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 The
Minstermen have a history of a once proud club that has recently
fallen on difficult times and has even struggled to retain their
existence. For many years though, York City was a club that was
regularly known for their giant killing tradition in the cup
competitions. As a third division club in the 1950's, they made it
to the semi-finals of the FA Cup, eventually losing to Newcastle
United after a replay. In the eighties they made the fifth round in
successive seasons, each time losing to Liverpool after 1-1 draws at
Bootham Crescent. In 1985 they defeated Arsenal in the fourth round,
a penalty from Keith Houchen enough to beat the First Division club.
Houchen went on to score one of the goals in the FA Cup final for
Coventry City just two years later.
In the League Cup too they claimed
some notable scalps. In the 1995/96 season they went to Old Trafford
to face Manchester United and amazingly came away with a 3-0 win.
They lost the return leg at home, but still managed to go through on
aggregate. They showed that the result was no flash in the pan by
defeating another Premier League team, Everton, the very next
season.
Getting There:
By Car - From the South (A1-A64): Exit A64 at
signpost 'Leeds, York A64' and at the roundabout turn right onto the A64.
Exit A64 after 9.3 miles (signposted York (North) A1237, Harrogate) onto the
A1237. Go straight on, remaining on the A1237 for 5.2 miles, over three
roundabouts and over River Ouse, to fourth roundabout. Here, turn right
(signposted York A19) onto the A19 Shipton Road. At lights after 1.6 miles
by village green, go straight on (signposted City Centre). After 0.2 miles
turn left by 'The Burton Stone' pub into Burton Stone Lane. You'll see the
ground on your right.
By Train: Kit Kat Crescent is about a 15 minute walk from York Railway Station.
The Stadium:
There may have been a name change to Kit Kat Crescent, but the home
of York City is still not a sweet place to visit.
Three sides of the stadium are now covered, with the away terracing
predictably left open to the elements. With supporters still having
to pay Football League prices for Conference football, it may be
worth paying the extra £1 to transfer to the seats in the Popular
Stand. The higher prices certainly don't mean better facilities
though, the toilets are second only to Hereford for their
primitiveness.
There is
a social club at the ground which may be open to away supporters. Failing
that, the Burton Stone pub, which you probably passed on your way to the
ground, is welcoming to visiting fans. For earlier arrivals, York city
centre is a 15 minute walk away.
Admission
Prices: Seating Adults - £15
Concessions - £10 U16 - £10 Terrace Adults - £14 Concessions - £9
U16 - £9
Websites:
The club have a new official site which is very neat and tidy and
informative
York City Official Site
There are a number
of unofficial sites, the best of which is Red & Blue net which is
packed full of information but seems to be struggling to find people
to update it of late
Red &
Blue net
Fans Views:
Name: Russell Leeming
Describe your club in one sentence: York City FC, a
sleeping giant on a lull. Recovering from 'club threatening'
troubles in the last few years
What are your expectations for this season: The Play
Offs and hopefully promotion.
How was last season for your club: Disappointing at
home but some great away performances. Progress was made but the
play offs were a demoralising end to the season
What is the best signing you have made this season, and why:
Onome Sodje from Ebbsfleet. Looks an excellent prospect and York
will be the right team for him to develop his career.
Any shock departures: Gutted to see Neal Bishop go but
it was hardly a shock, considering Paul Fairclough's involvement
with the non-league England team. I suspect many more players will
be tapped up in time for 2008/2009
What can visiting fans expect on a trip to your club:
Terrible food and toilets, terrible food, but a decent result
perhaps if our home form doesn't improve
Which game are you looking forward to most, and why:
All the away games, especially Halifax and Burton (great atmospheres
always) and the new grounds.
Where is the best place to get a pint and a pie before the
game: Pint- Burton. Pie- Kidderminster.
What are your predictions for the games against Burton Albion:
Hard to say with the season not yet underway but I'm hopeful for a
victory on 14th at the Pirelli.
Name: Josh Peacock
Describe your club in one sentence. Always expect the
worst.
What are your expectations for this season?
Without wanting to sound too over confident, I think we’ll
comfortably make the play offs. Whether we can win the league will
come down to luck with injuries and our home form. Despite losing
Clayton Donaldson and Neal Bishop I feel we are a better all round
team. Losing Clayton will mean we don’t have one player to rely on,
often players would look to give it to him even if he wasn’t the
best option.
How was last season for your club?
Being a young City fan, last season was the closest to any success
I’ve experienced! Generally, home games were awful last season.
Teams would come and put every man behind the ball and we didn’t
have a plan B. We couldn’t rely on last minute free kicks every game
unfortunately! City away was another thing, however. We had
something like the best away record in the country behind Manchester
United and Derby County. Morecambe away on new years day was
probably the best performance of the season, beating them 3-1. Of
course it didn’t end like that in the play offs, and although I
don’t like to think about it we should have finished them off in the
first leg.
What is the best signing you have made this season, and why?
It’s hard to look past Onome Sodje really! 5 goals in pre season and
a fans favourite already! He’s still raw and maybe lacks composure
in the box but he’s going to have a great season I reckon. Although
saying that Billy has already made a hint he’ll be starting the
season on the bench! Another signing I think will do well is Chris
Beardsley. He’s a big centre forward, something we missed at times
last season. He doesn’t have much pace but with the players around
him it won’t be a problem.
Any shock departures?
I guess it’s not much of a shock, we always expect to lose our
quality players! But losing Neal Bishop to Barnet was a blow. Neal
Bishop follows Andy Bishop and Clayton Donaldson in being our best
player yet leaving for nothing! I can see winger Martyn Woolford
being the next one already unless we go up!
What can visiting fans expect on a trip to your club?
If last season was anything to go by, 3 points! But a friendly
welcome all the same, any maybe getting wet if it rains!
Which game are you looking forward to most, and why?
Burton after the memories of last year. Exeter is another one, those
lovely people at Setanta have chosen to move the game to a Monday
night. It’s hard to look forward to many other games because you
don’t know when they’re going to be moved!
Where is the best place to get a pint and a pie before the
game?
The Social Club, next to the away turnstiles.
What are your predictions for the games against Burton Albion?
I’ll go with a 3-1 victory for the Minstermen next Tuesday and it’ll
probably be a draw at our place in February!
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