Tributes to one of Harrogate’s great athletes and lifelong Town supporter

Ken Fozard, a lifelong Harrogate Town supporter, died last week at 76-years-old.

During a running career that spanned half a century, Fozard completed 40 marathons, with a personal best of two hours 31 minutes.

His personal bests for 10k, 10 miles and a half marathon were 32.30, 54.35 and 1.12.29.

“Ken was probably one of the best athletes Harrogate has ever produced. He has an amazing history,” said Harrogate Harriers chairman Tony Essex.

In 1967, Fozard won the Harrogate Herald’s sportsman of the year award and was part of the winning Knaresborough Bed Race team ten years later.

In 1986, he covered 72 and a half miles at a 12-hour race around Harrogate town centre.

He was a founding member of the reformed Harrogate Athletic in the mid 1960s, which later became the Harriers. Over recent years he had an integral part in the Harrogate 10k, and Essex said he would always be the first to help out alongside wife Anne. Essex said: “He was a great club member. He was an unassuming man who would help everybody.”

Harrogate Town held a minute’s silence in Ken’s memory before Saturday’s match against Hyde FC.

Town managing director Garry Plant said: “He was a real, genuine fan who understood football and sport. We will miss his smile and his input.”