By Your Local Link Staff Writer Sammi Minion
On the pitch the Minstermen have continued their upturn in fortunes under manager Neal Ardley. Now five games unbeaten (at time of publication) York City are 18th in the table with a three-point buffer away from Ebbsfleet United and the relegation zone. They might have found themsleves far better off if not for an incredible turn of events during City’s home fixture against the Kent-based side on Saturday the 23rd of December. An early opening goal from Lenell “The Shop” John-Lewis looked to have set City well on their way to all three points — this was until deep into injury time, when Ebbsfleet goalkeeper Mark Cousins struck home from a corner to bring the visitors within a point of York. Fortunately, in the weeks since, City were able to respond well to that considerable setback, picking up five points from three games including a double-header (back-to-back fixtures) against Gateshead, before the draw versus Boreham Wood.
The next month will tell the defining story of their season, where City take up against three more relegation threatened sides in Dorking Wanderers, Fylde, and Oxford before a trip to Hartlepool. They will need to fare better than they did against Ebbsfleet if they have any hope of further progressing away from the threat of relegation.
York City supporters call out National League over last-minute TNT fixture change
At the end of December, The Vanarama National League announced that the fixture between York City F.C. and Boreham Wood would be moved from the 6th of January to the 7th. Giving fans just three weeks’ notice before the game was scheduled to kick off in North London (185 miles from the LNER Community Stadium). In response, the club’s Supporters Trust issued an open letter to express their “collective concern and disappointment” at a decision that left hundreds of fans out of pocket, having already booked tickets, and unable to attend.
The letter went on to describe fans’ distaste at the lack of foresight on behalf of broadcasters and the league, “In the National League’s announcement, it was stated that TNT Sports had delivered “an early Christmas present” for supporters. Unfortunately, for York City fans, this is far from a Christmas present, instead it is turning into ‘The Nightmare of Meadow Park’ (Boreham Wood’s ground).”
Just three hours after the open letter was made public, the Supporters Trust received backing from Malcom Clarke, The Chair of the Football Supporters’ Association — the national representative body for football supporters in England and Wales. He said, “We fully support the concerns of the York City Supporters about the late change of date for this fixture. “We support the call for the National League, TNT and the rail companies to do something practical to mitigate the effects of this late decision on the travelling York City support”. Then on the 29th of December, City’s opponents Boreham Wood went on to announce that away ticket prices would be cut in half whilst those who had already purchased tickets would receive a 50% refund.
The fixture was moved so that it could be broadcast by TNT Sports (formerly known as BT Sport) — increasing exposure for the club and league to a much wider audience — the benefits of which were “understood” in the fans’ letter but not seen as justified by the “the significant burden” imposed by the change. In the end, although City may have gained extra viewers via broadcast, only 367 fans managed to make it to Meadowpark to witness the 1-1 draw— almost 200 fewer than had travelled to Gateshead for City’s preceding away fixture.
Tune in next month for more updates.
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