Evo Stik Division One North
Harrogate Railway manager Lee Ashforth has had his spirits raised by Rob Northfield. Picture: Caught Light Photography
Rob Northfield has lifted the spirits of everyone at Harrogate Railway since his return, especially Lee Ashforth, who admits he has been finding life tough as their manager.
The club’s former chairman recently arrived back at Station View in an advisory capacity and has pledged to provide the necessary resources to ensure Railway stay in the Division.
The businessman, also a former chairman of Guiseley and Tadcaster Albion, was at the helm of Railway between 2007 and 2009 when they reached the second round of the FA Cup.
Northfield, the founder of 2inspire, is one of the leading motivational speakers in the UK and he has been helping Ashforth inspire the Railway squad.
“He’s having a really good impact on me in particular,” Ashforth said. “I think everyone that knows me in the league know that I get on really well with a lot of people. I also think everyone knows that I am the character that goes home and beats myself over things and that’s been having a negative impact on myself. Rob has had me looking at that.
“I’ve looked inwards by going away from games and trying to forget about it and relaxing so that by the time the next game comes, we’re fresh and ready to enjoy it.
“I think I lost sight of that. I’ve always loved football and always wanted to be a football manager and it got to the stage where I wasn’t enjoying it as much as I should be. The fact is we are in a relegation battle and I have to enjoy every game. What will be will be, but we’re going to do everything we can to keep Harrogate Railway in the Evo Stik.
“Rob’s been chatting to the players, certainly (captain) Dan Thirkell and Ryan Sharrocks. He has spoke to the squad on a couple of occasions and we have all been out and had a beer with him. I think it is important to have people like that around.
“He has given everyone a big boost and everyone would agree with that. He’s another person who is trying to get us out of the situation we are in and I can’t think of any other club that would have pulled together as we are doing now.
“Everyone around it is so positive. There is no negativity and I think everyone is wishing us to get out of trouble, even other teams in the league are. It is just a matter of us getting the wins and getting on a bit of run.”
Railway remain two points adrift of safety ahead of the visit of Bamber Bridge to Station View. Above third-bottom Ossett Town, teams are beginning to pull away, but Ashforth is not panicking.
“With Radcliffe beating Ossett Town on Saturday there is a little bit of a gap now, but there is a long way to go,” he added.
“Scarborough are still in it if everyone won their games in hand. There is a gap there, but by the end of the season everyone is going to pick up points at some stage, it is just a matter of who gets the most.”
Listen Again
Lee Ashforth remained upbeat after the 4-0 defeat to Spennymoor Town on Saturday.