked out areas in which his team might expose Notts.
It’s a nice place, Harrogate.
I actually went there once - my wife was in between jobs, so I arranged to take her away to north Wales. Then Manchester United drew Leeds United in the League Cup and it was necessary for me to be in attendance, so I schlepped her cross-country, having booked a spa hotel for her to hang out in while I went to the game. Then a spare ticket turned up and she decided to come, finding herself forced to literally step over bodies in order to walk through the turnstile. A rollicking anecdote, that – I think they’re making the film soon.
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This is brilliant. Whatever happened to that Warnock individual?
On BT, we’re just having a look at Jack Diamond, Town’s centre-forward. He’s not been prolific this season, but he’s sharp, and in this kind of circumstance, a likely matchwinner.
Get acquainted...
Is that John Stead? Why yes indeed, that is indeed John Stead, of Premier League and G4 fame. He actually used to play for Notts, but is now Town frewnfrew.
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Teams!
Harrogate Town: Belshaw, Fallowfield, Burrell, Falkingham, Smith, Thomson, Hall, Kerry, Martin, Muldoon, Diamond. Subs: Leesley, Emmett, Cracknell, Harratt, Stead, Beck.
Notts County: Solocombe, Rose, Turner, O’Brien, Doyle, Dennis, Wooton, Brindley, Lacey, Bagan, Roberts. Subs: McDonnell, Rawlinson, Kelly-Evans, Boldewijn, Thomas Crawford.
Preamble
What a match-up this is! Notts County are one of the oldest football clubs in the world, and in the final season before the formation of the Premier League, they played in Barclays League Division 1. But they finished second from bottom and went down, down, deeper and down, until, at the end of 2018-19, they lost their status as the country’s oldest Football League club. They need this, very badly indeed.
Harrogate Town, on the other hand, are something entirely different. A small club with a skeleton staff, they have been professional for just four years; when Notts were last in the top division, they were playing in the eighth tier. But they got themselves organised, started winning promotions, and now stand on the cusp of the main event. They need this, very badly indeed.
When the sides met earlier in the season, Notts won 2-0 away from home, and when the season was deemed completed, sat a spot below Town in second place. But that was in another dimension, and will have no influence on what we see today; the teams have played once in four months, so we’ve not a clue what’s going to happen. It should be a treat.
Kick-off: 3pm BST
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