This month, our resident sports writer and York City F.C. fan, Simon Pattinson, is looking forward to the summer season.
At the time of writing, I am gearing up for finally being able to see England perform in Euro 2020 (or Euro 2021 as we are now in).
A tournament in which we will hopefully see one of the best England sides for a long time step up and bring the nation together at a time when I think we all need it.
I also have to mention Ben Godfrey, who may not be in the 26-man squad for the tournament but was called up into the senior England squad and received his two caps – a proud moment for the former York City youth player and for all of us in York.
New signings are now beginning to come through the door at York City. I think any football fan loves the merry-go-round of the transfer window, and with the Minstermen, it is certainly no different. The addition of 23-year-old striker Kurt Willoughby has been a great start to the proceedings. It came as no surprise that Steve Watson went on to get his man after chasing him for the last two years whilst at fellow National League North side AFC Fylde.
He has certainly got fans excited to see him back as he scored three goals in four games for City in a month’s loan spell back in the 2019/20 season – a time that feels so long ago now! For me, it is certainly the area we need to recruit well in this summer. Anyone who has followed my column over the last couple of months will know it is something I have touched on as being a real area of weakness. That, and adding to the midfield we currently have, would really be a strong spine for the season ahead. From what we all saw, chances were being created but not enough of those chances converted into goals. Hopefully, this will be corrected by Steve Watson this summer. I think this will be Steve Watson’s biggest summer and an opportunity to finally get out of National League North. He needs to get this right from the off. I know he has had many critics in the last year or so, particularly during this last stop-start season, but I do believe he can be the man to take us back up the leagues and has all the credentials to do so. Let’s hope I’m right!
RUGBY
Looking at the rugby, the Knights continue to go from strength to strength and are heading to Wembley in the 1895 Cup after defeating Swinton. They will meet the Featherstone Rovers on July 17 for the final. To play in the final is such an achievement in itself. Speaking of finals, a massive well done to the York City Knights Ladies who played in the Challenge Cup final. What a feat to make it, and an incredible journey for a team who played in the final having only been together for a matter of weeks. It was a great performance but against a big team like St Helens, it was they who showed their class and went on to win comfortably in the end 34-6.
It cannot go unmentioned what a great spectacle it was for women’s rugby and for a big step forward for the women’s rugby league in York.
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