HARROGATE TOWN manager Simon Weaver is the longest-serving manager in the top four divisions of English football.
But he’s answerable to his chairman dad Irving – who owns the North Yorkshire club in League Two.
Weaver Sr, 75, vowed to “put Harrogate further up the football pyramid” when he took over in 2011.
Together with Simon, they are the father-and-son team that have lifted Harrogate from the National League North to League Two.
But his son had already been manager for two years when dad stepped in, making it 15 years and 191 days in the Town dugout.
The Sulphurites were drifting in the sixth tier of English football and surviving on crowds of around 200 just 11 years ago.
Fast forward 13 years, and Harrogate are enjoying their fifth season in League Two.
And all with one of the smallest budgets in the division – finishing comfortably in 13th last term.
Harrogate, it seems, have not yet realised that after 91 years in non-league, it boasts a team among the elite.
Simon has led the club through two promotions in 2017-18 and 2019-20 and the FA Trophy success in the latter too.
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Former PE teacher George Thomson, 32, has played a significant part in the Town’s rise from the non-league, making more than 300 appearances.
Winger Thomson scored at Wembley in their National League play-off final victory over Notts County to help seal a spot in the Football League back in 2020.
And he exclusively revealed to SunSport how he is eyeing a third promotion to add to his fairytale rise from non-league hopeful to Harrogate icon.
He said: “It’s been an incredible journey and I’m hoping that there are a few more years left for me.
“There were a group of us who have been here long-term that said straight after that Wembley win that we want one more.”
More than a decade ago, Harrogate were spared relegation from the National League North only because of financial irregularities elsewhere.
Simon, 45, who used to play for Sheffield Wednesday, took over with the club in turmoil.
The former defender told the BBC: “We lost 3-0 away to Corby Town. I had a playing budget of £1,600.
“I had to count on a few friends and some played for free as a favour.
“We didn’t have anywhere to train and when we did train, I got in trouble with the club because we were damaging the pitch.
“We eventually got an hour a week in the gym and and a half on the AstroTurf, which caused injuries because it was rock hard.”
Watford have made more than 20 managerial changes since Simon took the reigns after answering an advert placed in the Non-League Paper.
Simon will be looking to deliver his dad a financial boost when Harrogate host non-league Gainsborough Trinity in the FA Cup on Friday.
They knocked out League One side Wrexham in the first round.
The cup tie will be his 766th game in charge of the club.
Victory will secure them a place in the third round for only the second time in their 105-year history – and a potential money-spinning tie against a Prem club.
Pep Guardiola, who took over at Manchester City in 2016, is the longest-serving current manager in the Premier League.
The Spaniard has enjoyed eight years and five months at the Etihad, while Thomas Frank has spent six years and one month at Brentford.
Simon added: “I’m proud of it. Sometimes I think ‘gosh, how has he been in and out in such a short space of time’ when I hear about a manger losing their job.”
Multi-millionaire Irving made his money as a property magnate and is not afraid to make tough business decisions when needed.
So, has he ever come close to sacking his son?
Irving told the Beeb: “We’ve never had to go that far. Arguments are a waste of time.
“There’s a concern when we’re on a losing run. We’ve just been down to 20th in the table.
“There’s a serious discussion about where the problems lie. But it’s a discussion – not an argument.”
