As Newport County prepare to take on Harrogate Town, we take a closer look at Saturday’s opponents.
Harrogate’s Story
Founded in 1919 as Harrogate Hotspurs, the club adopted its current name—Harrogate Town—shortly after football resumed following the Second World War. From humble beginnings, the club steadily climbed the footballing pyramid, achieving its first major success in the 2001–02 season by winning the Northern Premier League Division One title. This triumph earned Harrogate a place as a founding member of the newly established Conference North in 2004, where they would compete for more than a decade.
A turning point arrived in 2018, when Harrogate earned promotion from the National League North with a commanding 3–0 play-off final victory over Brackley Town—a result that heralded the start of a new golden era. Just two years later, in 2019–20, the club reached an unprecedented milestone by gaining promotion to the Football League for the first time in its history. A 3–1 win over Notts County in the National League play-off final sealed the achievement, firmly establishing Harrogate among the elite of English football’s professional ranks.
That same season, the club capped off their historic campaign by lifting the FA Trophy, defeating Concord Rangers 1–0 thanks to a decisive 76th-minute goal from Josh Falkingham.
Since then, Harrogate Town has continued to progress in League Two, cementing its status as a resilient and ambitious club. The 2023–24 season marked another milestone, as the team recorded its highest-ever league finish—13th place.
The Head Coach
Simon Weaver has been at the helm of Harrogate Town since May 2009, making him the longest-serving manager across the top four divisions of English football. His journey, both as a player and a manager, has been nothing short of remarkable.
Weaver’s playing career as a central defender spanned from 1996 to 2012, during which he featured in the Football League for clubs including Lincoln City (2002–2004), Doncaster Rovers, Macclesfield Town, and Kidderminster Harriers. He also enjoyed an extensive non-league career, representing sides such as Ilkeston Town, Nuneaton Borough, Scarborough, York City, Tamworth, Boston United, King’s Lynn, and Redditch United.
His managerial story began in 2009, when he was appointed player-manager of Harrogate Town. Since then, Weaver has overseen a period of unprecedented success, transforming the club from non-league hopefuls into an established EFL outfit. Under his guidance, Harrogate achieved promotion to the National League in 2018 and, just two years later, made history with their first-ever promotion to League Two.
Weaver’s managerial prowess was evident from Harrogate’s very first match in the English Football League, a stunning 4–0 victory over Southend United. Over his tenure, he has managed 788 games, recording 304 wins, 195 draws, and 289 losses—a win rate of 38.58%. These numbers reflect not only his consistency but also his vision and resilience, which have become the cornerstone of Harrogate Town’s success story.
The Captain
Warren Burrell was appointed captain of Harrogate Town following the departure of Josh Falkingham at the end of last season. With over 400 appearances to his name, Burrell is widely regarded as one of the club’s longest-serving and most dedicated players.
A consistent and influential figure both on and off the pitch, Burrell played a pivotal role in Harrogate’s promotion from the National League North in 2017–18, achieved via the play-offs. Just two seasons later, he was again instrumental as the club secured promotion to Sky Bet League Two, marking their historic entry into the Football League—once more through the play-offs.
Since then, Burrell has remained a cornerstone of the team, using his experience and leadership to help the Sulphurites firmly establish and maintain their EFL status.
Key Player
Guyana international Stephen Duke-McKenna has quickly established himself as a key player for Harrogate Town this season. Joining the club on a free transfer in 2024 from Queens Park Rangers, Duke-McKenna arrived with valuable experience under his belt, having spent the second half of the previous campaign on loan with Scottish Premiership side St Johnstone.
Since returning, the lively winger has made an immediate impact, contributing five goals and one assist in 15 matches across all competitions, making him the Sulphurites’ top scorer so far this season.
Born in Liverpool, Duke-McKenna began his career in the Everton academy before moving to Queens Park Rangers in search of regular first-team football. During his time at QPR, he gained vital experience through a series of loan spells — first with Torquay United, where he made 21 appearances and scored three goals, followed by stints at Leyton Orient and Sutton United, making 16 appearances for the latter.
Now thriving at Harrogate Town, Duke-McKenna’s pace, creativity, and eye for goal have made him an indispensable part of Simon Weaver’s side.
