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It's Easter Friday, your team isn't playing and you;re about 10 grounds off completing the 92. Time to scan the fixtures and see where the other half would like a couple of days away. York fits the bill nicely. Great city, lots to see (the Quilt Museum!) and lots to drink and places to drink it in.
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| I'm not sure how to describe this strange structure tagged onto the Main Stand. |
The ground, a stroll away from the city centre, is just like it used to be - which is why it was such a pleasure to go. Terracing, ramshackle stands, low roofs...an atmosphere. So get there while you can, cos it only turns out they're on the move, to the York Community Stadium, 8,000 capacity, the permission for which has just been passed by the council. None of which I knew when I arrived, so all the more reason I did. Having chatted to a few fans pre-match, they're looking forward to it. Without a move, the club was doomed, owing £2m in the near future as part of a loan taken out to pay the previous dodgy chairman (see the full story in one of David Conn's books).
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| The Pop Side (pay an extra quid) |
Bootham Crescent. Now I know why it's called a Crescent - every home fan has to come down one side of the ground to get in. Even if you're in the Popular Side (seats on the far side), you have to go through the entrances to the home terrace and walk through them to the other side. This MUST affect capacity. Today, the Pop Side (do they call it that?) was full. You couldn't even transfer from the terrace ('only £1') today. I'd seen a sign outside that it was sold out. Folk appeared to be parting with a token in order to be allowed in. None of that there technology.
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| Queue while you watch (when the game's on; this is pre-match) |
The stand itself looked like that crap stand at Palace, but on a smaller scale, seats bolted onto existing terracing. Shame that at York, a couple of fences mark a no-man's land which limits the number of seats available. They don't do THAT at Palace. Still, how often have they sold out what seats they DO have this season? (Every week, for all I know).
I elect to stand in the home end. Cos a) I want York to win, and b) I couldn't face being stood out in the rain in the away end. Given the limited number of terraces left in England, this seems one of the biggest. It's the little things I like, such as the ramp which circles behind the terrace, so you don't have to push through others to get to the far end. It's the food kiosk, built into the back of the stand, so you can still see the game while you order. It's the number of flags the York ultras wave as their beloved team comes out. (I notice 5 minutes later, the flags, all neatly furled, being taken to a supporters' club shed at the far end of the stand. Handy.)
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| The teams come out. The flags come out. |
The ground seems busy, yet the eventual crowd barely scrapes 4,000. Today is a crucial fixture in the battle to retain league status. York are just outside the relegation zone while the Robins prop up the table. But if York lose this and at home to Hartlepool next week (all-ticket!) then they really are in the s***. It's all to play for.
The match is better than I expect, especially given the incessant drizzle. There's some decent football out there, though chances are at a premium. Despite York running the game, Cheltenham probably eke out the best couple of chances, showing how even it was. As the game wore on I feared a goalless draw. Coulson slammed a free kick off the far post and a scrambled goal was disallowed for offside. (As the home fans celebrated, I think I was the first one to spot the linesman's flag.) Finally though, a corner to the far post was headed in and it was celebration time for a relieved home support.
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| A packed Pop Side |
While feeling sorry for the drenched Cheltenham posse (250, a great turnout) I'm pleased for York. It seems to me that there are far too many traditional northern sides slipping into non-league, to be replaced by sides from faceless southern towns with no history. I just hope York take their old-school programme shop with them to their new stadium.
Crowd: 4,171 (away: 250)
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| Now THIS is how to curry favour. Wins my vote! |
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| View from behind the goal |
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| The Main Stand empties |
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| Those drenched Robins |
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| Note the roof extension |
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| Yes, it's seen better days... |
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| Match action |
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| One fan parks his tractor outside the turnstiles |
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