The results of a survey conducted by property website Rightmove were released this week, with the scenic North Yorkshire spa town of Harrogate voted as the fourth happiest place to live in Britain.
But that view may not have been shared by Harrogate Town’s summer recruits a few months ago, as they were put through their paces amidst the beauty of God’s own country.
“For pre-season we went to Ripley Castle, ten minutes away from Harrogate,” said manager Simon Weaver.
“We did hill-sprints and all the old-school stuff, swimming across Ripley Lake, we told the lads when they signed ‘your first four weeks are going to be rock-hard’.
“It was me at the top of the hill and Thirls [assistant manager Paul Thirlwell] at the bottom, I put my hand in the air and they all have to sprint up to it.
“We don’t have any heart monitors or sports vests but we thought ‘they’re really feeling this’, looking at their body language, they broke through several barriers because it was so hard.”
This would’ve been the first experience of the club for many players – over the summer the National League North side became a fully-professional, full-time outfit, meaning the squad had to be overhauled.
Many of the club’s experienced players couldn’t commit to full-time football, with careers and interests outside of the game, so Weaver and his assistants targeted younger players with more time on their hands.
Weaver added: “We had some discussions with some lads and it got to the point where they couldn’t give up their jobs, so it had to be lads whose circumstances enabled them to go full-time.
“We recruited a good number of young, hungry lads who want to be footballers and so they’re all motivated - they’re a pleasure to manage.
“The lads are faster than last year and we’ve been a lot more organised, the fitness has gone through the roof compared to where it was.
“You can demand more from them because there’s no excuses, they’re in every day and they’ve got to show it, it’s pride at stake.”
The transition to full-time has paid off for Harrogate, who currently lead the division after 13 matches played, with attention now turning to Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup fourth round qualifying match against Gainsborough Trinity.
The club from the White Rose county prevailed 5-4 in the league match between the two sides back in August, and Trinity will have their work cut out against the club with a spring in their step.
“It was a nine-goal thriller but it wasn’t that thrilling as a manager!” added Weaver, when recalling the league clash.
“It was a relief at the end to win, we were awful in the first half but then we played some fantastic football in the second half.
“It’s the FA Cup on Saturday though and anything can happen on the day, form goes out the window so nobody’s getting blasé at all”
Emirates FA Cup History
Harrogate Town are looking to improve on their best-ever performance in the FA Cup, when they reached the second round proper in 2012-13 before losing a replay to Hastings United on penalties. You have to go way back to 1886-87 to find Gainsborough Trinity’s best FA Cup run, when they lost a third round replay 1-0 to Lincoln City.
Did you know?
Harrogate Town’s chairman is manager Simon Weaver’s dad, Irving Weaver.
The Prize
The winner at Wetherby Road will earn £12,500 and a place in the first round proper.
