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How do Harrogate Town footballers spend Christmas Day?

Christmas is often a time for eating everything in sight, drinking and indulging yourself - but what about for professional athletes?

Christmas is often a time for eating everything in sight, drinking and indulging yourself - but what about for professional athletes? Harrogate Town captain Josh Falkingham has revealed that the team have been given Christmas Day off by manager Simon Weaver - but that he also trusts them to "do the right thing." Josh has been talking to Your Harrogate about the Christmas period and how professional footballers need to be careful of what they eat and drink - particularly this year ahead of a Boxing Day derby with Bradford City. He said:

"The management team and the gaffer have trust within the players and allow us Christmas Day off. The gaffer trusts us to do things right on Christmas Day.

"You’ve got to watch yourself - you can’t enjoy yourself too much. You’ve got to be ultra professional.

"You get the trust off the gaffer to have Christmas Day off which doesn’t happen everywhere. We’re very lucky to be able to spend the day with our families and enjoy the day itself but you’ve got to be professional and make sure you know how big the game is on Boxing Day.

"Not much - if any - alcohol can be drunk or anything like that and you’ve got to be careful with how many Christmas puddings you have after dinner!"

[caption id="attachment_21746" align="alignnone" width="1869"] Town players will have Christmas Day off this year (Photo: TownPix)[/caption] Like many other players in the Harrogate Town squad, Josh has a young family that he will be spending Christmas Day with. He spoke of his two-year-old daughter Penelope's excitement for Christmas time and her obsession with Peppa Pig and Disney's Frozen:

"It's a brilliant time of the year. A lot of the lads now have their own little families like myself, so it's an amazing time and everyone loves it.

"Olaf is a big talking point In our house at the minute. I didn’t know if she would take to Christmas or if it would be too soon for her, but she definitely has and she’s hoping Santa will bring her lots of presents!"

Harrogate Town travel to Bradford City's Valley Parade on Boxing Day in League Two. Kick off is at 3pm.  Read more local stories from Your Harrogate here.

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