**** Centenary Season ****

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The club was actually formed in 1914 as Harrogate A.F.C.
The 1st game was away @ Bishop Auckland in the Northern League on 5th September 1914 but the club pulled out before playing it because the players were “drafted” to join the forces because of the war!!!!!!
So our 1st ever match was actually in 1919
The same year a certain building company was formed!!

Would seem fitting to throw everything into promotion and have the mother of all parties at the end of the season!

This is the subject of ongoing discussions as it appears that the centenary of our formation is the 2014-2015 season (ie the season after next) rather than the 2013-2014 season with the centenary of our first match being 5 years later (not checked but it'd make it 2018-2019 season I think)

We could always have 2 parties!

No specific date of when formed in 1914 in Phil’s book but it said they secured “late” membership of the Northern League in June of that year!
So the club must have been formed around then to secure membership!
So season 2014/15 would likely be our “Centenary Year”!
The club was re-formed on the 29th May 1919 as Harrogate A.F.C.
It definitely played its first match on Sat 30 Aug 1919 @ home against Horsforth winning 1-0
So should the 2019/20 season be our Centenary Year?
Technically was the founded club with the name Harrogate A.F.C. in 1914 disbanded?
If not then although no matches were played 2014/15 would be our “Centenary Year” as the club would have likely been founded after the 1913/14 season!
But was it formed during the 1913/14 season?

If anyone at the club could answer this, it would be a good opportunity for fans, players and staff to all have a good drink together!!!!

TheNeil29 wrote:If anyone at the club could answer this, it would be a good opportunity for fans, players and staff to all have a good drink together!!!!

This has been discussed both at the Supporters Club and at Board level - no final decision has been made but the majority view would appear to be that the Club was formed in season 1914-15 and, but for the war, would have played that season.
Club historian Phil tells the story that the team were due to play Bishop Auckland and an hour before they left hostilities with Germany had broken out - the pitch was also waterlogged but that's another story.
seems a good idea to celebrate with a fixture against Bishop Aucklland with a season of festivities through season 2013-14.
Will keep everyone informed

It wouldn't be an overly crazy idea to have either a discount, or make it free entry and all ticket maybe? Really create an atmosphere.