Created ahead of the 2021/22 season, The Harrogate Town AFC Academy aims to create an environment for enthusiastic individuals to flourish and support first team operations.
All players are encouraged to show creativity and individuality whilst further developing an outstanding work ethic, desire to succeed and positive attitude as a base to allow further development both on and off the pitch.
We combine coaching with education to produce confident, respectful, talented & creative individuals in a professional football club environment.’
The Academy will be headed up by Academy Manager Paul Stansfield, who will be supported by an outstanding and experienced team which includes Head of Youth Coaching Josh Law, Head of Goalkeeping Phil Priestley, Academy Secretary Jane McCulloch, Academy physiotherapist Laura Rhys-Williams, Sports Scientist Will Macgregor and Lee Barraclough as Head of Recruitment.
The Team
The Academy compete in the EFL Youth Alliance North East, allowing regular competitive fixtures and a clear pathway and progression through the ranks. Home fixtures are played at York St John University.
Fixtures & Results
Saturday 27th August
Town 0-0 Hartlepool
Saturday 17th September
Town 1-2 Grimsby
Saturday 24th September
Mansfield 0-2 Town
Saturday 1st October
Town v Doncaster
Saturday 15th October
Town v Rotherham (cup)
Saturday 22nd October
Town v Burton Albion
Saturday 29th October
Huddersfield v Town
Saturday 5th November
Morecambe v Town (cup)
Saturday 12th November
Scunthorpe v Town
Saturday 19th November
Town v Rotherham
Saturday 26th November
Grimsby v Town
Saturday 3rd December
Town v Huddersfield
Saturday 10th December
Town v Carlisle (cup)
Saturday 7th January
Town v Mansfield
Saturday 21st January
​Doncaster v Town
Saturday 4th February
Burton Albion v Town
Saturday 11th February
Town v Scunthorpe
Saturday 18th February
Bradford City v Town
Saturday 4th March
Hartlepool v Town
Saturday 11th March
Rotherham v Town
Saturday 18th March
Town v Lincoln City
Our inaugural season ended with a respectable 11th place finish, with Emmanuel Ilesanmi, Ben Tweed and Brad Williams all making their first team debuts, as well as other Academy players regularly training with the first team and being involved in the match day squad.
Ahead of the 2022/23 season Harrogate-born George Horbury became the first player to make the step from the Academy to a professional contract with the first team.
2021/22 Season
Our two-year football scholarship incorporates football and education delivered by the LFE (League Football Education) with scholars leaving with a BTEC qualification.
For news regarding the progress of our Academy, follow
@HarrogateYouth on Twitter.