11:22am Saturday 10th April 2010
By Dave Flett
YORK City’s Supporters’ Trust will hold a public meeting on April 19 designed to galvanise support for a new community sports stadium.
The former owners of the club, who still hold a 24 per cent stake in the Minstermen, are calling for members from a cross-section of the city to attend the Monday night event in Bootham Crescent Social Club.
It will start at 7.30pm with the intention of forming a steering committee to discuss ideas for launching a campaign to lobby City of York Council and raise awareness of the need for a modern sports arena. Representatives from City fans’ groups the Jorvik Reds and York Minstermen have agreed to provide their input and ideas already on the table include formalising a Facebook page, organising a petition and gaining endorsements from leading figures in the community.
Commenting on the decision to hold a public meeting, Supporters’ Trust board member Simon Mallett said: “We are looking for people from all our different supporters’ groups to come on board, as well as people involved with York City Knights, the athletics club and other interested organisations to illustrate to the council the widespread support that exists for a community stadium.”
Mallett, a former Conservative parliamentary candidate, believes Councillor Ian Gillies, the Tories’ council leader, can also be convinced of a new community stadium’s viability despite expressing recent doubts.
He said: “The stadium shouldn’t be a political issue and that must be avoided at all costs because it would become very damaging to the city, but any councillor has a responsibility to question financing of public developments.
“I am fully behind the project and I am sure the Conservative Group would take a different view if they can see how it might be financed.
“It may not require council funding and could be built with private money instead. The planning issues can also be resolved by the council as we have seen by how proactive they have been in overcoming problems involved with their new offices.
“The council leaders are capable of moving the community stadium project forward if we show there’s widespread support for it in the city.”
Mallett added that a campaign could provide the Trust with a new focus with the organisation having been criticised for its apparent lack of activity at Bootham Crescent in recent years.
He said: “The Supporters’ Trust’s role has changed over time but it still has a significant stake in the club and we are working closely with the club’s board of directors and owners JM Packaging.
“Hopefully, now, the Trust can play a key part in driving forward the delivery of a community stadium.”
Having failed to attract any new candidates for positions on the Trust board this year, Mallett also pointed out that willing volunteers could be co-opted if they express an interest at Monday’s meeting. Steve Beck has yet to be replaced as a Supporters’ Trust board representative on the club board since his resignation in January 2009.
It was understood that a condition to match club directors’ loans to the club of £3,000 each to fill that dual responsibility had deterred many from offering their services to the Trust but Mallett said: “That’s not necessarily a pre-requisite to become a club director and, hopefully, if people see the Trust has a real role at the club, more people will want to be involved.”
Entries are now being accepted for the sixth annual York City Fans Darts tournament, which will take place in Bootham Crescent Social Club on Saturday, May 29.
Last season’s champion, Phil Chapman, will be defending his title and entry costs £5 per person.
Cash or cheques, made payable to York Minstermen, can be sent to Ian Tyssen, York Minstermen, c/o York City Football Club, Bootham Crescent, York, YO30 7AQ or paid in person at the Supporters’ Office, next to the club shop, on match days.
Prizes include hospitality at a York City match, Beer Festival tickets and signed merchandise.
The Social Club will open at midday with player registration scheduled for 1.30pm followed by group games.
A buffet will be served at 6pm and the competition’s quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will then take place before presentations at 8.30pm.
For more information on the tournament, email ian@yorkminstermen.org.uk or phone 07794 091810.
RICHARD Brodie’s return to goalscoring form has seen him move back to the top of the Press Player of the Year standings.
The 33-goal striker now shares the leadership with David McGurk after collecting four points from the home victories over Altrincham and AFC Wimbledon, during which he netted four times and was our second-highest rated player in both matches.
After Wednesday night’s 5-0 win over Wimbledon, Brodie’s striking partner Michael Rankine received three points towards the contest as our man of the match, with Chris Carruthers, our third-highest rated player, picking up the remaining point on offer.
Courtney Pitt and Rankine received the same rewards as our man of the match and third-highest rated player respectively following the 2-1 triumph against Altrincham.
Midfielder Neil Barrett was the winner of the two bonus points on offer towards the Press Player of the Month competition after polling the most man-of-the-match votes from visitors to our website after the Wimbledon game.
Pitt and Alex Lawless shared those points having received the same number of nominations for the Altrincham match.
To be in with a chance of presenting the April Player of the Month with his award, please vote for your man of the match.
The Press Player of the Year standings: Brodie 37 points, McGurk 37, Rankine 27, Ingham 23, Mackin 21, Graham 20, Meredith 16, Ferrell 15, Lawless 15, Parslow 15, Barrett 14, Sangare 14, Purkiss 13, Pitt 7, Carruthers 6, Gash 6, Smith 6, Harsley 5, Boyes 2, Clarke 2, Nelthorpe 2, Pacquette 2, Mimms 1.
The Press Player of the Month for April latest standings: Brodie 4, Pitt 4, Rankine 4, Barrett 2, Carruthers 1, Lawless 1.
Goals: Brodie 33, Rankine 9, Gash 6, Barrett 5, Pacquette 4, Sangare 3, Carruthers 2, Smith 2, Ferrell 1, Graham 1, Harsley 1, Lawless 1, Mackin 1, McGurk 1, Pitt 1, Purkiss 1.
Assists: Lawless 9, Brodie 7, Rankine 7, Barrett 6, Carruthers 6, Smith 5, Ferrell 4, Purkiss 4, Harsley 3, Meredith 3, Pitt 3, Sangare 3, Gash 2, McGurk 2, Parslow 2, Graham 2, Clarke 1, Ingham 1, Mackin 1, Nelthorpe 1.
Bad boys: Brodie 12 yellow cards, 1 red; Mackin 10 yellow; Ferrell 8 yellow; Meredith 1 red, 6 yellow; Barrett, Lawless, McGurk all 5 yellow; Ingham, Smith all 4 yellow; Carruthers, Rankine, Sangare all 3 yellow; Gash, Graham both 2 yellow; Pacquette 1 red; Nelthorpe, Parslow, Pitt, Purkiss all 1 yellow.
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