Young footballers upset after York City chief vetos their games before Minstermen’s FA Cup tie

8:19am Monday 26th October 2009

By Gavin Aitchison

PARENTS have reacted angrily after their children’s dream football day out at Bootham Crescent turned sour.

Youngsters from several local primary schools were due to play on York City’s pitch, ahead of the club’s FA Cup tie with Bedworth United on Saturday, only for City manager Martin Foyle to veto the games.

He said that, due to the rain, he did not want youngsters playing on the pitch before the big match but the move left children and parents’ furious.

Jack Daniel, ten, a striker for Lakeside Primary School, said: “Someone just came out and said our matches were off because they did not want us to ruin the pitch. I was heartbroken.”

He said he and his team-mates were told a week before that they would be playing at Bootham Crescent, and said they had been excited all week.

The matches have been re-arranged for December 5, before City’s home match against Wrexham, but Jack’s mother Rebecca said Mr Foyle should have told the children personally that the games were off.

“They had been standing there in the rain waiting to play. Parents asked for him to come out, but he refused.

“I am told some parents from Skelton+Primary+School%22">Skelton Primary School had even cancelled half-term holidays to be here – it was a big thing for the kids.”

Another Lakeside parent Paul Moll, whose son, William, was also due to play, said: “I said ‘get the manager out – get him to say why the lads cannot play’. There were nine kids from each school, plus parents and grandparents. I thought what a disgrace it was.”

Sophie Hicks, the football club’s communications and community director, said: “There were two games that were going to be played in the CPP Challenge Cup. The games were called off at about 1.30pm and it was a managerial decision taken by Martin Foyle.

“He looked at the pitch and felt it was not suitable for young players to play on it as there was water on the pitch.” She said all children and parents were given free tickets to the FA Cup tie, or refunded their admission fee, and said the games had been rearranged.

Away fans arrested

TWO supporters were arrested after a fight broke out following Saturday’s FA Cup match at Bootham Crescent.

They were both Bedworth United fans, who had seen their team lose 2-0 to York City in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round.

There was also trouble inside the ground, with York goalkeeper Michael Ingham appearing to be struck by an object thrown from a visiting fan, but no police action has yet been taken.