Salop make a first-ever league visit to Harrogate Town and The Exercise Stadium this afternoon. 

Michael Appleton’s men will hope to secure back-to-back away wins after beating Barnet on their travels last time out. 

Here’s everything you need to know about the Sulphurites ahead of today's early kick-off.  

Key Players 

Harrogate have not been the most prolific side in front of goal in recent weeks. After grabbing four in their opening two games, they have scored just four goals in their last six outings.

Stephen Duke-McKenna has been the team’s biggest goal threat so far, hitting three goals in his first appearances. Experienced striker Jack Muldoon has struggled to get going so far, having hit the net just once.  

But this isn't to say they don't threaten, with manager Simon Weaver having addressed the team’s lack of killer instinct in front of goal in recent weeks, noting that they managed 20 shots in their last home game against Crawley but still lost the game 1-0.  

The Manager 

Simon Weaver is Mr Harrogate Town. The former Lincoln City and Tamworth centre-back took over in North Yorkshire in 2009 and has overseen nearly 800 games for the Sulphurites. He is the longest-reigning manager in England’s top-four leagues, and he holds an impressive 38.66% win percentage during his time in charge.  

In his 15-year spell at Harrogate, Weaver has taken the club from a struggling National League North side to a solid League Two outfit. He achieved promotion to the Football League in 2020 and has helped the club steer well clear of relegation in each of the last five seasons. He took them to a club-record 13th-place finish in the 2023/24 campaign.  

Form  

The Sulphurites come into today's game off the back of four consecutive defeats. During those games, they have conceded eight and scored twice. They have found results hard to come by on home soil, winning one, losing two, and drawing one of their opening four at The Exercise Stadium.  

Head-to-Head Record  

This afternoon will be our first-ever league encounter with Harrogate Town. The Sulphurites were promoted to the Football League for the first time in 2020, having spent the rest of their existence in non-league. During our solitary season in the National League in 03/04, Harrogate were competing in the Northern Premier League.