Harrogate Town FC

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fozzyliverpool

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After reading Jake's Cultural Leonesa story, which we all agree is great, I have been inspired to start my own lower league management story. However, I won't be managing abroad. Instead, I will testing my ability in the Blue Square North league at the humble club that is Harrogate Town.
I plan to update every three game months which should mean five updates a season. In order to keep myself motivated I'm going to set myself short term goals.
1) Promotion to Coca Cola League 2 within 4 seasons
2) Promotion to Coca Cola League 1 within 5 seasons
3) Promotion to the Premier League within 7 seasons
Let the fun begin......​


Harrogate Town​
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Harrogate Town FC are currently playing in the Blue Square North division and have dwelling their for many years. After being founded in 1914, they have recored many modest honours. Possibly the most notible two being their 2001/02 Unibond Division 1 Champions title and their 2007/08 West Riding County Cup win. They are known by their fans as the ' Sulphurites ' due to the town being a spa town and having an old sulphur water pump room that can be visited.
They main rivals are Farsely and Harrogate Railway. Farsely also play in the Blue Square North. Financially, the club is valued at a measly £26,000 and the average ticket price is £10. However, commited fans can buy a season ticket for the discount price of £180. With the club £43,000 in the red, buying players is not realistic so I will have to wheel and deal appropriately. ​
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The club play their matches at the impressive CNG stadium which has a capacity of 3800. The club boast basic training facilities and minimal youth facilities.
With a media prediction of 10th, many fans believe that with the right guidance under new management, promotion to the Blue Square Premier could be possible. ​
 
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Season 1 - Pre Season Update

Finally, my first day in football management had arrived. I was excited and in awe of these semi pro footballers whose ability far exceeded my sunday league talents.
Upon completing my squad analysis, I concluded the squad was overcrowded with back up players. Therefore, I tried to release many players at the smallest financial expense possible. After doing so, My Assistant Manager, Paul Stamp, and I delved into the transfer market to look for loan players who would bring much needed quality to the side. After failing miserably to attract players from the premier league's reserves, I looked to establish a link with a feeder club. The best club my board could find were Doncaster.
We managed to sign four players on short term loan deals, the best being the young midfielder Luke Sharry from Bradford.
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Bare minimum would be no understatement when introducing my staff. 1 coach, 1 scout and 1 physio was all I was getting. However, I did sack my physio and hire a slightly more competent replacement.

Finally, days before my first game away at Corby, my assistant manager and I sat down to discuss tactics. We decided that an attacking formation would be necessary inorder to seize the initiative in the league. Therefore, we decided on a all or nothing 4-3-3 tactic.
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Next Update Soon
Any comments will be very helpful.:)​
 
Looking good, Im going to be going for a Story soon
 
Cheers for the support lads. James, good luck if your start a story and MichaelSoulsby your Blyth story is great and you have done very well to get into league 2. Hopefully I can match your achievements.
 
SEASON ONE
AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER​

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As of now I have played 17 games, 14 league games and 3 FACUP games. After losing to Corby away on the first day of the season I was hoping Harrogate's form would turn up. AND, it did briefly, with a convincing 2-0 win over Vauxhall Motors. However, my beginner's luck didn't last long as Harrogate only picked up 4 points from the next 5 games. Recording disappointing defeats against Workington and Southport. ​

September couldn't come soon enough and with it came a great run of form which gave Harrogate their first unbeaten month of the season. After 1-1 draws with AFC Telford and Droylsden, Town won three on the trot with a commanding 3-0 win over rivals Farsely being the most memorable. Simon Yeo, the veteran striker, was vital to 'Gate's successes. ​

The whole squad and management at Harrogate were entering October on a high and felt that they could move into a playoff spot if they could cement their good start. Although, a 2-2 draw with Northwich and a miserable 2-0 home defeat to playoff competition Alfreton really knocked the players down to earth. On the last day of the month, 'Gate picked themselves up to record a comfortable 2-0 win over Redditch. ​

In the league, Harrogate sit in the modest position of 14th with just 19 points. The Harrogate Manager will be the first to admit that they should be much higher in the league. Currently, Ilkeston and Gloucester are leading the way in the league and look good. ​


During this time, Harrogate have enjoyed a fantastic run in the FA Cup, progressing through three qualifying rounds to reach the first round of the competition. Wins against Farsley, Ossett Town and Durham have earnt Harrogate over £24,000 in prize money which is providing an invaluable source of income for the debt ridden club. ​


In General, The Harrogate Manager has stressed that he is unhappy with the squad he has inherited. The oversized squad has a huge wage bill relative to the league. Also, the short term loans of better players such as Jon McLaughlin, goalkeeper, have now ended. Luckily, Harrogate has swooped to complete more short term loans of interesting players Tom Denton and Nick Wood. On a positive note, The Manager believes his team can push for a play off spot this year. ​

 
Good luck mate

I went with the same plan, I've had 2 straight promotions and I'm currently in the play off spots in league 2!

Best signings so far: Jamie Guy or Branimir Kostadinov
 
Good start actually with them and good to see you're still in the Cup. Good luck.
BTW I have Yeo in my Droylsden squad but he doesn't get off the bench though...:p
 
Cheers for the comments guys. Yeo has been awesome for me, just posting the new update :)
 
SEASON ONE
Nov Dec Jan Update

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I have my first real sit down after last wednesday's match against Corby. Since my last update Harrogate have played a further 12 games in the league.
After a convincing end to October against Redditch, My team met to prepare for the cold winter ahead. November started terribly with a defeat to substandard Fleetwood and a bore draw at home to Droylsden. However, new signings Guy Lopez and Tom Denton both scored to ensure a nailbiting win against Gainsborough. Despite this, the month finished as it started as Gate lost a crunch game against Hinckley 1-0.
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Into the festive period and Harrogate embraced it perfectly with 10 points from 4 games. Wins against Blyth, Ilkeston and Gloucester provided vital points. Especially considering that Gloucester and Ilkeston were heading the league at that point. However, I failed to rap up the month well and my side lost 2-1 to Workington which was very disappointing. A few of my players spoke to me in private about their concern over our goalkeeper. After Jon Mclaughlin left, the inadequate Stephen Hernandez was left to guard goal.
January started in an exciting fashion. Back to back league games against fierce rivals Farsely Celtic. After only drawing at home, the away game compounded the disappointment. Farsley won 1-0 and we really didn't turn up. I demanded that the boys picked their form up and they really responded. Harrogate recorded four straight wins! Solihull, Stalybridge, Stafford and Corby blown out of the way. Even better, Peter Knox, who had been a ghost all season, broke his duck and has netted 3 goals in his last 2 games.
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Despite our success in the league, our cup form took a turn for the worse. After beating Hastings Utd in the FACUP, we were dumped out in the second round, 4-0 by Rushden. Soon afterwards, Harrogate's FA Trophy campaign began with a win over Northwich in qualifying. I must admit, I didn't give my full concentration to the competition and York hastly took advantage by beating me 2-0 in the first round.
My good run in the league has been mainly due to some new players who have joined the club. Alexandre Thea, martinique international defender, joined the club and has been fantastic. Also, Surinam Striker Lloyd Kammeron, has been a great advanced forward for Simon Yeo to play off of. I have just signed a new goalkeeper from Blackpool for free, who is yet to concede.
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Any comments are welcome!​
 
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Really Detailed there mate and its starting to pay off. Iam really enjoying this story. Keep it going :)
 
All the best mate! Harrogate are quiet near to where I live...been to that ground a few years back to watch them again Bradford City in a pre-season friendly...I'll be glued to this one :)
 
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