Harrogate Town's Football League exit is a window into the club's soul
On Harrogate Town's last day in the Football League – who knows how long for? – the mind cast back to a phrase an angry Simon Weaver used in the pouring rain at Salford City 18 months earlier. That night, he said his team had been "Bettys".
The softness he railed against then was not seen in the 2-1 home defeat to Barnet which signed off a relegation on the cards since a 20-match winter winless streak, yet there was still a genteel Bettys Tea Room feel to it.
The club that entered the 92 via a behind-closed-doors play-off left in an air of mature acceptance. They were not happy about it, but not deluding themselves either, appreciating the six-year ride, rather than throwing a tantrum at it ending.
They have to be very different to the North Yorkshire club, York City, who will replace them.
It is all a matter of taste. Harrogate’s approach is not everyone’s cup of tea but the Spa town's emblematic shop would not have been going for over a century if there was not a market for it. For a football manager, Weaver's 17 years is even greater longevity.
Of course there are grumbles at his part in relegation, but the "In gaffer we trust" banner was still draped over the front of the west stand.
With Weaver hinting afterwards at changes above, not in, his office – "other things behind the scenes" – maybe there will be a rethink of what the Sulphurites want to be. If Irving Weaver cedes control after 15 years, it will take away accusations of cosiness for his son, the manager.
But on Saturday it felt like whilst those who shape the club from the terraces, whilst striving for better, are at peace with what they are.
Weaver Junior talks a lot about players "fighting". He demanded it again before the dust even settled on defeat. For 90 minutes, he got that.
Centre-forward Shawn McCoulsky had a running first-half battle with Nikola Tavares that saw both booked for getting over-physical in the eye of referee Thomas Parsons. Bryn Morris and Jack Evans poured sweat in midfield and goalkeeper Mark Oxley threw himself at shots like a Hollywood film bodyguard.
Cathal Heffernan piled forward from centre-back in an attempt to make up for his costly early error. Bobby Faulkner thundered into a tackle like someone at the club since he was at school, not a Doncaster Rovers loanee. Substitute Stephen Duke-McKenna continually turned down safer options to beat his man.
The fans were up for it too.
They roared their players on in the warm-up, at the start of each half, and when Morris' first-half penalty equalised Callum Stead's early gift-wrapped opening goal.
When, at 1-1, news came through that Newport County had equalised at Barrow, ducking Harrogate's head below the water, the chant from behind the net they were attacking was a pleading one – "We need a goal!"
When Newport scored again, the mood flattened. Once Barnet substitute Phillip Chinedu netted with his first touch, 82 minutes in, 463 joyful away fans could be heard clearly across the ground – “We are Barnet, the mighty Barney, we always win away!”
"See you next seasons" filled the air at the end.
A few fans left early – drifting, not stomping, off. The rest applauded the players’ end-of-season lap of the pitch. The DJ played the maudlin strains of Snow Patrol’s Chasing Cars: "I don't quite know/How to say/How I feel", but soon worked it out. Don't Look Back In Anger aired next.
"We've stayed strong and together, which is a big thing for this club," said Weaver, proudly.
In the final analysis, they gave it their all but were not quite good enough.
Ploughing a lone furrow was too big an ask for McCoulsky, a free transfer from Maidenhead United and the last back in the dressing room. His chance came in the 50th minute but hit the crossbar.
When Tobias Brennan went through 14 minutes later, he could lob the goalkeeper or knock the ball across to Tom Hill. He scuffed a lofted pass, and let Barnet off the hook.
Not since Luke Armstrong’s head was turned by Wrexham’s money three years ago – he left for Carlisle United six months later – have they had a striker of the calibre needed.
The Conference is clogged with clubs who feel like they belong in the Football League clubs. With gates the highest they have been, yet way less than half Southend United's and no sugar-daddy to bridge the gap, Harrogate not one of them.
But there are many clubs above their natural level, and Harrogate have got used to being one. This was their first relegation since 1978.
Their patient building of the last six years means they return to non-league much stronger than they left.
Fresh eyes and a deep look into the injuries that so handicapped them this season will do them good. But they are what they are, and should fight back their way.
Harrogate Town: Oxley; Cass, Faulkner, Heffernan, Slater; Evans, Morris; Hill (Duke-McKenna 73), Brenan (Thomson 65), Smith; McCoulsky.
Unused substitutes: Acquah, Headman, Sutton, Gibson, Waller.
Barnet: Slicker; Senior, Tavares (Smith HT), Crichlow-Noble, Collinge (Kizzi 65); Hartigan (Ofoborh 65), Shelton; Kanu (Chinedu 82), Glover (Jaiyesimi 67), Stead; Tshimanga.
Unused substitutes: Evans, Winterburn.
Referee: T Parsons (Rochdale).
HOW THE DAY UNFOLDED
3.05pm: Cathal Heffernan’s ill-judged backpass allows Callum Stead to put Barnet 1-0 up, a result that will guarantee Harrogate’s relegation.
3.09pm: Newport County lead at Barrow – good news for the Sulphurites.
3.28pm: After a foul on Jacob Slater, Bryn Morris powers his penalty past a goalkeeper who guesses the right way to equalise for Harrogate.
3.43pm: Tranmere Rovers go behind to Grimsby Town. Four teams are level on 40 points, and Harrogate’s goal difference will keep them up.
4.12pm: Harrogate have started the second half strongly but Shawn McCoulsky’s shot his the crossbar.
4.25pm: Tranmere equalise.
4.36pm: So do Newport, dropping Harrogate into the bottom two.
4.44pm: Phillip Chinedu puts Barnet in front.
5pm: Full-time at Harrogate, where the hosts are relegated.