Cunning plan to cash in on 'Wiggomania'!

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Harrogate Railway Athletic are hoping to cash in on ‘Wiggomania’ when the Tour De France rolls into Yorkshire this summer.

With one of July’s English stages passing within 300 yards of Station View on Sunday July 6 and the whole of Harrogate expected to be at a virtual standstill when the world’s most famous road race passes by, the First Division North club is planning to open a campsite and other facilities for cycling fans next to their new clubhouse.

Excited officials are planning to use a second pitch at their ground which normally stands idle during the close season. They believe their facilities and proximity to the race will prove to be a real draw and help to generate welcome extra income ahead of the new season.

The race – won for the first time by a Briton in 2012 when Sir Bradley Wiggins triumphed – will be run in Yorkshire over three days starting on Saturday July 5. The Rail say they are determined they’ll be ready for the thousands of fans expected to descend on the area over the weekend following the surge in interest in the sport after Wiggins went on to win an Olympic gold medal and was knighted for his success.

Fellow Briton Chris Froome boosted the sport's profile and popularity further last summer when he won and Secretary Mike Sunley said: "It really is a massive event for not only Harrogate but for the whole of Yorkshire. I read in the local paper only the other week that the North Yorkshire County Council are expecting on different stages around Yorkshire up to a million spectators and up to 650,000 spectators on the North Yorkshire stage of the tour alone.

"There's still a lot of hard work to do but if everything goes to plan it will bring in extra revenue in for the club, the village and for the football team. The facilities at the club and the village are ideal with transport and shops only a couple of minute’s walk down the road. We've been meeting up for the last few weeks to get things rolling and bit by bit the plans are coming together.

"It’s an all new venture for everyone but with the help of extra volunteers we're hoping to fill all our tent pitches. We are just in the stage of taking bookings for the campsite and anyone wanting additional details can find the information on our club website."