12:44pm Saturday 9th January 2010
By Dave Flett
MANCHESTER City and Aston Villa were both heading for top-flight relegation and Chelsea also finished the season trailing the likes of Luton, Watford and Coventry the last time FA Trophy opponents Newport County and York City met.
But, 23 years on, former City striker Gordon Staniforth, who played for Newport in that old Third Division match, is backing both teams to tackle each other again in a much-changed Football League one day soon.
The Minstermen, lying third in the Blue Square Premier standings, are hoping to end their six-season stint in non-League football with promotion this season.
Newport, meanwhile, are currently Blue Square South champions-elect and are no doubt targeting the back-to-back promotions that would see them regain the League status they lost in 1988 before going out of business nine months later.
Despite Newport being possibly a season behind the Minstermen in terms of schedule, Staniforth also believes the Welsh club he left provide evidence of how the move to a new council-backed stadium could benefit their Bootham Crescent counterparts.
Ahead of the second round tie between the two clubs, he said: “I think this game can be a league fixture again before too long – absolutely. I’ve been delighted with Martin Foyle’s efforts at York this season and am very excited about the club’s prospects for promotion.
“It would be nice if the club can go up and then start work on the new stadium because Newport are proving how that can make a difference.
“What they are achieving now would not have been possible at Somerton Park and I’m pleased their club has been resurrected as well.
“They had enjoyed European football not long before the club went bust and we were getting three or four thousand at games despite being on the slide. They were very, very passionate fans and, like York, could sustain a Football League club again.
“It’s good to see them top of their league, getting excited about going for promotion and doing well in cups.”
There will, however, be no mixed allegiances for York College sports development centre chief Staniforth prior to the clubs’ first clash since 1987, which ended in a 3-0 home win for the Minstermen.
The former England schoolboy international signed for City from Hull in 1976 and went on to score 33 goals in three years before moving on to Carlisle.
He later joined Plymouth, helping them to reach the 1984 FA Cup semi-finals, before moving on to Newport a year later – a decision he still regrets.
With the club in terminal turmoil, Staniforth’s professional career came to a premature end at the age of 30 although he remains grateful to City for handing him 19 games on a non-contract basis during the 1987/8 campaign, as Newport tumbled out of the League.
“What eventually happened at Newport was inevitable,” Staniforth explained. “The club was in free-fall when I was there, the ground was dilapidated and the training facilities were poor.
“Players’ cheques were bouncing and it was very depressing. The team’s fitness was not as good as it should have been and games were very hard work.
“I felt sorry for the supporters but, going there, was the worst decision of my career – a nightmare.
“The only good thing was playing alongside experienced internationals Leighton James and Bob Latchford but I learned money wasn’t everything.
“I was at Plymouth and wanted a longer contract because they were only going to give me another 12 months. Newport gave me a longer deal and more money but it was a backward step.
“My career petered out earlier than it should have done. I wasn’t offered a new contract after two years but I did manage to come back to York and played part-time.
“That was incredible really because I thought I was finished. So, my loyalties will be with York for this one.”
Barrett boost
MIDFIELDER Neil Barrett is the early leader of our January Player of the Month contest.
The former Chelsea trainee was our star man for his goalscoring display during last weekend’s 3-1 FA Cup defeat at Stoke City.
Barrett won three points towards the standings, as a result, with Levi Mackin (two) and David McGurk (one) also rewarded as our second and third-highest rated players.
Striker Michael Rankine won the two bonus points for the player who received most man-of-the-match votes from visitors to our website.
McGurk, meanwhile, is now five points behind leader Richard Brodie in the Player of the Year competition.
To be in with a chance of presenting the next Player of the Month with his prize on the pitch at a City home game, register your man-of-the-match vote for forthcoming fixtures on www.yorkpress.co.uk The Press Player of the Year standings: Brodie 27 points, McGurk 22, Rankine 18, Ferrell 12, Lawless 12, Purkiss 12, Sangare 12, Ingham 11, Barrett 10, Parslow 10, Mackin 9, Meredith 9, Gash 6, Carruthers 4, Graham 4, Smith 4, Boyes 2, Nelthorpe 2.
The Press January Player of the Month latest standings: Barrett 3, Mackin 2, Rankine 2, McGurk 1.
Goals: Brodie 25, Gash 6, Rankine 6, Barrett 2, Pacquette 2, Sangare 2, Smith 2, Carruthers 1, Ferrell 1, Lawless 1.
Assists: Lawless 8, Brodie 6, Ferrell 4, Purkiss 4, Rankine 4, Smith 4, Barrett 3, Meredith 3, Sangare 2, Parslow 2, Carruthers 1, Gash 1, Graham 1, Ingham 1, Mackin 1, McGurk 1, Nelthorpe 1.
Bad boys: Brodie, Ferrell both 7 yellow cards; Meredith 1 red card, 5 yellow; Mackin 5 yellow; Barrett, McGurk all 4 yellow cards; Smith 3 yellow cards; Carruthers, Ingham, Lawless, Rankine all 2 yellow cards; Pacquette 1 red card; Gash, Graham, Nelthorpe, Parslow, Sangare all 1 yellow.
Dinner tickets
Tickets are still available for the Youth Team Dinner that will be held on Thursday, February 4, at Manor School in Millfield Lane, Nether Poppleton.
Liverpool legend Jan Molby will be the main speaker with comedian Jed Stone also performing.
City’s management team of Martin Foyle and Andy Porter, along with their players and the board of directors, are also supporting the event, which will raise funds towards ensuring the continuation of under-18 football at the club.
The cost is £35, which includes a three-course meal, coffee and a complimentary drink.
Anybody interested should call Phil Richardson on 07891 307369.
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