Southern Connections - 2016/7

Read again our branch's contribution to the City programme throughout the season

Forest Green (April 29 2017 / Derek Feasby) Reflections

York City South (YCS) Chair, Derek Feasby, writes that it has been a busy year for York City South with members present at every game, some attending over 30 matches during the season. Membership increased to 63 members, over 10% holding season tickets. With each home game meaning a 400+ mile round trip, we estimate YCS members travelled 100,000+ miles to watch the Minstermen at home this season.

We presented our Player of the Season trophy to Sean Newton being our worthy winner, when we hosted a hospitality box against Braintree.

Over the season, we contributed over £1,200 to the club through (1) our hospitality match, (2) sponsoring Callum Rzonca’s shirt and (3) raising funds from sales of the 'York City Quiz Book' where we presented Gary Mills with a £500 cheque at our "meet the manager" meeting. The York City Quiz Book has proved popular and our web site has received many plaudits. Our website has many new pages to provide links to promote the good work of The York City Supporters Trust and York City Vice Presidents. It received over 10,000 hits in the year and our Twitter account now has 930 followers.

In the autumn, we submitted a range of proposals to the club regarding improving the commercial and supporter experience of the club’s activities and are happy to note some have been taken on board by the club. Here’s hoping to the right results in our final 2 games of the season.

Wrexham (April 17 2017 / Neil Rank) An Evening With Gary Mills

The evening prior to the Dagenham game saw York City South meeting with Gary Mills and Darren Caskey at the team hotel in Basildon.

Gary views this season as probably the most important in the club’s history, certainly more important than season 2011/12, and went on to stress the importance of keeping the club in the National League. He described how he was approached for the job, asked after having been appointed on the Saturday evening to take Sunday morning’s training session and then select a side to play Curzon in the FA Cup replay.

After a short period they assessed the situation and recruited players who know what is required and how to win games in this league - some players have been recruited to perform specific tasks. Gary stated that he has never been in this position before but is enjoying the challenge. Both were very complimentary and grateful for the support they have received from Jason McGill as had they not received this our position would probably have been worse.

They have a good set of players, the draw at Lincoln in the FA Trophy game epitomising current team spirit - the team now feel they have the ability to beat anyone. Message taken from the evening – “Look forwards, not backwards”.

Bromley (April 4 2017 / Chris Forth) London Calling

As the season draws to a close, for us southern based supporters, we have a welcome respite from regular long journeys up the motorway (and small country lanes when diverted) to York and back in the rain and snow.

With a good number of games in the south east to finish the season, with oyster card in hand, we can have a lie in, a leisurely brunch and still get to the likes of Boreham Wood, Dagenham, Sutton and Woking in good time for a drink or three.

Who remembers the great escape at Dagenham in 2013 or those victories on Woking's ground? I recall Martyn Woolford often played well in our wins at Woking and the last time we were there, Gary Mills' side beat Hayes 4-2.

Oh, I nearly forgot to mention Wembley. Happy days are here again. Let's hope so. I realise it means a long journey for all our York based friends, but I'm sure we're all agreed we want the same fixture list again next season.

You'll find travel details (and money saving tips) for our southern games on the "London Calling" page of our website.

Braintree (April 1 2017 / Derek Feasby) Hospitality Box

Chair Derek Feasby writes that today we are having our annual day in one of the Hospitality Boxes. This year marks the 20th anniversary of our Supporters Club and I would like to pay tribute to those who started the Group all those years ago, notably Alistair Smith who is still a committee member today. Some of our members travel to almost every game up and down the country, not only to games in the southern regions!

We continue to support York City in as many ways as we can, including sponsorships both as a Group and on a personal basis. Last week we were able to donate £500 to club funds, largely due to the excellent efforts of our website manager Chris Forth, who has made significant sales of his York City Quiz book. New members are always welcome and we enjoy several events during the season, including talks from guest speakers and our annual darts tournament. You can find details of how to join us - and how to get a copy of the quiz book - at our website

Southport (March 21 2017 / Helen Ferguson) Fans in Rio 2016

Helen Ferguson and a couple of friends went to Rio last September to watch some of the Paralympics, having enjoyed it so much during London 2012. They fitted in plenty of tourism around the sport though, including an inevitable trip to see Christ the Redeemer. Helen took the opportunity for a 'YCFC fans on tour' photo. The whole experience was fantastic, and they a're already planning for 2020 (although Helen is slightly concerned as she has been nominated to learn Japanese!).

NEXT SOCIAL EVENTS - We are in hospitality at Bootham Crescent on Saturday 1 April.

We have our annual darts competition from 7.30 pm on Thursday 27 April held at The Sheephaven Bay, 2 Mornington Crescent, Camden Town, London NW1 7QD. Nearest tubes are Mornington Crescent or Camden Town.

Lincoln (March 14 2017 / Dot Goodearl) Upcoming Events

York City South welcome new members. We organise regular social evenings and car shares to matches. So if you are based in 'the south' then please get in touch. Membership is £10 for the year [and includes membership of York City AFC 1922 Supporters Club]; Juniors £5 for the year; £125 life membership.

We have a few social events lined up during for the rest of this season. We are in hospitality at Bootham Crescent on Saturday 1 April - a few places left so book now!! We have our annual darts competition from 7.30 pm on Thursday 27 April held at The Sheephaven Bay, 2 Mornington Street, Camden Town, London NW1 7QD. The nearest tubes are Mornington Crescent or Camden Town. And we have our AGM [plus a quiz by our webmaster Chris Forth] on Thursday 11 May at 7.30 pm held at The Perseverance, 63 Lamb's Conduit Street, London WC1N 3NB. The nearest tubes are Holborn or Russell Square.

For more information please check out our website

Eastleigh (March 4 2017 / Chris Forth) An Evening With Chris Jones

On behalf of York City South, Chris Forth writes to thank Chris Jones (and his 2 minders) for being our guest speaker at our February social. He gave an insightful talk on his career, focusing on his time with City, reflected in his book "The tale of two great cities - My footballing journey".

It was interesting to hear how our back four sold him to City. Chris Jones credited coach Colin Meldrum for our 1973/4 success. Pre season was spent on meticulous coaching drills with Jones and Jimmy Seal making diagonal runs and the midfield four pinging passes into them without needing to look up. With a small settled squad, everyone knew what was expected and the rest is history in that memorable season for City.

Food for thought for Gary when assembling next season’s squad.

You can read more of what Chris Jones had to say on our website.

Brackley (February 25 2017) Not Required

Gateshead (February 21 2017 / Dave Wood) Middle East Minstermen

Dave Wood attended the inaugural meeting of the Middle East Minstermen in the Westin Hotel in Dubai on 3 February, with special visiting guests from York City South and York! The weather was actually colder than in the UK that night. After a brief formal meeting [approximately 30 seconds], the group adjourned for the best beers which Dubai could offer.

NEXT SOCIAL EVENING We are planning more social events - please check our web site for information.





Maidstone (February 11 2017 / Chris Forth) Keep It Up Maidstone

Today we welcome Maidstone against whom we started the season with a 1-1 draw. It was our first trip to the new Maidstone, although some of us recalled a 5-4 defeat against the former Maidstone team in Dartford in 1991. At the Gallagher Stadium, City fans were warmly welcomed with open hands. We turned up at the wrong end and the lady we spoke to was very helpful in pointing us in the right direction. Inside, one member of our party fell ill during the first half, they were transferred to the seats whilst I learned water was given out to quench the thirst of some City fans on the open sunny terrace whilst the stewards were friendly and approachable. On the way out, they wished us a safe journey home. Keep it up Maidstone.

Barrow (January 21 2017 / Dot Goodearl) YCS News

YORK CITY QUIZ BOOK The newly published 2016 York City Quiz Book is a must for City fans everywhere. Laid out in 27 separate quizzes, as well as taxing the memory, the book is a fascinating City history told in bite sized chunks. Readers of every age will recall long forgotten players and games. It will bring back numerous happy memories of City’s many glory days. Priced at £5 (please add £1 for overseas postage). Payment can be made to bank sort code 40-47-83 / bank account 94-86-64-95 with your name as reference and send an email to Chris quoting your reference and address. Or send a £5 cheque, payable to Chris Forth. All profits donated to YCS / YCFC.

NEXT SOCIAL EVENING Thursday 9 February at 7.30 pm - CHRIS JONES. All welcome to our social evening with Guest speaker CHRIS JONES currently a summariser on Radio York’s York City coverage. He started his football career at Manchester City and played for York City 1973-76. More details about Chris on our website. This event is at The Perseverance, 63 Lamb's Conduit Street, London WC1N 3NB. The nearest tubes are Holborn, Chancery Lane or Russell Square.

North Ferriby (January 1 2017 / Dot Goodearl) Happy New Year

York City South would like to wish all City supporters a Happy New Year.

As New Year's Eve was the 50th anniversary of Andy Naylor's first York City match, he has been looking at the fortunes of the clubs in Division 4 when he first visited Bootham Crescent in 1966.

City's opponents that day, Stockport County, are one of three now in a lower league (Halifax and Bradford PA are the others). Eight, including City, are in the National League, six are back where they were, in the fourth tier, whilst five are a division higher. Only Barnsley and Brentford are two divisions higher.

As now, the 1966-7 season was one of the lowest ebbs in City's history, being in the middle of a spell of 5 bottom-four finishes in 6 seasons. Andy is grateful that automatic relegation out of the Football League was not in place then, otherwise he may not have enjoyed seeing York City take on 18 of today's Premiership clubs, and doing well against many of them.

His message for today's young fans: "Do not be put off by City's current league position, football tends to go in cycles. Support the club loyally through the bad times, and you will be rewarded by the promotion seasons and the memorable cup runs that this great club is famous for."

Torquay (December 17 2016 / Dot Goodearl) Merry Christmas

York City South wish all the Team and Staff at York City Football Club, plus all the fans at the match today, a "Merry Christmas" and "Happy New Year".

York City South welcome new members. We organise regular social evenings and car shares to matches. So if you are based in 'the south' then please get in touch. Membership is £10 for the year [and includes membership of York City AFC 1922 Supporters Club]; Juniors £5 for the year; £125 life membership.

YCS 1996 - 2016 - York City South was formed in 1996 and we are celebrating our 20th anniversary this season. We have commemorative badges for sale at £2.50. You can order them via email - or see Ray or Dot at most matches.

2016 York City Quiz Book & Brief History. The newly published 2016 York City Quiz Book is a must for all City fans everywhere. Laid out in 27 separate quizzes, as well as taxing the memory, the book is a fascinating City history told in bite sized chunks. Readers of every age will recall long forgotten players and games. It will bring back numerous happy memories of City’s many glory days. Priced at £5 (please add £1 for overseas postage) it will make the ideal Christmas present for City fans everywhere. Payment can be made either to bank sort code 40-47-83 / bank account 94-86-64-95 with your name as reference and send an email to Chris quoting your reference and address. Or send a £5 cheque, payable to Chris Forth. All profits will be donated YCS / YCFC.

Worcester (December 10 2016) Not Required

Guiseley (November 29 2016 / Dot Goodearl) Christmas Social

Lincoln (November 22 2016 / Dot Goodearl) York Pub Challenge

Dot, Andy & Ray called in at the "Yorkshire Bar & Restaurant" at Warfield, near Bracknell, on our return home from the Eastleigh match, which completes (well nearly) the 151 locations that Dot and Ray have sourced for pubs with the word 'York' in the title. Details of all the pubs visited are available on the York City South website, and we welcome any additional information on locations that we may have overlooked, re-named, re-opened, or newly built.

It has been the best part of six years since we thought of doing this, combining our visits with fixtures and holidays. Been in some real gems, great beers, then at the opposite end, some not so good. Dread to think of the mileage, cost, time, and carbon footprint, but it has been great fun.

Our next York City South social event will be our Christmas Social on Wednesday 7 December at The Sheephaven Bay, 2 Mornington Street, Camden Town, London NW1 7QD. The nearest tubes are Mornington Crescent or Camden Town. More details to follow - and check our website for the latest news!!

Dagenham (November 19 2016 / Chris Forth) York City Quiz Book

The newly published 2016 York City Quiz Book is a must for City fans everywhere. Laid out in 27 separate quizzes, as well as taxing the memory, the book is a fascinating City history told in bite sized chunks. Readers of every age will recall long forgotten players and games. It will bring back numerous happy memories of City’s many glory days.

Priced at £5 (please add £1 for overseas postage) it will make the ideal Christmas present for City fans everywhere.

Payment can be made to bank sort code 40-47-83 / bank account 94-86-64-95 with your name as reference and send an email to Chris quoting your reference and address. Or send a £5 cheque, payable to Chris Forth.

All profits donated YCS / YCFC.

Sutton (October 29 2016 / Dot Goodearl) Welcome Home

We send our best wishes to Gary Mills and his team - welcome back!!

Our next York City South social event will be our Christmas Social on Wednesday 7 December at The Sheephaven Bay, 2 Mornington Street, Camden Town, London NW1 7QD. The nearest tubes are Mornington Crescent or Camden Town. More details to follow - and check our website for the latest news!!

York City South welcome new members. We organise regular social evenings and car shares to matches. So if you are based in 'the south' then please get in touch. Membership is £10 for the year [and includes membership of York City AFC 1922 Supporters Club]; Juniors £5 for the year; £125 life membership. Our next social evening is planned for For more information please check out our website

Chester (October 22 2016 / Chris Forth) David Ward: Guest Speaker

We had a lively and packed social evening last week with Radio York’s David Ward as our guest speaker. The evening turned into a round table discussion and although David had his own thoughts and opinions, he had no earth shattering revelations (or solutions to our recent woes beyond noting 3 straight wins and getting the new stadium build confirmed would go a long way towards making things look much better). He finds his role much more enjoyable when City are doing well and bemoaned the increased presence of the national media around the club when they sensed bad news. Many thanks to David and his dad Terry, for taking the time out to travel to see us in London.

Our next social evening, our Christmas social, will be on Wednesday 7 December from 7pm at The Sheephaven Arms 2-3 Mornington Street, Camden, NW1 7QD. Its just 2 minutes walk from Mornington Crescent tube. Big screen, Christmas party food (plus the return of the mince pie eating competition), party games and darts. What more could you want?

Curzon (October 15 2016) Not Required

Aldershot (October 1 2016 / Chris Forth) Going Up In The World

Chris Forth would like to say a big thank you to all who sponsored his son, Charles, in his climb up Mount Kilimanjaro. You’ll be glad to know he made it safely to the top and achieved his fundraising target, although its still not too late to sponsor him via his web page or York City South web site

A week earlier, Hayley Wishart also reached the top of Kili. Well done to both of them. At 19,341 feet (5,895 meters) it’s a worthy achievement.

However, in 2011, Jackie McNamara beat them both when he climbed 19,347 feet, just 6 feet higher, to the top of the Cotopaxi volcano in Ecuador, in a bid to raise £100,000 for his former teammate Phil O’Donnell who died during a game. Unfortunately, Simon Donnelly had to turn back suffering from altitude sickness.

Dover (September 17 2016 / Derek Feasby) Guest - David Ward

York City South welcome new members. We organise regular social evenings and car shares to matches. So if you are based in 'the south' then please get in touch. Membership is £10 for the year [and includes membership of York City AFC 1922 Supporters Club]; Juniors £5 for the year; £125 life membership. Our next social evening is planned for For more information please check out our website

On Tuesday 20 September we are planning to go and watch the cricket, Middlesex v Yorkshire, at Lord's Cricket Ground, Saint John's Wood Road, London, NW8 8QN. The match starts at 10.30 am.

Our next social evening will be on Thursday 13 October from 7.30 pm when our guest speaker for the evening will be DAVID WARD, Radio York and former York City South member. This will be held at The Perseverance Public House [first floor room], 63 Lamb's Conduit Street, London WC1N 3NB . The nearest tubes are Holborn, Chancery Lane or Russell Square. For more information please check out our web site

Tranmere (September 13 2016 / Chris Forth) Welcome

Chris Forth recounts our links with Holland, but he was far too young to remember City’s 1938 away day in Holland. Having reached the FA Cup Quarter Finals in spring City were invited by the Dutch FA to Holland in October 1938. Setting off by train and overnight ferry from Harwich, City spent the week in Holland, losing 8-2 to a Dutch national XI before returning home just in time for the game the following Saturday. Midweek European football took its toll on City as we lost our next 3 league games. More recently, I recall a City intermediates side playing an end of season 16 team tournament in Holland in the 1990s. I wonder how many City supporters saw any of those games?

My son, Charles Forth, is climbing Mt Kilimanjaro this month in support of "Hope for Children". The charity works in 7 countries helping children who live in poverty.. We would be very grateful if you could sponsor him via Hope For Children - Kilimanjaro climb - thank you.

Solihull Moors (September 3 2016 / Chris Forth) Birthday Blues

Chris Forth writes about the "Birthay Blues" on the Gateshead match day. Forsaking a candlelit dinner with his wife to celebrate his birthday, a friend went to see City’s recent game at Gateshead, full of the new season high expectations. He came away deflated having seen his high hopes for the season trashed. He’s seen bigger City defeats, but never on his birthday. To compensate, he whisked his wife off to the Greek islands and missed the Woking win.

It got me thinking, did he set a new City record for the biggest defeat witnessed by a City supporter on his birthday? If you can beat that, email the York City South web site. Given over 7,000 of us saw the 7- 0 defeat at Anfield in 1985, statistically, there’s maybe around 20 City supporters who can!

Woking (August 27 2016 / Chris Forth) Blyth

Chris Forth remembers our history with Blyth. In 1978, when a struggling City drew 1-1 with Blyth in the FA Cup, a season earlier Blyth had made FA Cup headlines when they reached Round 5 the Quarter Final. All the papers asked are Blyth are on another giant killing run? In those days, you could easily travel to away games on the train, 2 trains in fact to Blyth and get home the same night. Anyway, it did not work out the way Blyth expected as City ran out fairly comfortable 5-3 winners after extra time in a blizzard. Highlight for me was Andy Clements, the lightweight half of our curly permed centre back partnership, scoring with a long range deflected powder puff shot. We enjoyed our own cup run before losing to reigning Division 1 (Premier League) champions Nottingham Forest on another snow covered pitch in Round 4.

Boreham Wood (August 13 2016 / Chris Forth) New Frontiers

The first 2016/17 season issue of the City fanzine, "New Frontiers", is now available as a free download from the York City South website (www.yorkcitysouth.co.uk ).

If you download it, all we ask is that at the next home game, you buy an extra pint in the social club or lottery ticket in the car park.

It is packed with City material, including a preview of the new season, a “whatever happened to” look back at our 2012-2015 loanees, a former City employee is fondly remembered, London’s bulldozed stadia are remembered, shocking statistics on our finishing league positions, a look back at Euro 2016 (and revealing the continental team that Albert Steptoe supported), plus all the usual features and much more.

Macclesfield (August 9 2016 / Derek Feasby) Welcome

Good evening and welcome back to Bootham Crescent for the 2016/17 season. We can put last season behind us and hopefully look forward to a revival in our beloved club’s fortunes. First task will be to learn the identities of all the new players! I guess more programmes than usual will have been sold tonight!

York City South is the supporters branch for all York City fans living in the South of England. We have members throughout London and the Home Counties. We’re lucky to have a dedicated group of people who organise social events as well as transport to games, which of course in our case includes the home games! Please come and join us (details via the website).

York City South welcome new members. If you are based in 'the south', please get in touch. Membership is still just £10 for the year [and includes membership of York City AFC 1922 Supporters Club]; Juniors £5 for the year; £125 life membership. Join Now.

Visit our York City South web site for all the latest branch updates [with thanks to Chris Forth our webmaster].

See your name in print The branch is invited to write a short article in every City home programme. The more people who contribute, the more varied and better our page becomes, email us, with your words. As always a photo helps, but isn't necessary. Most things City related go, so write now, write here.

KEEP IN TOUCH You can get in touch with York City South in the following ways:

  1. Web: York City South
  2. Twitter: @YCFCSouth
  3. Facebook: Search for 'York City South'
  4. In Person: Look out for our flags and come and find us at games, both home and away