Today I'm going back seven years to 2016 and the National League North fixture between AFC Fylde and Harrogate Town played at Fylde's former home, Kellamergh Park in Warton on Lancashire's Fylde coast. The attendance was 660. The two sides met on what was the penultimate Saturday of the season and with both looking to secure their end-of-season Play-Off spot. The game was the last regular-season League fixture at Kellamergh Park with Fylde were scheduled to move into their brand spanking new Mill Farm stadium in time for the start of the following season. My Icelandic guest at this game was enchanted by the sheep gamboling happily in the sunshine in an adjacent field in what was a decidedly rural setting.
Fylde moved into second place in the table with their 2-1 victory over Harrogate with their goals coming either side of halftime from Danny Rowe and James Hardy. Harrogate's goal came too late to save them from defeat in the final seconds and was scored by Warren Burrell.
AFC Fylde ended the season in third place behind champions Solihull Moors and runners-up North Ferriby United. Third place gave Fylde home advantage in the second leg of their Play-Off Semi-Final and who should they meet in that Semi-Final but Harrogate Town once again . In a tense Semi-Final, Fylde won 1-0 away in Harrogate before finishing the job with a one-all draw in the second leg at home in what was the last ever first team game at Kellamergh Park for a 2-1 aggregate victory. Their prize was a place in the one-off Play-Off Final which was played at North Ferriby (a game that I also attended) and Fylde's season ultimately ended in disappointment there as they fell at the final hurdle losing 2-1. Relegated from the National League North that season were Lowestoft Town, Hednesford Town and Corby Town. Interestingly, in 2016, Fylde were on a mission to achieve Football League status by 2022 (indeed they wore the number 2022 on their shirt sleeve and had done so for a few seasons already as they achieved successive promotions). Ultimately it was a goal that they failed to achieve. Meanwhile, Harrogate Town went about their business somewhat under the radar but did eventually achieve Football League status in 2020.
CRB Match No. 2094
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