York City stole the show in May – with not one but two Wembley triumphs.

First, they lifted the FA Trophy with a 2-0 victory over Newport County at the home of football on May 12.

Just over a week later, on May 20, they were back at Wembley, and made it a unique double by beating arch rivals Luton Town 2-1 in the Blue Square Bet Premier play-off final, to win promotion back to the Football League.

In between those two Wembley visits came news that city planners had approved plans for York’s new community stadium, which will in future be home to York City and the York City Knights rugby club.

It made for an unprecedented week of success in the football club’s history, prompting manager Gary Mills to remark, after his second Wembley triumph: “To come to Wembley two weeks running and do the double is an incredible feeling.

In fact, with the ground announcement (a reference to the community stadium decision) it’s been a terrific treble and probably the best hattrick ever at York City Football Club.”

The decision to approve the community stadium was not without controversy, however, since it also involved giving planning permission to two new out-of-town superstores at Monks Cross.

The debate raged for eight hours before planning permission was finally granted. Council leader James Alexander declared; “York has shown itself to be open for business”.

But Mulberry hall boss Adam Sinclair, one of many city centre retailers worried about the impact on their business of new out-oftown stores, said: “It is clear there is going to be severe and permanent economic damage.”

In other news in May, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, presented Operational Service medals at York Racecourse to infantry reservists who had returned from Afghanistan; 23-year-old Alice Czyz was crowned Miss York, and Coun Keith Hyman became the city’s new Lord Mayor; and firefighters had to rescue a puppy called Trouble when she got stuck in her owner Vicki Westerman’s sofa.

Waterstone’s in York was literally buzzing, meanwhile, when a swarm of bees settled on its wall.

Elsewhere, the Olympic Flame was lit in Athens, and began its journey to the UK.


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