York City’s Football League dream ends with Wembley heartache

12:00pm Monday 17th May 2010 in York City v Oxford United - Wembley play-off final

An emotional Richard Brodie at the end of the match An emotional Richard Brodie at the end of the match

York City’s dreams of returning to the Football League lay in tatters today following defeat in the Blue Square Premier Play Off Final at Wembley Stadium.

More than 9,000 City fans set off from York yesterday in high spirits, but ended the day seeing their team go down 3-1 to Oxford United at a rain-soaked Wembley.

Extra trains were laid on by East Coast to cope with the travelling fans, and 24 official coaches set off from York’s Knavesmire at 9am.

Despite being hugely outnumbered by the army of yellow-clad Oxford United fans, the City supporters were confident of a return to League Two after a six-season exile.

Speaking before yesterday’s 5pm kick-off, York fan Sara Wood, 27, from Acomb, said: “This time last season who would have put us here? Our fans are outnumbered, but we will out-sing them – we are better and prouder.”

The confidence of the City fans remained even after the Minstermen went 2-0 down within the opening 20 minutes. City managed to pull a goal back before half time thanks to a gaffe by the Oxford goalkeeper.

Despite a stronger second half by the Minstermen, the fans’ hopes were finally extingushed when Oxford netted a third goal in the final minute.

City fan Russ Leeming, 24, said: “We would never have dreamed a year ago we would be in this position.

“I’m not too disappointed becuase we are looking strong for next season, but we were never in the game today.

“Credit to Oxford – they were a good side. York were outdone by a better side.”

Fellow supporter Charlotte Pratt, 27, of Clifton Moor, said: “I think tactically York were poor. When a team is playing 4-4-3, why did we not match them? It didn’t make any sense.”

Oxford fans too said the City players had failed to capitalise on their chances.

Adam Goddard, 20, said: “I think in the second half York did try. When they scored they should have stepped up but they just sat back.”

York’s star striker Richard Brodie paid tribute to the “outstanding” York City supporters. They were massively outnumbered, but the noise they made, like they have all season, was brilliant,” he said. “It was great to see the scenes at the end and the lads really appreciate it.

“Hopefully, they will come back in their numbers next year.”

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, spoke of his frustration at the result.

He said: “I’m disappointed for all the players and the supporters – so near yet so far. York City have done themselves proud, maybe next time we’ll do it.”

Comments(24)

Garrowby Turnoff says...
12:06pm Mon 17 May 10

They were OK. But, Oxford looked the part and will do well in the Football League. City didn't disgrace themselves though, I was quite proud of 'em in the end, but after 20 mins...

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Artyman1 says...
12:09pm Mon 17 May 10

Hahahahahahahahaha LOVE IT. They are just not good enough to be there really!!!

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Prob says...
12:12pm Mon 17 May 10

"Fellow supporter Charlotte Pratt, 27, of Clifton Moor, said: “I think tactically York were poor. When a team is playing 4-4-3, why did we not match them? It didn’t make any sense.”
.
No wonder we lost! Did nobody notice Oxford had 12 men on the pitch?

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the commentator says...
12:48pm Mon 17 May 10

what a surprise, "also rans" once again. Time to turn it in, sell the ground, tarmac it and put a nice little Tesco on there. Was well worth the trip down there for a 17.00 kick-off in the pouring rain eh.

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Flipmode says...
1:00pm Mon 17 May 10

OUFC supporter says... Great Atmosphere from the York fans, popper well behaved true supporters, well impressed, good luck in the blue square next year, i really feel for you guys having to play those lutown town idiots fans again. Automatic promotion for you next season .....Easy ;)

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invisibleman says...
1:04pm Mon 17 May 10

"The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, spoke of his frustration at the result"
Eh? Whats he got to do with football?

I don't support YCFC, but I wish them well in the future and cannot believe some of the comments on here about jacking it all in.

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THETELLEROFTALES says...
1:08pm Mon 17 May 10

The truth of the matter is that Oxford licked off this match at 17.00 and York kicked off at 17.30.
Just what went wrong in the build up is anyones guess but York were annihilated in the first half-hour.
Brodie at one point was playing full back. Ingham was all over the place and the Pitt coerner at the end of the game will live long in the memory as one of the worst corners I have ever seen. With nearly all the York team runnung into the 6 yard box, Pitt chips a ball to the very edge of the area. Oxford charge up the field, 2 on 1....3rd goal goes in and it's game over. I feel more angry than disappointed....

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Some old bloke says...
1:09pm Mon 17 May 10

Shouldn't Artyman1 and 'the commentator' be in the nursery, playing with their crayons?

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chillout says...
1:12pm Mon 17 May 10

they had their chances in the 2nd half,and probably a different game had we took one of those chances. we came back well from two down, wonder how oxford responded if we had drew level with them.the fitness of york was there to see,they never stopped in the 2nd half

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MissConstrood says...
1:25pm Mon 17 May 10

some old bloke - probably but one seems to be 'defending our country' how scary is that??

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Artyman1 says...
1:57pm Mon 17 May 10

Some old bloke wrote:
Shouldn't Artyman1 and 'the commentator' be in the nursery, playing with their crayons?
I will scweam n scweam n scweam if you dont give me my crayons back hahahah they were rubbish

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the commentator says...
2:08pm Mon 17 May 10

Some old bloke wrote:
Shouldn't Artyman1 and 'the commentator' be in the nursery, playing with their crayons?
I'm only allowed to type as I stuck the crayons up my nose last time!

I think somebody swapped The Minstermen for the Mister Men judging by their performance yesterday.

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tonezzzznoddedoff says...
2:22pm Mon 17 May 10

invisibleman wrote:
"The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, spoke of his frustration at the result"
Eh? Whats he got to do with football?

I don't support YCFC, but I wish them well in the future and cannot believe some of the comments on here about jacking it all in.
Seems to me like york city can do with all the help they can get, Dr John may have higher connections.

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jaybazza says...
2:27pm Mon 17 May 10

Why dont you bugger off and do the glory supporting you obviously do then!!!
I for one am absolutely gutted at the result, but on the whole i am proud of the team, they could have equalised (but for our dependance on Brodie to score). Furthermore if we had have got the second a third would have followed, unfortunatly we threw it away and conceded a rather stupid third goal.
Security word "want-hope"..... i did loads of that yesterday.
.
Come on City bring on next season.

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THEVOICEOFACOMB says...
2:43pm Mon 17 May 10

I'm glad all the hype is over. City are not good enough. The best team won - infact Oxford deserved to go up - they finished 2nd after all. York didnt deserve to be at wembley - they finished 5th for gods sake! The play off system is rubbish - it should be top three up and bottom three down. How is it fair that a team that finished 3rd ends up with nothing? At least City got a trip out of it. Im sick of these peopel saying York had great support? Not really - 8000? Thats terrible for a Wembley apperance considering the size of our city! But who can blame the fans who stayed away? Im one of them. A former ticket holder but I refuse to go now. Im not paying £18 to watch city at home. The standard of football is terrible. Did you see the keeper on Sunday? What a amateur - he was making mistakes that under 14's wouldnt even make!

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thechief says...
2:59pm Mon 17 May 10

i was wondering when that tosser VofA would wake up - whats up too many drinks with your rugby friends - no money until thursday giro arrives why dont you go and take a very long walk of a very short plank!!!
how can you remember what is was like in the league we havnt been there for 7 years and dim wits like you cant think back that far.

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the commentator says...
3:23pm Mon 17 May 10

thechief wrote:
Why do people enjoy others being upset over this? Why do they take pleasure in others misfortune? I hope one day you will see that this small minded attitude just makes you repulsive to normal humans. Unlucky York not your day but you have to have the downs to enjoy the ups. Bring on next season.
and they certainly played like they had Downs

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redr says...
3:58pm Mon 17 May 10

Well done City your performance against Luton gave you the right to a crack at the final and should give you confidence for next season. If city improve as much next season as they did this then they should have an excellent chance of going all the way. Congratulations to Oxford, after seeing how the Luton fans behaved you were a credit to your club. Best wishes in FL2 hopefully City will be there next year.

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THEVOICEOFACOMB says...
3:58pm Mon 17 May 10

I am not on the giro and never have been. Although I don't quite understand what my employment status has to do with this conversation.

I have paid my dues to York City. The 1999 season did ever game home and away and all the cup games. Did you? I doubt it! But enough is enough - that was in Division 2 when players good kick a ball straight! And as for getting drunk with my rugby pals? Erm nah - Acorns season finished last week you TART

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LittleTed says...
4:21pm Mon 17 May 10

I blame the cyclists.

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YorkCityLuke says...
9:20pm Mon 17 May 10

I'd rather be one of the 9000 from York who go to Wembley to cheer their team on against the odds, than a filthy, stupid glory supporter who has no pride in their city. When glory comes to York City, it'll be tainted by the fact that people like VofA will be celebrating too, like they never lost faith.

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Dunc says...
9:57pm Mon 17 May 10

Voice of Acomb, Oxford finished 3rd, not second as you state. It's fine that you don't want to support York, but if you don't then you are clearly not equiped to comment on the standard of their players. Your making out like the team is appaling compared to the standard of only one division higher. All I'll say is Mike Ingham is well capable of playing in that league!

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Atomic Dog says...
10:41pm Mon 17 May 10

I was working for an eighty year old man today who summed YCFC up in a nutshell. He watched them in 1950, and said they were appalling then, and he sees no reason why that should change now. Also when I told him it was £18 to watch them he nearly choked on his Werthers original. Security word - SH1T TEAM

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Press 'Ead'itter says...
2:25pm Tue 18 May 10

Atomic Dog wrote:
I was working for an eighty year old man today who summed YCFC up in a nutshell. He watched them in 1950, and said they were appalling then, and he sees no reason why that should change now. Also when I told him it was £18 to watch them he nearly choked on his Werthers original. Security word - SH1T TEAM
£18 to get in? They obviously saw you coming and decided to whack the prices up for the terminally dull

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