From the publisher:
It's ten minutes into a bitterly cold second half against York City in the FA Trophy.
'Dad?' says Molly.
'Yes?' I reply, tentatively.
'Can your toes actually fall off?'
In August 2020, Harrogate Town achieved promotion to the Football League for the first time in their history. Dave Worton has spent the last couple of years cataloguing this remarkable journey through a weekly column in the Harrogate Advertiser.
He also tells of another journey, one of a father and daughter falling irreversibly in love with their local football team after visiting one Saturday afternoon, five long seasons ago. Never in their wildest dreams did they think they’d be watching Town enter the Football League, but sometimes you find yourself in the right place at the right time.
‘For The Love Not The Glory’ compiles all the offending newspaper columns; spinning tales of inadvertent shoplifting, flying dogs, stubborn defences, goals that aren’t, sickness on the Stray, Storm Jorge and the Fylde curse, crackly radio reception, stolen flags, dodgy referees, goals that most certainly are, victories over Halifax Town and York City (three times), floodlight failure, absent mindedness, wasted journeys, tantrums, inclement weather, broken wing mirrors, shirt auctions, and a five hour coach journey back from Barrow. Oh, and not to forget, two promotions, lots of ups, a few downs, a five month national lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic and glory at Wembley Stadium.
It also solves the unanswered question of our time, namely, 'Why do all the players bunch up to one side of the pitch when the goalkeeper takes a goal kick?'
The toes question, however, remains unanswered.
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