Why Hastings United fans will take keen interest in Harrogate Town's Football League venture

Sean Ray of Hastings in action against Harrogate in the FA Cup in 2012 / Picture: Getty

They're the team Hastings United beat on one of the greatest nights in the football club's history - and now they have been promoted to the Football League.

Harrogate Town - who Hastings defeated on penalties in a televised FA Cup second-round replay in December 2012 - will play in League Two next season for the first time in their history.

The North Yorkshire club clinched their place in the fourth tier courtesy of a 3-1 victory over Notts County in the National League play-off final on Sunday.

The match was played behind closed doors at Wembley because of coronavirus restrictions.

Harrogate pictured on the play-off journey that ended with promotion to League Two / Picture: Getty

It was Harrogate's second promotion in three seasons, having gone up from National League North in the 2017-18 campaign.

Their manager, Simon Weaver, was also at the helm when they played Hastings, having taken up the role in 2009.

In order to comply with EFL regulations, Harrogate will need to rip up their artificial pitch and replace it with grass in time for the new term.

Harrogate only installed their state-of-the-art 3G surface in July 2016 and Hastings fans will recall the very heavy grass pitch on which the original meeting between the clubs was played.

That ended in a 1-1 draw, as did the replay - which was played on a far better surface at The Pilot Field and in front of a crowd of 4,028 - before Hastings prevailed 5-4 on spot-kicks.

Hastings went on to visit Championship side Middlesbrough in the third round, but were relegated from the Isthmian League Premier Division at the end of that season.

They've yet to return to that level since, despite three play-off semi-final appearances and topping the South East Division last season when the league was curtailed - and subsequently declared null and void - due to the coronavirus pandemic.