Memoirs of a York City Fan

Bootham Crescent

York City Football Club now languish in the Blue Square Premier League. At the time of writing they are just above the relegation zone after a terrible start to the season although their form has improved over recent games picking up 2 victories and a creditable draw at Oxford.

I first started following City in the 1981-82 Season when the club was languishing (notice a pattern here) in the lower reaches of Division 4.

It was a first round league cup game against the once mighty Sheffield United who had now fallen on hard times and found themselves in the same division as City.

Although City were well beaten, the game whetted my appetite and Bootham Crescent became my second home for the next ten years or so.

Most of that season was a struggle and York finally 17th after spending most of the year flirting with Re-Election.

1982-1983 was the season everything changed. Denis Smith was appointed player Manager (after a spell on loan the season before) and Viv Busby became his assistant.

After a slow start City became unbeatable at home scoring a hatful of goals and it was only their indifferent away form that prevented them finishing higher than seventh (remember no play offs in them days). I went to my very first away game that season visiting Halifax Town, City were 2-0 down with about five minutes to play and me and many others left early to make sure we caught the train back only for York to pull it back to 2-2, would you believe it.

The next season was the big one 1983-84 was a record breaking season in more ways than one.

I never missed a home game that season (and wouldn't again until 1987), I also started to follow the boys away from home more often. City were pretty much unbeatable that season especially after Christmas as they embarked on a long run without defeat, highlights included victories at Peterbrough, Bury and Colchester and the 1-1 draw at Chester that clinched promotion which is where I managed to nick the corner flag (which I think I still have somewhere). Chester fans reacted to our draw by putting the coach window in but we drove back home (on a pretty chilly night) full of high spirits. The coach window was also put through at Mansfield which was visited smack bang in the middle of the miners strike and I think most of the Mansfield fans were venting their fury out on the City supporters as they pelted the coach-park with stones (good practice for the clashes with the police on the picket lies I'm sure).

City were the first side in history to reach 100 points and won their first ever trophy.

1984-1985 is my favourite season I had following York, i only missed 6 games home and away (and I spent all the time unemployed(happy days)).

Great memories that season included the famous dispatch of Arsenal in the FA Cup and the subsequent matches against Liverpool. City finished 8th in the league. Great away days included Brentford, Lincoln, Derby County and Cambridge where city's game was one of only about 8 on that day due to heavy snow, they played with an orange ball and ended up winning 4-0.There was also a impressive kickabout on the pitch for the fans at half time.

I was also arrested at Rotherham that season for allegedly painting a Police Car with paint that was hanging around in the toilets (Not guilty).

The coppers behaved like they were in an episode of "life On Mars" that day, believe me, a hang up from the recent miners strike I was led to believe.

1985-1986 was a very similar season the the one before, City this time finished 7th and again reached the FA Cup 5th Round. This time though they were robbed at Anfield, Tony Canham scored a perfectly good goal to put York 2-1 up but the referee disallowed it and to this day, I and thousands of other city fans don`t know why (Liverpool ended up winning 3-1 in extra time and you have to remember they were then, as they are now, one of the best sides in Europe).

More excellent away days followed, fond memories of Plymouth where city drew 2-2 in an excellent match and the coach broke down in Birmingham on the way but we still managed to get into the ground about 5mins before kick off. Wolves and Swansea were also experiences.

The next few seasons were nothing seasons really 1986-1987 City finished 20th just above the relegation zone and Denis Smith departed York for Sunderland.

1987-1988 was a terrible season, Bobby Saxton took over the reigns as City Manager but to be fair to him he inherited a squad all out of contract and moving on, I believe on his first day in office, he possibly had 2 players signed up, Derek Hood and Marco Gabbiadini.

Only real highlights of the season for me were a home victory over Sunderland and an away trip to Leeds in the League Cup where we scraped a 1-1 draw.

City ended up relegated and only avoided bottom place on the last day of the season.

My home record fell that season after a trip to the dentist for a tooth extraction.

I remember standing on the terraces all alone(most of my mates had stopped going) in serious agony as the cold seeped into my newly acquired hole in my gums and it was there and then I decided to stop devoting my life to the City.

I began working on a Saturday in 1989 and my trips to Bootham Crescent became more and more sporadic, I was still managing the odd away game but the people going were changing and the atmosphere for me was different.

The 1992-1993 season was the last time I went to a City away game. First there was Bury in the Play-off semi final in which City ground out a dour 0-0 draw which set them up for a 1-0 victory at Bootham Crescent, then it was on to Wembley for the final against Crewe. City ended up victorious after a penalty shoot-out and I and a few friends paid £17 ( seemed like a lot of money in them days) for a taxi back to Kings Cross so we could get the train back to York for wild celebrations. I also met my future wife that night for the first time so all in all a pretty successful day.

From then on I was content with the odd home game here and there, I saw two successive 3-2 victories (one against Everton in the League Cup, one against Millwall where the ball burst twice) in the 96-97 season that were as good as anything I have seen on a football pitch.

I seriously regret not going to Old Trafford when City won 3-0, I also seriously regret not going to Millwall way back in 1984 when I had the chance (too many beers the night before).

The last time I visited Bootham Crescent (for a game) was their last season in the league, they were actually doing quite well, it was the 2003-4 season and they were near the top of the table (this was probably around late September). I took my then 5yr old son and he was bored stiff at Half time and was begging me to take him home. I didnt and City ran out 2-1 winners against a half decent Bristol Rovers side who finished 15th that season.

Although I`m pretty sure there are many more City fans out there who have been to a lot more games than me, I still consider myself a loyal fan. I have some great memories of my time following City and remember fondly trips with the York Nomads, The York City Travel Club and numerous train trips to the capital and beyond.

For me, it would be just nice to see City back in the league, they nearly managed it last season so you never know, it may take a few years but they will do it one day.

Favourite City player of all time, without a doubt Big Keith Walwyn.

Just do me a favour, get rid of Kit Kat Crescent and bring back Bootham.