YORKSHIRE DERBY

I went to Knaresborough yesterday, risking some very inclement weather, snow, wind, freezing rain and more. I met an old colleague for lunch, no mean footballer himself, and then went onto his local club, Harrogate Town, who were playing in a seriously local derby in the FA Trophy, York City.
The pitch was always going to be playable since it was a very good 4G and although I suppose it could have frozen into an ice rink, technology managed to keep the pitch safe.
There was an issue with a floodlight which came and went and came again, I was surprised that the referee didn't seem to notice a darkened corner but he played on as did the lads.
The York Minstermen went ahead after 21 minutes but the home team equalised and then snatched a scrambled winner two thirds through the game. 1336 turned up, made a lot of noise, got cold, some wet but it was a lively game and the level of skill impressive on a very fast surface.

Harrogate play in the Vanarama National League with the likes of Aldershot, Wrexham, Halifax and Hartlepool, whereas York, seemingly from history a more senior club, are slumming it in the lower division the National League North. They would meet Southport, Bradford PA, Darlington and Chester at that level.

York City was founded in 1908 as an amateur club and knocked around local leagues until disbanding in 1917. They reformed in 1922 playing in the Midland League, eventually playing in the Football League until 2004 when they were relegated to the Conference.

One great moment for the club was an appearance in the 1954-5 FA Cup semi-final replay having drawn with eventual winners Newcastle Utd at Hillsborough and then losing the replay 0-2 at Roker Park. they had beaten Blackpool (then a top cup team) and Spurs en route.
In 1983-4 York City won the 4th Division with 101 points the first time a team had achieved over a century of points in history.
The club has won the FA Trophy twice, 2012, 2017 and were runners up in 2009.

Harrogate Town, once known as the Harrogate Hotspurs were founded in 1914 and on September 4th were due to play Bishop Auckland, a match abandoned as all the lads had joined up. The club disbanded until there was peace! and reformed in 1919.
Eventually the club was called Harrogate "Town" in 1945, playing in the West Yorkshire League. In 1957 they joined the Yorkshire League, moving in to the North Counties East in 1982 and were founder members of the National Premier in 1987-8. They went fully professional in 2016-17 and play in the National League now.
In 1982 they opened their floodlights with a game against local heroes Leeds United, eddie Gray switched them on. Their first competitive game under lights was an FA Cup game against Accrington Stanley, when 2,000 watched, with the lights working.