This is bound to be a popular quiz question for years to come; name the only English Football League Club to have won a non league trophy?
Answer, of course is Harrogate Town who, just before the end of their inaugural season in League Two, won the 2019/20 FA Trophy by beating Concord Rangers 1-0 at Wembley.
The final had been held over from last season, so it was a belated double for Harrogate, who clinched a place in the league by beating Notts County, also at Wembley, in the National League play off final last August.
Just as a matter of interest, there was a tenuous Rovers link in their most recent final in that former Rovers player Alex Wall was a 79th minute substitute for Concord Rangers.
I’m sure that Harrogate supporters will be looking forward to attending league matches at their Enviro Vent Stadium, which has a 5,000 capacity, as will Bristol Rovers fans. There will be interest, also, from supporters who are members of the 92 club!
Harrogate’s first games as a League club took place at Doncaster Rovers’ Keepmoat Stadium while their own pitch was relaid as they had been playing on a 4G surface, which is not allowed under EFL rules.
Harrogate finished in a credible 17th place in their first season as a league club and their final points total was 57. Their home record was eight wins, five draws and ten defeats.
Rovers have never met Harrogate Town and players to have turned out for both clubs are few and far between. However, Rovers had a player by the name of Steve Bowey on their books between 1995 and 1997, though he never made a first team appearance. The record books show that he scored once for Harrogate, in 19 games, in 2010/11.
And then there’s Brian Dutton; a former Rovers coach under Darrell Clarke, he ended last season as caretaker manager of Walsall, and scored twice in 16 appearances for the Yorkshire club in 2009/10.
Former Rovers goalkeeper Gavin Kelly DID play for Harrogate, though I’m not sure how many games he played for them. Ciaran Toner also played for both clubs, scoring twice for Harrogate in 32 appearances in 2010/11.
(photo courtesy of Alan Marshall)
A one way journey to Harrogate’s ground, from the Mem, is 218 miles.