DECEMBER 2001

Douglas Craig announces York City FC is up for sale and City will quit Football League unless buyer is found.

Evening Press launches Save City campaign and organises first meeting of supporters' representatives in our offices.


JANUARY 2002

Public meeting organised by fan representatives and Press for supporters at Tempest Anderson Hall, Museum Gardens.

Setting up of Supporters' Trust (ST)agreed.

Bootham Crescent Holdings (BCH) drop bombshell, announcing a buyer must pay £4.5 million or vacate ground by June.

British Touring Car Championship owner-driver John Batchelor (JB) expresses an interest in buying club.

City of York Council co-ordinates a bid from local businesses but is rejected by Craig.

York Wasps RL chiefs John Stabler and Russell Greenfield emerge as bidders.


FEBRUARY 2002

ST formally launched at a packed Barbican.

JB offers ST a 20 per cent stake in City and two seats on board should he gain control.

ST back his bid.


MARCH 2002

JB announced as City's new owner and promises to make it the most 'unusual' in the league.

Reveals plans for a new 15,000-seat stadium within two years.

It is inferred he owns both club and Bootham Crescent (BC).

JB announces sponsorship deal with York builders Persimmon Homes (PH).


APRIL 2002

JB insists club will continue to play at BC until new stadium is built.

Says club is looking to open a shop and sports bar in city centre.

Pledge to give two seats on board on hold until end of a 'transitional period'.


MAY 2002

Press reveal JB does not own BC as had been believed.

A leaked letter to BCH shareholders from Craig reveals the company has entered into conditional contract to sell BC, dependent on planning permission being granted.

JB announces he wants to change name to York City Soccer Club.


JULY 2002

First artist impressions of JB's new £17.5 million stadium revealed.

JB says he expects to submit planning application "within days"

PH submit planning application to build 93 homes on BC

JB maintains both applications will run in parallel.

JB reveals he wants to build new ground at Clifton Moor.

Craig resigns from the board of football club.


AUGUST 2002

JB says he now hopes to submit planning application for new stadium within six weeks.

A statement in PH's application to build on BC implies City may have to leave ground by end of season.

JB insistent City will not be kicked out but confirms he wants to buy ground from BCH.


SEPTEMBER 2002

ST highly commended in the Trust of the Year awards.

ST claims it has faced a wall of silence from PH over their plans to build on BC.

JB gives fans chance to buy season tickets for the 2003-04 campaign at half price.

Claims a sponsorship deal to be announced has made offer possible.


OCTOBER 2002

Around 1,000 half-price season tickets sold but still no sponsorship deal announced.

Press reveals PH have bought 20,000 shares in BCH.

ST lodge their objection to PH's planning application with council.

Press calls on PH and BCH to break silence over their plans for BC.

JB announces he still wants to buy BC from BCH and reckons planning permission on ground would make it easier for him to do it.


NOVEMBER 2002

Craig blasts fans for fighting plans to redevelop BC and refuses to give any assurance club will be allowed to play at BC next season.

Independent protest group Friends of Bootham Crescent (FoBC) is established

JB denies club is facing administration.

ST begin negotiations to take control of the club from JB.

JB publicly states he is willing to transfer his shares to ST, then reveals club is going into administration. Players told they won't be getting paid.

JB back tracks on his share transfer pledge.

Press reveal JB bought the club for just £1.


DECEMBER 2002

Press reveals JB's Cheshire home is up for sale.

BCH AGM ends in farce, postponed after just 90 seconds due to apparent irregularities.

It is announced City have just 35 days to survive.

Press reveal details of how BCH, PH and JB replaced club's 25 year lease with one lasting only a year, while JB's racing team received £400,000 in sponsorship monies from PH.


JANUARY 2003

Local business consortium withdraw bid to save City. ST left to go it alone.

Record number of objections to PH's planning application submitted.

ST give £92,000 to safeguard club's future for a month.

Administrator claims to have received formal bid from JB for club involving businessman John Heynes.

ST announce own bid to save club and launch campaign to raise £500,000.

Representatives of a north-east businessman, later revealed as Brooks Mileson, say they intend to buy both club and BC before moving City to a new stadium

JB claims club is on verge of buying back BC.


FEBRUARY

Trust submit their bid.

Administrator admits £92,000 has been spent, describes situation as "deadly serious".

JB stumps up £10,000, on his credit card, to give club stay of execution.

Fans urged to raise £60,000 in just four days to save club. Money floods in.

Administrator finally accepts ST's offer and JB admits his reign is over.


MARCH

ST told by football authorities a ground solution is needed if their rescue package is to succeed.

Former City director John Quickfall resigns from BCH and pledges to return any profit to club.

City's total debt revealed as £1.8million.

Council pledge to give City ten year lease at Huntington Stadium (HS) and, according to sources, pledge to remove running track.

In return for being allowed to stay at BC for another season, ST must withdraw objection to PH's application.

Steve Beck, Sophie McGill, Mike Brown and later Jason McGill and Ian McAndrews unveiled as directors of new York City.

Plans put on hold when administrators fail to get Inland Revenue (IR) approval for the CVA proposals.

ST forced to fund club for another week.

Second attempt to get IR approval fails again. ST finally reaches agreement at third time of asking.

On March 26, ST confirmed as club's new owners.


APRIL

Experts appointed to draw up redevelopment plans at HS.

Athletes at HS voice fears they will be made homeless.

Football League finally approve ST take-over.


MAY
Club announce manager Terry Dolan and assistant Adie Shaw have been given notice of their contracts.

Club continues to pay wages but duo clear their desks


JUNE

Club announce appointment of Chris Brass as youngest manager in the league.

HS proposal hits problems.

Club, backed by Craig, claim council have reneged on agreement to fund relocation of running track at HS.


JULY

Club's future under threat after council call on City to back authority's "phased-development" plan, including building of temporary stands and retention of running track

Club describe proposals as "ludicrous and illogical" and reveal own £3m blueprint, which involves building of two new stands and removal of track.


AUGUST

City win first four league games of season.

FoBC step up campaign against PH with protests at some of company's developments


SEPTEMBER

City announce they intend to submit HS planning application by end of month.

With scheme already two months behind schedule, Craig refuses to say whether he will grant club an extension to remain at BC.

Club later announce plans will not be submitted until October.


OCTOBER

HS move hits another glitch with discovery of ancient Roman camp at site.

Planning application not now expected to be submitted until November


NOVEMBER

Craig again refuses to say whether he will grant an extension at BC
City final submit planning application, some five months behind schedule

Club rule-out ground sharing when builders finally move into HS
Brass admits uncertainty over the ground is making it difficult for him to negotiate new contracts.

FoBC vow to step up campaign to keep City at BC.

Craig states he will only consider lease extension once planning approvals have been granted.


DECEMBER

City's HS planning application includes bizarre travel restrictions on fans.

Any supporter wanting to walk to HS from more than a mile away must obtain a permit.

ST named National Trust of the Year.

At ST AGM, club announce committment to keeping club at BC and reveal behind-the-scenes negotiations have been held.

Athletes lodge objection to HS planning application.


JANUARY

City given deadline of end of February to inform Football League of where they will be playing next season.

Craig reveals a price-tag of £2.6million for anyone wanting to buy BC without planning permission.

Figure is believed to include £600,000 as "compensation" to Persimmon, who have ten per cent stake in BCH and have conditional agreement to buy BC.

Club confirm negotiations are on-going.


FEBRUARY

Club announce it has bought back their home of past 72 years. The club's future is secure.