'Divide some loyalties!' - Leeds United fans make same joke following FA Cup third round draw vs Harrogate Town

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Leeds United’s FA Cup opponents won’t have very far to travel next month.

Leeds United have the prospect of a very local derby to look forward to next month, following confirmation they will host Harrogate Town in the FA Cup.

The iconic FA Cup third-round draw took place on Monday evening and put together some mouth-watering ties, not least the visit of League Two Harrogate to Elland Road. A regular opponent during pre-season, the Sulphurites have never faced Leeds in competitive football but will travel to West Yorkshire in January with it all to play for.

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Just 18 miles separate the two Yorkshire clubs and leafy town Harrogate is home to a huge number of Leeds players past and present. Brenden Aaronson and Wilfried Gnonto currently reside there, while everyone from Daniel Farke to Mateusz Klich has been spotted over recent years.

Until recently, Harrogate had only ever had a non league club and so many of its residents flocked to Leeds for their football fix. Promotion into League Two certainly increased local support but many Exercise Stadium regulars would consider themselves Whites supporters as well, and that irony was not lost following news of the FA Cup draw.

@JoshLUFC17 commented: “All Harrogate fans are Leeds fans [laughing emoji]”, while @MarkLeeEire joked: “Be a lot of half and half’s from Harrogate”. @nuttyhill had a similar thought, writing: “Can I order a half'n'half scarf?”

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Last season’s Elland Road breakout star Archie Gray went to school at St John Fisher Catholic High School in Harrogate, with @GeorgeTudor86 joking: “I imagine Archie Gray will have a head v heart moment [laughing emoji].” Meanwhile, @Karltrinity1873 asked: “Who are Harrogate Whites supporting? both?”

@Sbox02 commented: “No need to separate the home and away ends”, with @CoyEoghan14 adding: “Some game for Harrogate Leeds fans”. @SimonWa19449827 joked: “That's gonna divide some loyalties in the posh wards!”

Loyalties will be divided in some quarters but what is in no doubt is that the game at Elland Road will be historic. Leeds and Harrogate often go head-to-head over the summer - the Whites most recently enjoying a 3-0 win in North Yorkshire in July - but never with that competitive edge.

Harrogate boss Simon Weaver - the longest serving manager in the EFL with over 15 years of service - was at Old Trafford for the draw and couldn’t quite believe his side would be due at Elland Road. He told the BBC: “It’s an amazing draw for us, what an experience it is going to be. Elland Road - we won’t need an overnight stop which will please the board! It will be a very memorable day for the club.”

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All FA Cup third round ties will take place on the weekend on January 10 and 11, with exact dates and times subject to TV selections. Replays have been scrapped this season, with extra-time and penalties to follow if fixtures end level after 90 minutes.

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