ALL ABOUT TOWN

DAVE WORTON REFLECTS ON HIS HARR OGATE TOWN ADVENTURES OF THE LAST FEW YEARS ALONGSIDE DAUGHTER MOLLY...

- DAVE WORTON

IN FEBRUARY 2016, I took my daughter along to a Harrogate Town match. Being a (disillusioned) Wolves fan at the time, it was solely intended as a one-off. I was motivated by the fact that FC United and their large following were in town for a National League North clash, and thought it might be quite lively. My daughter, Molly, wasn’t even into watching football at the time, but decided to tag along as she had nothing better to do.

I’d been a very occasional visitor to the ground over the preceding years, joining the stoic 250 or so regulars huddled under the old Wetherby Road stand, but hadn’t attended for a while prior to FC United.

What struck me most was the difference in atmosphere. Yes, the Mancunians turned up in their droves and sang their hearts out, but Town fans had their own choir too, and it was livelier and more colourful than I remembered.

To cut a long story short, Town thrashed their hapless visitors 5-0 and Molly came out with a new scarf, asking when the next match was. Both of us were hooked. My decision was only made easier by a Chinese conglomerate taking over Wolves and unjustly sacking Kenny Jackett.

We followed Town for the rest of the season, watching them suffer a customary defeat to AFC Fylde in the promotion play-offs, and then the following season, our first on a new 3G pitch, where the campaign ended in anti-climax as Town slipped out of the playoff positions. Improvement off the pitch had continued though, with the average crowd nudging into four figures.

The real change came the following season, with the club turning professional for the first time in their history. Players like Josh Falkingham and George Thomson arrived (from Darlington and FC United respectively) to supplement the young, hungry nucleus of an already strong squad.