A year that had it all but promotion (From York Press)

A year that had it all but promotion

10:44am Saturday 3rd October 2009 in

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IF, at the start of 2009, York City Knights fans had been told their club would finish third in the league and reach the last three in the battle for promotion through the play-offs, most would have took it and accepted it as a fine season.

The fact the overriding feeling following defeat to both Keighley and Oldham in the play-offs was of dissatisfaction therefore shows how expectations changed during the course of the year.

Okay, the way the play-off campaign fizzled out was disappointing for everyone. But criticism should be tempered by reality.

Many of the team were bruised and bashed for the Oldham game in particular, and let’s not forget that the Roughyeds and Keighley probably began the season with shorter odds than York.

In fact, without blowing The Press’s own trumpet, we did warn in the Knights pre-season pullout at the start of the year to “Beware the Rams and Roughyeds”, saying Dewsbury and Oldham were “probably the favourites to go up… while the likes of Keighley and Swinton are likely to challenge for honours”.

Dewsbury, of course, stormed to the title unbeaten – and massive congratulations are due to them – while Oldham and Keighley will meet in tomorrow’s grand final to fight for the second promotion spot.

The highlight of York’s season was undoubtedly, therefore, the league double over that strong Oldham side, especially the Sky TV game in June that went right down to the wire and provided a packed Huntington Stadium with one of its most thrilling and atmospheric games in years.

One of the lowlights, though, was the fact attendances failed to lift on the back of it, York’s somewhat fickle sporting public going as quickly as they came, meaning average home attendances effectively dropped from 2008.

The actual average was 1,085 but that was inflated by the whopping 3,106 who turned out for the Sky game – tempted by free tickets and the chance to get on the box – and, without that figure, the average was 917, down from 944 last year, despite the third-placed finish.

That is still among the best crowd figures in Championship One, but a far cry from the 1,700s of a few years ago.

Maybe that drop reflects the game in general below Super League, now that automatic promotion to the top tier has been taken away, but maybe it tells a bit about the York public too.

Some of the rugby on offer certainly deserved better. The creativity and showmanship when the March brothers were on song were a delight to behold, allied to the support play of leading try-scorers Danny Ratcliffe and Paul Hughes.

Fans extolled the entertainment as some of the best since the feted 2004 season under Richard Agar, when the likes of Danny Brough, Scott Rhodes, Lee Jackson and Jim Elston were running teams ragged.

The team spirit also matched that of the title-winning 2005 campaign under Mick Cook, with the chants of “When the Knights Go Marching In” by players and fans in tandem, led by player-coach Paul March at the end of victorious games, bringing the feel-good factor back.

A new Knights record win was also thrown into the mix, an 80-6 thumping of London Skolars at New River Stadium in May, when stand-off Adam Mitchell booted a new club record 12 conversions.

Mitchell was later to become something of a fall-guy among supporters, when he struggled – like anyone would have done – to take on March’s mantle of chief creator.

The reason someone had to take on March’s mantle leads directly on to the next lowlight of 2009 – indeed the one that saw the club crash-land back down to earth following the exciting and triumphal highs of the aforementioned TV game.

Headingleygate.

That whole affair at the beginning of July, when player-boss Paul March, the then director of rugby James Ratcliffe and four key first-teamers were internally suspended for one week for an alleged breach of club discipline at a Leeds Rhinos function, was a huge turning-point.

It provided reams of headline copy for Press readers, but it caused disruption aplenty just when it seemed the Knights were on a roll.

It led to March’s sacking and therefore the loss of the club’s general and arguably their best player – although his brother, David, might have something to say about that. (Indeed, David’s loss for the play-offs due to a controversial suspension, for the second consecutive year, was another major dent to their promotion hopes.) However, whether Headingleygate is where the Knights’ promotion dream effectively ended, as many people believe, is not quite so clear-cut.

March’s move to Hunslet freed up some money with which the club brought in the likes of Leeds youngster Gareth Moore, Featherstone forward Richard Blakeway and Championship performer Loz Wildbore, all of whom played big parts in the run-in – as did prop Sean Hesketh, who had arrived not long before.

Furthermore, the form the club showed in that run-in – after Ratcliffe took sole charge as head coach – was pretty good too, with only one defeat in the last six games of the regular season, which included a notable victory away to Oldham. Ironically that defeat came to March’s Hunslet team, as the old player-boss made his point.

Certainly of more long-term concern, though, was the fact the fallout from March’s sacking led in turn to majority shareholder and chief executive John Guildford’s decision to quit at the end of the season – a decision taken following spiteful criticism levelled at him by a section of supporters.

Guildford, though, probably had little option but to hand out dismissal papers, on the basis of gRoss misconduct, following March’s public outburst in trade papers.

And while PR might not have been his strongest feature (or March’s for that matter), his impending departure leaves a huge hole to fill behind the scenes, not just financially – indeed, The Press’ story today about David March’s departure goes to show how important Guildford has been – but in terms of man hours, organisation and management too.

Hopefully the new potential buyers will be as good for York rugby league as he has been.

The way Ratcliffe handled the situation, meanwhile, was very professional, and while the speed with which he stepped into a dead man’s shoes raised eyebrows, it also underlined his desire to become a head coach at this level – a fact he did not deny.

The return to the first-team scene of old favourite Mick Ramsden as his assistant was also a helpful move.

Ratcliffe also did a good job to get team spirit back up and organise what became a much-changed side, after several players left in March’s wake and several others arrived.

To finish third, above the likes of Oldham, was therefore no mean feat, even if the Roughyeds had also endured their own off-field trouble.

They did it too, with some weaknesses in the side. They spent almost the entire season without out-and-out wingers, effectively playing centres on the flanks, and without the same kind of size in the pack as their main rivals – something they are looking to address in the closed season. Keighley and Oldham also had more experience – a commodity that isn’t always cheap.

That gave the Knights two bites of the cherry to reach a grand final for the first time since 2004. But while hopes were high, those two play-off matches perhaps showed up those weaknesses more than before and brought a season of fluctuating – and at times attention-grabbing – fortunes on and off the field to an end one week earlier than everyone had wished.

Press award for Applegarth

Mark Applegarth completed a clean sweep of Player of the Year awards this week, with The Press/K Walker & Co Player of the Season trophy.

Already named the Players’ Player and Supporters’ Player of the Year, as well as being the only Knight in the Co-operative Championship One Team of the Year, the 24-year-old finished the season at the top of our standings.

He was presented with his Press award this week by club captain David March, who finished third in the table.

Applegarth will also collect a cheque for £400 courtesy of sponsor Ken Walker, the Pocklington-based accountant.

Applegarth won by one point from fellow prop and past winner Adam Sullivan, who collects £150 thanks to K Walker & Co.

March himself picks up £50 for finishing third, on countback ahead of his brother, Paul, who left the club in July.

None of the top three added to their tally in the two play-off ties.

The points against Keighley went to Sean Hesketh (3pts), Danny Ratcliffe (2) and Richard Blakeway (1). Against Oldham, they went to Luke Ambler (3), Ratcliffe (2) and Chris Clough (1).

Ratcliffe was also in the limelight this week, being pictured, below right, alongside presenter, and former Great Britain prop, Barrie McDermott, after being named as a runner-up in the Championship One Young Player of the Year at a glittering ceremony in Manchester.

The Press/K Walker & Co Player of the Year final standings: Applegarth 18pts, Sullivan 17, D March 16, P March 16, Ratcliffe 15, Hesketh 15, Oakes 14, Hughes 10, Clough 10, Haberecht 8, Moore 6, A Mitchell 5, Grimshaw 4, Kelly 4, Ambler 4, Ekis 3, Knight 3, Ross 3, Wildbore 3, Blakeway 3, Lewis 2, Woodcock 1, M Mitchell 1, Clayton 1, Barrow 1, Schofield 1.

March ‘had to move on’

York City Knights hero David March has revealed he would have been happy to stay next season – only his contract offer had to be withdrawn.

The 30-year-old loose-forward, as reported by The Press, has left to team up again with his brother Paul at Championship One rivals Hunslet Hawks.

That switch always seemed on the cards after Paul was sacked by York in July. However, before making the move, David had actually agreed to an offer to be a player/assistant-coach at Huntington Stadium next year – only for the financial constraints due to majority shareholder John Guildford’s impending departure to put paid to that deal.

March nevertheless leaves on good terms and has thanked the supporters for their backing over his two years at the club.

“James Ratcliffe sat me down after he got the (head coach) job and asked if I’d thought about getting into coaching,” March explained. “John also rang me asked the same question, and offered me a contract.

“I took my time to decide – I didn’t know if I wanted the coaching. When I went back to the club I was going to sign and stay for next year, but I was told the contract was no longer there.

“Ian Wilson (general manager) said what they could now offer as a player wouldn’t be enough for me so I was free to talk to other clubs. They didn’t want to do what Doncaster did and get into (financial) difficulty.

“I’ve been at York for two years and I’ve never been one to swap clubs, but I had to look for another club for me and my family, and always had it in mind that if I wasn’t staying at York then I’d finish my career alongside my brother.”

Wilson explained the situation from the club’s point of view. “David accepted the offer about a month after it had been made. But it was made before John Guildford announced he was leaving and we weren’t able at that time to hold the offer that had been on the table.”

It is hoped that financial situation will improve now there are potential buyers in the offing.

March said winning the Players’ Player of the Year in his first season, and the televised win over Oldham at Huntington Stadium were highlights of his time at the club. The lowlights were his brother’s departure and the fact he twice missed the play-offs due to controversial suspensions. Otherwise, he said, he’s “loved it” at York.

“It will be nice to come back and play against them,” he added. “I hope the fans know that every time I played I gave 100 per cent, even after we knew I was looking for another club.”

How the players rated over the 2009 campaign

(listed in order of most appearances) Mark Applegarth (prop) – swept the Player of the Year awards and was the only ever-present and the only York player in the Champion-ship One Team of the Year – says it all really. Played 18+9 as sub, Tries 3. Rating 9.

Paul Hughes (hooker) – effervescent, hard-working team captain with infectious enthusiasm and excellent support play. Would have been an ever-present but for his one-match ‘Headingleygate’ suspension. P26 T16. Rating 8.

John Oakes (centre/winger) – has missed only one game in two seasons and showed solidity throughout, tackling prowess and deceptive strength throughout. P26 T14. Rating 7.

Adam Sullivan (prop) – ‘Mr Consistency’ missed only one game but while he rarely put a foot wrong, he never quite hit the destructive heights hoped for. P20+6, T2. Rating 7.

Dave Clayton (centre/winger) – always did a job without being a shining light. P23, T7. Rating 6.

Chris Clough (second-row, prop) – a few daft offloads blighted his early season but was otherwise a good, feisty performer, offering something different in the pack. P7+16, T7. Rating 7.

Tom Haberecht (centre) – Aussie second-row was shifted to centre and while he showed his class at times, he wasn’t as involved in the play as many would have liked. P22, T12. Rating 6.

Danny Ratcliffe (full-back) – top try-scorer and a runner-up in the Championship One Player of the Year poll. Signed for next year, which is great for the club as he can surely go on to bigger things. P21, T18, Conversions 2. Rating 9.

David March (loose-forward) – talisman at the back of the pack, held things together in defen-ce and excelled in attack, where his offloads will live long in the memory. P20, T2. Rating 9.

Rob Kelly (second-row) – rarely caught the eye in attack but a tackle-holic unsung hero. Season was blighted by a red card against Hunslet but his efforts were otherwise unquestioned. P19+1, T1. Rating 6.

Adam Mitchell (stand-off) – victim of the boo-boys when trying in vain to replace Paul March in the creativity stakes. Still tried to organise, though, and ended as the club’s top points-scorer. P17+2, T3, C62, Penalties 5. Rating 6.

Richard Knight (second-row) – left under a cloud towards the end after refusing to be 18th man. Nightmare at Blackpool in the ‘Heading-leygate’ aftermath stands out, but he mainly did okay, showing various skills, if not real force, in various positions. P14+4, T6, C9, P2. Rating 5.

Mike Mitchell (centre/winger) – Solid if unspectacular but did enough to stay a regular before injury ended his season in early July. P17, T6. Rating 6.

Paul March (scrum-half) – the player-coach was the main creative spark and got his fair share of tries too – before his controversial departure. P16 T11. Rating 7.

Tom Hodgson (hooker) – was a regular until concussion-induced migraines ended his season in early July. Usually brought dynamism off the bench. P1+15, T7. Rating 6.

Jordan Ross (second-row) – broke jaw in pre-season but made an hard-running impact when he regained fitness. P11+3 T3. Rating 7.

Scott Woodcock (prop) – big unit didn’t really make as much use of his size as maybe he should. P2+11. Rating 5.

Sean Hesketh (prop) – made massive impact after joining from Featherstone and would have been a surefire Player of the Year contender had he started the season at York. P7+5, T5. Rating 8.

Wayne McHugh (winger) – didn’t show the try-scoring ability he clearly possesses, possibly due to off-field issues. P11, T4, C15, P1. Rating 5.

Carl Barrow (second-row) – always worked hard for his home-town club. P3+8, T0. Rating 6.

Danny Grimshaw (half-back) – promise was again curtailed by another injury-plagued season. P9+1, T3. Rating 6.

Richard Blakeway (second-row) – good performer, bringing experience on his arrival from Featherstone. P7+1, T0. Rating 7.

Gareth Moore (scrum-half) – youngster filled Paul March’s big shoes after arriving from Leeds and, while he was a different kind of player, brought a nippiness and creative spark. P6+2, T6. Rating 7.

Kris Peacock (second-row) – hard-worker making his way in the game. P4+4, T1. Rating 5.

Danny Ekis (prop) – inconsistent and failed to work his way back in after an April suspension. Returned to old club Hunslet. P3+5. T0. Rating 4.

Steve Lewis (winger) – missed most of the season through injury so couldn’t get up to the highs with which he finished 2008. P6, T2. Rating 5.

Lee Waterman (utility) – played in parts at second-row, loose-forward, full-back and wing after joining from amateur ranks. Good runner and goal-kicker with infectious enthusiasm. P2+4 T3, C9. Rating 6 Loz Wildbore (stand-off) – made massive impression on his arrival, not least a match-winning display off the bench at Oldham, but couldn’t maintain that form in the play-offs, partly due to his pack not being on top. P3+2, T6, C3, Drop-goal 1. Rating 7.

Luke Ambler (prop) – Leeds loanee is clearly one for the future. P4, T1. Rating 6.

Others: Johnny Waldron (winger, P1); Adam Jones (centre/winger, P2); Tom Stancliffe (winger, P3, T1); Jack Stearman (prop, P0+3); Chris Williams (hooker, P1); Tom Lineham (winger, P2); Ian Bell (centre/winger, P2, T1); Jonathan Schofield (half-back, P1, T2, C8).