City in crisis - fans have their say

The people of York have (quite rightly) moaned about the club in the past -- poor management, indifferent teams, ancient facilities, no future. This was indeed all true but not inevitable.

York is a thriving, growing city with a large catchment area.

It could -- and should -- be a successful, modern, financially solvent, go-ahead organisation but this will only happen if we all support the club now.

The set-up at Bootham Crescent is not glamorous, but it is a base to build from and there are enough examples of other clubs transforming themselves to give York real hope.

I am appealing to anyone who has never been to Bootham Crescent to give it a try. Children brought up on Premiership football on television are missing out on the special atmosphere of attending a live match at a venue that is accessible, friendly, good value for money - particularly in areas such as the Family Stand - and safe.

My nine-year-old son has been to several Premiership matches at major stadia but is happiest when wearing his York shirt and cheering on the likes of Jonathan Parkin and Tom Cowan - real heroes whom he can almost touch, not some distant vision on a television set.

He's studying the fixture list for the rest of the season while I am writing this letter, not fully aware that City might not even be in existence to fulfil some of those fixtures. It is people like him who are the future of York City, so let's rescue the club for the sake of Dominic Walker (aged 9), not to perpetuate the sad failings of the past.

John Walker,

Heworth Green,

York.

ALMOST twelve months to the day that Douglas Craig almost killed our club, he's at it again.

How on earth that man can sit in the directors' box at home games is beyond belief.

I also feel greatly dismayed by chairman John Batchelor.

He came in last March with so many great ideas about the club's future we all felt optimistic, but he has given us false hope, a false dawn.

In the Evening Press (Wednesday, December 18) I read about the burgeoning success at York City Knights Rugby League Club. If they can attract sponsors and bankers, then why can't Batchelor?

What a pity Douglas Craig did not foresee the club's perilous plight when Flamingo Land owner Gordon Gibb offered to buy the club a few years ago.

Steve Hayward,

Strensall,

York.

I think the Friends of Bootham Crescent have a huge task on their hands if the York City panto is anything to go by.

Over fine wine and caviar, Scrooge (Douglas Craig) was asking his three wise men (Colin Webb, Barry Swallow and John Quickfall) how he could announce to the City faithful his impending OBE (Out By End of June 2003) without causing alarm.

Never fear Mr Craig, your main sponsor did it for you!

Maybe the Press can find out if it was the three wise men that were seen at Huntington Stadium the other night holding a safety pin at eye level before letting it drop. Apparently you can hear a pin drop at the Huntington Stadium one of the three wise men was heard to say.

P R Willey,

Burnholme Drive,

Heworth,

York.

ONE thing really puzzles me. It would seem that Douglas Craig, John Quickfall, Colin Webb and Barry Swallow have all worked hard as directors over the years to keep the club going in trying times.

Why are they seemingly hell-bent on trying to sink City by their selfish and greedy attitude?

Put the ground in charge of a trust so that it could never happen.

Yes, I know what they have done is legally correct, but it is morally indefensible and their appalling conduct will remain with them all their lives - if they have any consciences.

They might just as well have stuck a knife into the heart of all true City fans, some of whom as members of the Supporters' Club provided the Popular Stand at Bootham Crescent when I was a young lad in the 1930s and some of whom gave the finance to build the David Longhurst stand some ten years ago.

Meanwhile my thanks to the manager, staff and players who have risen above all this mayhem to keep the flag flying on the field. May you get your true reward as you are a credit to the game.

Wilf Robinson,

Burton Stone Lane,

York.

I HAVE attended the annual general meeting of York City for about 40 years -- an unenviable record.

I made a point of asking the directors (when in rotation they came round for re-election), "what can you contribute to running a professional soccer club?"

When Douglas Craig's turn came round he interrupted me and said: "Mr Chairman, let me save everyone some time. I know absolutely nothing about soccer."

Those who have sat near the directors' box during the last few years and have listened to the chairman's advice to players will not be surprised.

I don't know enough about company law to know what power administrators have. However, we have a ground worth about £4,000,000, debts of half a million and directors owning about another half a million. I would offer them the full value of their shares plus ten per cent.

Surely, as sportsmen they would not want to capitalise on the work of enthusiasts over 80 years.

With the £2,000,000 remaining I would want to go down fighting.

I issue a challenge to the four directors who now control the shares. Do they want to be remembered as men who did their best or men who did their best and failed or men who were last seen stuffing their pockets (legally) with £20 notes?

Peter Rhodes,

Summerfield,

York.

HULL City had 20,000 people for a mere friendly at the opening of a new stadium. Three days later York City attracted less than 3,500 for a fully competitive match with their very existence in doubt.

The city council in Hull were the major force in building their new stadium, because Hull is a city with significant sporting potential.

Alas, York isn't. York's only link with top class sport is the excellent facilities and racing at Knavesmire. Now there's a place to build a small modern stadium (if Bootham Crescent must go) for the joint use of York's football and rugby clubs.

But even then, I doubt if either York City or York's rugby league club would prosper. After all, even the big crowds at Knavesmire race meetings are mostly people from afar.

Colin Jeffrey,

East Mount Road,

York.

I am replying to Richard Lamb's letter which was published in the Evening Press (Friday, December 20).

Obviously Mr Lamb has not visited Bootham Crescent for many, many years, if at all. If he had he would know that the "policing" of York City matches is now done by private security firms.

There are usually no police officers inside the ground except for the bigger games.

If Mr Lamb is a football fan then I urge him to go to Bootham Crescent and support his local team in their hour of need. If not then do not make such ill-informed comments without first knowing the facts.

Nick Rowell,

Howe Hill Road,

Acomb.

THE fact the York City owned its own ground has always been its greatest asset, against other teams who lease grounds.

Douglas Craig's claim that Bootham Crescent Holdings was set up to 'protect the interest' of York City, is wearing very thin.

The ground itself must have historical value, it was built by the supporters, for the supporters, even the ashes of supporters have been spread on the turf.

Therefore, can't Bootham Crescent not be given listed building status ?

Bob Watson,

Elmfield Terrace,

Malton Road,

York.

AS a supporter of York City FC for over 50 years, I am very sad about what has happened to the club in the last year.

How can Douglas Craig and Barry Swallow, who played for the club and was well respected, sleep at night with a clear conscience?

It must be dreadful to be disliked by thousands of York fans but obviously these people have no thought for the players and people who have worked hard at the club, all they see are £ signs.

A Smallwood,

Oak Glade,

Brockfield Park,

York.

WHAT an interesting choice of words Bootham Crescent Holdings chose to open their statement offering to 'help' City survive.

In referring to York City FC as a 'subsidiary' of BCH Douglas Craig and Co reveal their true hand at last.

How foolish some of us were once upon a time to believe it was the other way round with BCH being there to benefit YCFC. My dictionary defines subsidiary as 'serving to assist or supplement' and 'accessory'. When the sale of our Bootham Crescent goes ahead it will be to assist and supplement the expansion of BCH's directors' wallets and Persimmon's empire.

Tony Eves,

Danesgate,

Acomb.

Updated: 11:27 Saturday, December 28, 2002