Harrogate Town AFC

Watch the Gaffer's pre Forest Green Rovers interview here…
 
 
The Gaffer on the high from Saturday's FA Cup victory against Portsmouth…

It's just been brilliant and we've been flying high. The journey home was obviously amazing because everybody was glowing from the aftermath of such a big day for the club. To score in those circumstances in the 94th minute, you just can't get any more dramatic.

You only have to look at the last couple of years, we've played three different League One teams and we've lost four nil on the two previous occasions so we put a marker down on Saturday beating Portsmouth and they're a strong outfit. I know they had a few injuries, but so did we, more than a few and we deserved the win as well. The victory was done in a manner which has to be a confidence booster for everyone involved.

It's hard to explain the feeling to someone who isn't involved in sport. The drama and the emotions were flowing and I had to take a minute in the tunnel before going in to see the lads because I just felt so indebted to them for that feeling. You don't you don't get it in everyday life and the lads were a privilege to manage, and they should be so proud of themselves.

We've got players like Lloyd Kerry who must have been a match for anyone in terms of the man of the match if an award were to be given out. Players like him, Warren Burrell, Josh Falkingham, they just keep on getting better, and as I said after the game, the influx of the new talented lads as well has given us a different look about us.

I watched that last night (Chief Brody's matchday vlog) as well as our own video that Henry's done at the club. It just brings back that the passion and emotion again. I'm so pleased for the supporters, you could just hear the shrieks and the shouts of just pure joy and that's what it's all about. That's why you drive hard as an individual and as a whole group of people to try and achieve moments like that, and it makes it all worthwhile.

On looking forward to the FA Cup draw…

It's a funny one for me because it's my wedding anniversary and we had a meal booked for 7pm, so I've had to try and delay it for an hour and a half, so obviously we'll get in front of the television watch it. I think we'll be at different venues, but it'll be a thrill.

I've found myself in previous years when the balls are drawn out and it's Harrogate Town out I just shout to the television saying ‘no, not that team or oh no, not the away game'. For my sake, I hope it's a big team away from home because it puts some much needed money back into the club. It would be a great occasion to be able to take our supporters away from home to an elite team.

I'll have to try and suppress my emotions if someone has a camera in my face but genuinely there'll be some no shouts and yes go on shout outs too. That's partly why the FA Cup is amazing, to be involved in it you need hope, you need jeopardy and you need success all in the mix and we're living and breathing it.

On Forest Green Rovers preparations…

The lads have just gone out for a very light session and then we'll do some set pieces because it has to be mind on it. Everybody's working professionally at it but we're entitled to still have the glow in the aftermath. It can't be just switch on, switch off, we have to build on that. This is momentum for the club and it was a momentous occasion on Saturday so we've got to take full advantage of the confidence gained from that.

On looking for a result against the League leaders…

It's another biggie if we can get the result. We've had a fantastic couple of weeks, and it means even more knowing that we've done well over the last fortnight while down to bare bones and we could foresee a tricky run of games.

We're back home now though and we want to take this boost and run with it. If we can back it up now against the force of Forest Green, who are let's be honest, are probably going to run away with this league this season it would be great. It'll be great as well because we've got another home game around the corner.

Team news…

There's one more that's going to be out tomorrow night but I can't reveal that right now, because it would just open up an opportunity, probably for Forest Green to think, ‘oh right that's a change in the position there.' We haven't got the numbers covered in every position right now.

We've just got a couple of senior, outfield players on the bench tomorrow. And again, just to reiterate, we're thriving on backs against the wall. We know everybody who is involved is passionate and wants to do well for the club and it's exciting to be part of that and when the odds are stacked against you, it's roll your sleeves up time but we're involving a couple of young players as well.

On whether injuries mean we'll be looking for additions in January…

It all depends on the timeline of when players recover from their injuries. We don't want to overdo it and make plans that we can't get out of it and say, ‘right, defenders are out we'll bring defenders in start of January. By that time Rory's back, Wills back and then we're covered so it's just about riding it out right now.

On Forest Green's strengths…

I think the new manager has been very clever about it, I think he inherited a very strong squad that were up there with Mark Cooper and he's not tampered with it too much. He's not changed the way of playing, just built on the progress they've made over several years. They were really strong for several years in the National League and then built on that when they went up.

They're a good footballing team who play with wing backs that play aggressively, so we've just got to find ways of playing in their gaps because whatever system you play, you strengthen in one area and you sacrifice space in another area. We've just got to play to our strengths like we did on Saturday and give a good account of ourselves against a very strong team.

On the crowd impact…

I'm sure they will be. I think they know the efforts of the players with the miles they've covered in the last week, so they'll be glad to be seeing the lads back at home and I'm sure they'll be right up for it and yeah, we definitely need them.

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