Harrogate vs Swindon Matchday Thread & Buildup

[No Longer Posh Red]

Set to be very cold tonight and all day tomorrow just above freezing. Do they cover to he pitch or are we looking at a pitch inspection in the morning?
Setting off at 6 don't want to waste fuel or time if it's likely to be called off.

It’s pretty cold here at the moment, was sleeting a bit earlier and the gritting lorry’s were out so hopefully the pitch is covered

[Nemo]

Delaney unavailable per the presser. Hall or Freckleton?

[McGurk's Missus]

Taking the wife on a romantic 2 night stay in the beautiful northern spa town of Harrogate this weekend. Will be squeezing in a bit of exercise tomorrow afternoon mind.

Should have let me know BO. We could have met up for a lovely steak supper

[cdakev]

 Everyone on here is far more positive about the team and getting results.
Hopefully it can continue.

I'm going for a 2-1 win.

[Bob's Orange]

Having never been before I thought Harrogate was bloody lovely when we went early December. Only spent a night there to break up the journey to Durham but had great food and beverage options, and was pumping even on a Tuesday night If you haven't been before BO you're in for a treat.

Stayed at the Crown, Victorian pile right in the centre, very nice and very cheap, even if they tried to charge us for a crib for the wean (but the receptionist knocked it off when we left saying they thought it was stupid).

Anyway, 2-1 Swindon. Fingers crossed!

Arrived at 7:45 last night and enjoyed some Indian Tapas followed by a couple of stouts at Cold Bath brewing, which is a 1 minute walk from the hotel, handy!

We’re here already, travelled up on Thursday.
Have spent today visiting a couple of NT properties & out for dinner tonight.
Will be nice to be able to walk to/from Football tomorrow.

As for the game, hoping for a win but a draw wouldn’t be a disaster

Fairly easy journey north from you I'm guessing?

I'm not going to take away Wobbly Bob's thunder, but about to put on my best Frank Spencer voice and head towards the tea house that Harrogate is famous for. May inadvertently bump into one or more of you at one of the excellent pubs that are close to the ground. As Posh Red stated, it will be nice to walk to the ground, weather looks iffy at best. Time to Don the layers!

[No Longer Posh Red]

Fairly easy journey north from you I'm guessing?

Pretty much straight up the A1, takes about the same amount of time as a home game.

We went to the Thai Tapas on Thursday night, that was really good

[Wobbly Bob]

Pre match owt's better than nowt in The Winter Gardens.
Regardless of result hoping for a good day in the company of London & Crewe reds.

Have previously stayed over in York & Leeds for this one.
Making a nice 17hr day of it this time.

Having said that, a midweek slot next season would be good to allow for a more in depth exploration of the local medicinal waters & dare I say it even Betty’s Tea Rooms. Not today though.

Will stop off at the very good Harrogate Tap after this.

Will then have to overcome the naturally repelling force field for anything associated with exercise in order to make it to the terribly named stadium.
Exorcising exercise if you like.

Speaking of which, looking at the ticket I was reminded that the ground is a bit of a low rent Manor Ground with 7 or 8 different standlets.
A characterful & bijou garden shed for sure, but at least we'll be under cover.

Bit of a must win game if we are to look up the table for what remains of the season.
A bit of explosive hydrogen peroxide in the performance should be enough to see off the Sulphurites with luck.

There should be no congratulatory back slapping within the club or the fanbase if a mid table finish is achieved.

Regardless of circumstances it would still be completely unacceptable and should warrant an inquest in the murky corridors of power, if they are even interested in that.

Next season will equal our longest stay in the bottom tier.

Holloway has generated a little hope that would increase slightly if he were to remain at the helm.
His first task in the summer would be to light a fire under the only Aussie in the universe seemingly not driven by a desire for sporting excellence in a business that's ultimately all about competition & finding a way to win.

Gutted for Drinan.
Yes, there is ample forward cover but none of them can do what he does for 90 mins.
The nearest to a like for like replacement would be Botan Ameen I guess but can't see him being thrown in just yet.
Hopefully the team won't lose some of that energy that's been vital in the revival.

So, time for a not so tricky quiz question for those who know their STFC onions.
Of the 6 players to have represented both clubs this one joined Harrogate just over 3 years after leaving Swindon having played for 9 clubs in between, 6 of them in non-league and he wasn't finished after Harrogate, managing to fit another 5 or 6 clubs in before retiring.

Anyway, it's game on and wouldn't swap a cold & grim Saturday afternoon in Harrogate for a warm and cosy living room for all the tea in Yorkshire.

[Batch]

I do enjoy your pre match musings Wobbly. Long may they continue.

#sentFromMyWarmLivingRoom

[Peter Venkman]

I see Ameen and Chard not playing this morning vs Pompey for the academy.

Always a difficult place to go and get a result at, but, no wins in the last 5 games for them and we are on a no losses in the last 6 games including a 2 away game winning run (1 loss in the last 5 away games) currently.

Drinan was just hitting some consistant form but maybe this is the time for Tshimanga or Glatzel to shine.

Will he go for a debut for Ripley? I hope so as Bycroft isn't quite up to the job as 1st team keeper yet IMO.

Maybe a return for Freckleton on th ebench at least, which will be interesting too.

We have only been beaten by 'Gate once in 7 meetings but have only won 2 of them, 1 away and 1 at home.

Town will be backed by a sell out away attendance as always of 600 fans, a great turn out again for a lengthy trip from Swindon.

[hefty toe]

Delaney unavailable per the presser. Hall or Freckleton?

Is Delaney injured or suspended?

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

Is Delaney injured or suspended?

Injured

[Nemo]

Is Delaney injured or suspended?

Having stitches taken out of his knee he's been playing with for the last few weeks according to the presser. Sounded like it should just be this game absent.

We looked surprisingly alright last week without our two best mids, so we'll see how we look without our first choice centre half partnership.

[Bob's Orange]

Pretty much straight up the A1, takes about the same amount of time as a home game.

We went to the Thai Tapas on Thursday night, that was really good

We very nearly went there. Have to say there are loads of really good food/drink places here, reminds me a bit of old town in Swindon.

Have to say, Betty's breakfast, whilst on the more pricy side, was very very nice. Donning an extra pair of socks and a jumper before making the hunt for fellow reds for a couple of pre-game pints.

[Peter Venkman]

Donning an extra pair of socks and a jumper before making the hunt for fellow reds for a couple of pre-game pints.

Living in Luxembourg has fucking softened you!

[Kaufman]

Having stitches taken out of his knee he's been playing with for the last few weeks according to the presser. Sounded like it should just be this game absent.

We looked surprisingly alright last week without our two best mids, so we'll see how we look without our first choice centre half partnership.

Hmm I didn’t see this in the presser summary, thought it was just Drianan out