Harrogate Borough Council

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10 JULY 2007 -  AS the new football season gets underway next week, there will be a bigger buzz at Wetherby Road home of Harrogate Town AFC.  The team plays in the Blue Square North League, just two steps away from the Football League, and their latest 'signing' has some fancy footwork too.

 

Chairman, Bill Fotherby has just 'signed up' Harrogate Hornets, the town's first ever Cheerleading Club to cheer the lads on at home games. 

 

Launched earlier this year by Harrogate Borough Council's Sport and Play Development Officer, Jo Armstrong, the Cheerleading Club just took off.  In the first two weeks thirty youngsters aged between 8 and 16 years joined up for the classes, which run at Granby Sport and Play Development Centre.

 

Jo is delighted with their first major signing and thanks Bill Fotherby for generously funding kit for the girls who have also been doing some fundraising themselves. 

 

She said: "I knew that there was some interest in cheerleading courses but never expected it to be so popular from the outset.  The programme we put the girls through improves fitness and gymnastic skills but it also builds team spirit as they put together their 'cheers' and artistic routines.

 

"And to get their first opportunity to cheer at the home games of Harrogate Town AFC is a real boost for the club."

 

Chairman Bill Fotherby is looking forward to the crowd lifting both clubs on Monday.  "The girls will be nervous but I know they have been training very hard just like the team.  For me this is the future.  We want the community involved with the club and we want them to support and be proud of their home team.  I am delighted to support these youngsters and I hope they will be around to cheer us up to the Main Conference League this year."

 

One of the girls cheer routine includes : "We're smooth, we're great: we come from Harrogate We're cool, we're sound: we completely rule this ground GO HARROGATE.                                                      ENDS

 

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY:  Monday, 16 July at 7.45 pm   Harrogate Town AFC Ground, Wetherby Road.  The match is with Bradford City.