Harrogate Town boss Simon Weaver has hailed Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder and his impact in the Premier League this season.

Wilder started his managerial career at Alfreton in non-league football and has worked his way up to the Premier League with Sheffield United.

The Blades are now seventh in the table and Weaver said he and Wilder have discussed football in the past.

“A couple of years ago Chris came to a charity game and I actually played on the same team as him," Weaver told Tribal Football.

“He was having a laugh in the changing room just like everyone else we had a chat after the game and we got along really well. Later on I saw him out in Portugal when he was with some of the Sheffield United team. We chatted and he knew all about how we were doing that season."

Harrogate are currently second in the National League, a league that Wilder was promoted from through the playoffs with Oxford United in 2010.

Despite being a Sheffield Wednesday academy graduate, Weaver said he looked up to Wilder and admired what he had achieved in management.

“I remember playing Halifax with Scarborough when he was the manager," he added.

“Even then he had the same principles about team spirit and energy and desire. He's always been very honest, and he just tells the truth and you can see that now when he's doing interviews in the Premier League that he hasn't lost any of that kind of character. He's the same guy and he's someone that I definitely look up to."

Harrogate are three points adrift of National League leader Barrow, although Barrow have played two games fewer than Weaver's side.

Weaver took over at Harrogate in 2009 when they were at the bottom of the National League North, but took the club to promotion during the 2017/2018 season.