It’s another international break, and the perfect opportunity for those of us who support a higher division side to put aside the stress of watching one’s own team suffer. I wasn’t alone. Not only did three former Londontykes (plus Junior) make the journey from various parts of Yorkshire, but a couple of us shared a taxi with a couple of Huddersfield fans doing same. The driver said he’d just dropped off some Derby fans too, so no wonder the match broke attendance records, their highest league crowd ever (3,180). It looked more too, as the ground purports to hold 5,000 and there wasn’t much space to be seen. Scunny brought a few too (though I’m sure they regretted it.)
I drove, and well done Loko, who was a few minutes ahead and guided me in (Google Maps being…errr….as little inconsistent). We parked up a couple of streets from the ground, the local disc parking only covering the very nearest streets. It helped getting there early, giving us the chance to walk into the centre, and partake in a beer (just one!) at the magnificent Major Tom’s. Quality craft ales and a Schneiderweisse wheat beer for myself. We all agreed we’re coming back to Harrogate (by train, whatever the cost).
The original plan was to get to the ground early, bag a barrier to lean on, so that went out of the window as we foraged for a Greggs before jumping in taxis. There were healthy queues, partly due to only 5 turnstiles covering 2 sides of the ground. We were soon enough in though as we bemoaned the ‘tickets’ being on Wadd’s phone. (We were all looking forward to having paper copies. How will we remember certain games once Alzheimers kicks in?)
We may have missed a minute. The stand to our right, a thin terrace the length of the touchline, looked packed. As did behind the goal, in front of us. So we stood near the corner flag, and along with a few dozen more, ignored any stewards requests for us to move into the stand proper. It wasn’t a great view of the goal this end, but we could see well enough to the far end, as Harrogate racked up an amazing 5-0 lead by half-time. Fair play to Scunthorpe too. Without their haplessness, there’s no way the Sulphurites (I can’t decide if that’s the best or worst nickname of all time) would’ve scored so many, though their pace melted The Irons (apologies).
On the opposite touchline was the Main Stand, another small, one-tiered affair, and the away end looked a mirror of the home. Scunny had brought a few hundred and a few left early (as in, 1st half early), as we discovered when a blue smoke bomb was hurled over the boundary wall and onto the pitch near us. Before today I’d have been hard pushed to bracket Scunthorpe United with Dinamo Zagreb, but they’re the only sets of fans I’ve seen chucking smoke bombs into a stadium from outside. (Dinamo were playing Austria Vienna away, not Harrogate.) An insane thing to do. I’d never leave a game early.
While we pondered whether Neil Cox would resign as Scunny manager (they’re 2nd off bottom, Town 2nd off top) their side came out early to warm up. It worked too, as they had 3 decent efforts blocked before pulling one back. Still, the last word went to Town, with a late penalty off the post. 6-1 and Harrogate marching on (to promotion?). Plans have already been made for us to return this season. It was nice to enjoy football again.
The Damage:
£16 ent
£3 programme
£5 taxi
= £24
The Tunes:
BBC 5Live
The Bairns (Rachel Unthank and the Winterset)
BBC6 Music (Craig Charles’ Funk and Soul Show)
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