The FA Cup is precious and should be cherished. It should be fed and watered properly, cared for, nurtured and respected. There’s a reason, so many reasons, for the Magic of the Cup™ being something that you've said and we’ve said and yer da has definitely said.
This year’s third round draw didn’t just pull through. It was magic. It had sparks coming off it. Balls laced with spells. The living embodiment of that Vince McMahon meme where things just get better, and better, and better until you're so overcome with ecstasy you fly backwards off your office chair and collapse into a drooling mess on the floor.
The very second tie pulled out by Mark Hughes and Dion Dublin back in December—both clad in the dictionary definition embodiment of smart casual—was Arsenal v Manchester United. The draw was filmed in front of a room of United fans too, which only added to the ultra-specific magic that the best round of the best football competition on Earth can circulate, as did Dublin’s chef’s kiss ‘pretend to sneak out’ jig that only a man who works in light, daytime entertainment has in the locker.
The hits just kept on coming after that. Manchester City v Salford City—can you imagine the girth of Gary Neville’s ooooooohhhhhhhhh when he found that out? Millwall v Dagenham & Redbridge—cor, a proper FA Cup tie that is. Liverpool v Accrington Stanley—who are th… oh, shut up. Chelsea v Morecambe—just imagine the buzz boarding those London-bound coaches on a Baltic Saturday morning by the seaside. Tamworth v Tottenham, Everton v Peterborough, Newcastle United v Bromley … almost every tie was soaked through with profound meaning.
Which leads us to two of the final balls to be pulled out. Leeds United v Harrogate Town.
It’s a unique Yorkshire derby—the first time these two sharply contrasting places with sharply contrasting football clubs will face off in a competitive fixture. It’s also a game that means an awful lot to one of the EFL’s least prominent clubs. Harrogate have been on quite the journey over the past decade, you see.
When the Weaver family—chairman Irving, first-team manager Simon—got involved in 2011, they were a million miles from stepping into the Football League. Attendances were in the hundreds. But after steady investment, a hard-working squad and rapid off-field developments, they are now into their fourth season in League Two. It’s genuinely incredible. But this weekend’s trip to their county’s home of football might just be the crowning moment for the players, staff and fans who have come along for the ride.
Ahead of Saturday’s game, MUNDIAL spoke to three incredible people who have been right at the heart of this football club’s story over the past decade. This is Harrogate, a town full of tea shops, in their words…
The master of coaches
Harrogate Town
Jordan Ford sorts out the away coaches for Harrogate’s Independent Supporters Club. They’re taking ten to Elland Road, so he’s had quite the week. Jordan has been a season ticket holder at Wetherby Road for 14 years, so his reaction to their massive draw might just surprise you…
The balls came out, and I had my head in my hands. Part of me was hoping for a big draw, which undoubtedly Leeds is. But then my second thought was, ‘Christ, how am I going to work this with the coaches!’
I've been doing coaches now for probably about 12 years. Beforehand, they were attempting to put them on each week, but the support wasn't always there, and there were times when it was losing money. I sort of said, “Well, I don't mind giving it a go.” Things just kind of picked up eventually and I enjoyed it because it was a way that me and my son could get to the games as well. Without them, it would be a case of driving and not having as much fun.
Now, we're sort of like a big extended family. I've got two children, but both have grown up being Harrogate Town supporters. They don’t follow any other clubs and they've made their own friends coming to football. I've also always got a pub organised for us to go to before the match. It's just really good fun. Then, the football starts, and sometimes it's not.
I really love home games, too. There's not really any other ground like Wetherby Road in the EFL. I think there's nine different stands, all varying in terms of sizes and things like that. A unique setup, and you’re very close to the action. When you go to places like MK Dons, it's just a big soulless bowl, perhaps maybe 15, 20% full. At least at Harrogate, yes, we don't get massive attendances, but it's the right size for us. We're under no illusions that we're probably the smallest club in the EFL. It’s like a non-league club playing in League 2, punching well above our weight. But we’re really enjoying it.
Financially, Leeds is a great draw for us. I was once told that Harrogate has got the most Leeds United season ticket holders outside the LS postcode. There's gonna be quite a lot of split loyalties, I would imagine. About 50% of the people at my work are Leeds fans, and they're all winding me up saying, “How many can Leeds get?” And I was like, “You know, you can wind me up, but I could be the one on Monday who's winding you up. You're never going to live that down.”
