Harrogate Town AFC
Harrogate Town AFC At Harrogate Town Football Club we pride ourselves on providing authentic and passionate football. The EnviroVent Stadium boasts outstanding facilities, capable of providing a top flight experience for fans, families and even first time match goers.
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Club Formation and Early Years (1914-1948)
The club’s inception was planned for the 1914/15 season, but the outbreak of World War I disrupted all fixtures. Harrogate was set to play Bishop Auckland on September 5, 1914, but most of the team had enlisted, leading to a cancellation. After the war, in 1919/20, Harrogate AFC was formed to compete in the West Riding League. Their first competitive match, held on August 30, 1919, saw a 1-0 victory over Horsforth, and that season they clinched their first trophy, the Whitworth Cup, with a 4-0 win over Ripon City.
In 1920/21, Harrogate joined the newly established Yorkshire League while maintaining a presence in the West Riding League. They also relocated to what was then known as ‘Wetherby Lane.’ Their first game at this ground on August 28, 1920, ended in a 2-1 victory against York YMCA. The club’s first significant trophy, the West Riding County Challenge Cup, was secured with a 3-1 win against Fryston Colliery in 1925. Unfortunately, the club disbanded after the 1931/32 season, only to be resurrected in 1935 under the name Harrogate Hotspurs. They competed in the Harrogate League and West Riding County Amateur League, returning to action in the West Yorkshire League when World War II began.
In 1948, the club adopted the name Harrogate Town and joined the Yorkshire League, eventually becoming Runners-Up and County Cup Winners in the 1962/63 season. The early 1970s witnessed another County Cup win in 1973 under Peter Gunby’s leadership.
Harrogate Town AFC
1980-2000
The 1981/82 season marked Harrogate Town’s victory in the Yorkshire League Division Two under the management of Alan Smith. Floodlights were installed in 1982, celebrated with Leeds United’s first team present, and an FA Cup replay against Accrington Stanley drew over 2,000 spectators.
The grandstand was officially opened in November 1990, and Town spent some time in the UniBond League Division One. In June 1998, Maurice Hammond was appointed Chairman, but he was replaced by former Leeds United Chairman Bill Fotherby in February 2000.
Early 2000s and FA Cup Exploits
The 2001/02 season marked a significant achievement as Town became Champions of UniBond League Division One under Manager John Reed and Coach Neil Aspin, after competing in the league for 15 seasons. The West Riding County Cup was also claimed with a 4-0 win over Farsley Celtic.
In the 2002/03 season, Harrogate Town finished 6th in their first-ever season in the UniBond League Premier Division, reached the FA Cup First Round proper, and secured the West Riding County Cup again, this time against Farsley Celtic. A 5th place finish in 2003/04 earned them a place in the newly formed Conference North Football League.
The inaugural 2004/05 Nationwide North season resulted in an impressive 6th place finish, despite a mid-season managerial change.
Recent History
Simon Weaver took over as manager at the end of the 2008/09 season, and the club operated on a restricted budget. The following seasons witnessed ups and downs, including successful FA Cup runs.
In 2015/16, the club achieved their highest-ever league finish, securing fourth place in the National League North and a playoff spot. The club laid a state-of-the-art 3G pitch in the summer of 2016 at CNG Stadium.
The 2017/18 season was historic as the club earned promotion to The National League for the first time. A strong start in The National League saw Town qualify for the Play-Offs in their first season. They made history by securing promotion to the Football League in the 2019/20 season.
The 2021/22 season witnessed further milestones, including an FA Trophy win and a third consecutive season in the EFL, with impressive attendances and progress in the FA Cup.
Additionally, it was announced that £3.5 million would be invested off the pitch, including a new seated stand to increase seating capacity to over 2,000.