Simon Weaver intent on Harrogate Town pushing on even higher up the Football League

When Simon Weaver leads Harrogate Town out at Southend United this afternoon it will not just be as the Football League’s newest manager, but also its longest-serving. The rookie will therefore be confident in his own skin, determined to be himself and true to principles learnt on the Hillsborough terraces.
By Stuart Rayner
Published 12th Sep 2020, 06:55 BST
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY: Simon Weaver celebrates his team's victory over Notts County at Wembley. Picture: Catherine Ivill/Getty ImagesIT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY: Simon Weaver celebrates his team's victory over Notts County at Wembley. Picture: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY: Simon Weaver celebrates his team's victory over Notts County at Wembley. Picture: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

It has not always been the case.

“I cringe at some of the things I said or did when I was wet behind the ears,” says the ambitious Doncaster-born manager. “I walked out at FC United in the FA Trophy in my first season (at Harrogate, 2009-10) and it was raining. I thought I’d go with my grey coat, suit and tie. I was liked a drenched rat on the sideline. I thought, ‘What am I trying to be here? You’re a tracksuit man, get your tracksuit on and be yourself.’

“Before the play-off final (against Notts County in August) the lads were saying, ‘Are you going to get a Wembley suit?’ and when I said no, they said, ‘We thought not.’

MOVING ON UP: Harrogate Town's Jack Muldoon (left) battles with Tranmere Rovers' Peter Clarke in last week's Carabao Cup clash at Prenton Park. Picture: Martin Rickett/PAMOVING ON UP: Harrogate Town's Jack Muldoon (left) battles with Tranmere Rovers' Peter Clarke in last week's Carabao Cup clash at Prenton Park. Picture: Martin Rickett/PA
MOVING ON UP: Harrogate Town's Jack Muldoon (left) battles with Tranmere Rovers' Peter Clarke in last week's Carabao Cup clash at Prenton Park. Picture: Martin Rickett/PA
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“Hopefully, I have evolved as a manager but I’m more just myself every day rather than thinking, ‘You’ve got to be like Mourinho.’ I used to get in a tangle when we lost by thinking, ‘Maybe it’s not that system.’ We’ve been predominantly the same for the last three years and we’ve been top goalscorers for two out of three and won two promotions. That gives me a belief I probably didn’t have a few years ago.”

To understand Harrogate’s system, dig out clips of the Sheffield Wednesday team of 42-year-old Weaver’s youth. He came through their main centre of excellence, his assistant Paul Thirlwell the Gateshead centre.

“It was so exciting with two players up front and balls into the box, midfielders who could pass it properly and Roland Nilsson overlapping,” gushes Weaver. “Really silky football delivered with passion. The crowd volume went up because they could see 11 players who cared so much.