Young Terrier reflects on Wembley win with Harrogate Town
- Kian Harratt on Harrogate’s promotion to the EFL
- Forward looks back on first Wembley experience
- Youngster looking forward to returning to Canalside for pre-season
Huddersfield Town forward Kian Harratt has heralded the amazing experience of winning the Vanarama National League Play-Off Final with Harrogate Town at Wembley Stadium last weekend.
The 18-year-old was part of Simon Weaver’s Harrogate squad that overcame Notts County 3-1 to secure promotion to the EFL for the first time in the Club’s history on Sunday.
Having originally signed for Harrogate on loan in January, the Academy forward returned to Town during the season’s hiatus before heading back to the CNG Stadium on loan for the Play-Offs.
Despite not getting on to the pitch during Harrogate’s post-season run, the whole experience is one that will have done wonders for Kian and is one that he certainly won’t be forgetting in a hurry.
“Firstly, playing at Wembley or being involved in a Play-Off final squad was an incredible experience for someone my age,” he told BBC Radio Leeds.
“The final was strange with no supporters, but the experience was still amazing.
“In the week before the Play-Offs, Gareth Southgate came in. A lot of the lads were nervous, but he came in, had a word with us and told us about his experience at the World Cup and about easing nerves.
“I think then, by the time the game came, the lads were ready for the fight.”
Helping Harrogate secure promotion to Sky Bet League 2 capped off a great overall learning experience for Kian in what was his first proper taste of senior football.
The teenage forward looked back on his loan experience with the Club over the last few months.
“In Academy games, you win and you lose, whereas I was going into Harrogate and they were already in a promotion fight.
“It was a big change for me. I was ready to take my chance whenever it came. I always kept myself ready.
“It was really good to play senior men’s football for the first time. The loan spell has done a lot for me not only on the pitch but off it as well. It was a good experience.”
It’s been a good week all round for Kian who added the promotion to being named Huddersfield Town’s Academy Player of the Year for the 2019/20 season a few days earlier.
Off the back of a successful campaign on the pitch, the forward has given an insight into his thinking ahead of his return to Canalside as preparations begin for the start of the new season.
“I just have to keep working hard.
“The Academy has helped me out a lot. They’ve really pushed me on and driven me to be better.
“Obviously, I have a lot of work ahead, but I’m determined to keep improving and see what happens.”
