Southern Connections - 2017/8
Leamington (April 21 2018 / Alastair Smith) 22 Years Of York City South
This season has been a tough one for York City South members, a number of whom have season tickets and travel up for home games but this season we have also had to travel north for all away games. No easy trips to Leyton Orient, Dagenham and Redbridge, Bromley etc. for us this year. However, we've had members at every single game.
York City South was formed on July 8th 1996 in the Blue Post Pub in Soho after John Catton first suggested and kicked off the idea. John, Paul Hilton, Phil Howden (our ex-SLO) and myself met in a Soho pub to kick off the branch. Our hope was to find 20 York City supporters based in London and the South who would be interested in joining us, we could provide news from Bootham Crescent (the internet and social media were in their infancy back then), travel sharing, and fundraising for the club.
The response we received exceeded all expectations, 63 members were recruited during that first season and a record 118 the season after. Recent membership has been between 50 and 60 per annum as social media has made it easier for expats to connect with the club. Over the years York City South has contributed funds to the football club through sponsorships and donations, held a ‘Ginner Dinner’ for Wayne Hall’s testimonial, had a successful football team, organised travel to matches, and held regular meetings in London with talks given by Douglas Craig, Sophie McGill, Jon Champion, Dean Kiely, Chris Jones, and Graeme Crawford amongst others.
Looking through the records Phil Howden is not the only name from the Branch that you may recognise, Steve Beck was Vice Chairman for 4 years between 2000 and 2004, Steve represented YCS in the Save City emergency meetings and ended up becoming the Chair of York City FC when the Supporters Trust first took over the club. David Ward of Radio York fame also served on the committee and There’s Only One Arthur Bottom’s Josh Easby is still a member today.
The last 22 years have seen very mixed fortunes for York City, the hope now is that we can resolve the future and have some success like we had in the first 4 years of the Branch, here’s to our next 22 years.
Next Social: AGM [plus quiz] on Thursday 10 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
Salford City (February 10 2018 / Chris Forth) Spring Ahead York versus Salford. I am sure many fans here today will have seen the fixture played as a rugby league game. In my younger days, I recall Danny Wilson, Ryan Giggs’ Dad, was often a thorn in York’s side (and that’s being polite). Today, our rugby league side's fortunes have diverged, whilst our football teams have come together. Aided by the Manchester United old boys, Salford have risen through the ranks of lower league football and are looking towards another promotion. Let’s wish both Salford and ourselves successful ends to the season.
For our branch, we have a busy spring coming up. Dale Banton is our guest speaker on Thursday March 1st at 7.30 pm at
The Perseverance 63 Lamb's Conduit Street, London WC1N 3NB. All welcome. Its an independent freehouse in Bloomsbury, close to both Russell Square and Holborn tubes. We have our annual darts night 3 weeks later on Thursday 22 March at The Sheephaven Arms 2-3 Mornington Street, Camden, NW1 7QD. Its a 5 minutes walk from Mornington Crescent or 10 minutes from Camden. Having kept an exclusive grip on the trophy until 2017, I’m sure the Goodearl household will be doing their utmost to wrestle the trophy (named in memory of Steve Beck), back from the grip of Joel Stern. April will once again see our branch hosting a hospitality box at the last home league game of our season.
Meanwhile, a first for the branch will be a trip (or 3) to see York City Futsal, with 3 games in London coming up, we will be offering our support.
Check our website for all the details - and if you haven’t already, you can still buy a copy of the York City Quiz Book.
Curzon Ashton (November 4 2017 / Neil Rank) Graeme Crawford A most enjoyable evening with Graeme Crawford.
York City South had a social evening on 19 October with a special guest Graeme Crawford. The evening lasted well over two hours and here is a brief overview of what was a most entertaining evening.
Playing for a local club, Graeme was spotted by East Stirling. A handful of games later saw an offer from Shrewsbury turned down, but was then encouraged to accept an offer from Sheffield Utd, as the club needed the money for floodlights. Never a regular with the Blades, he played 3 games in the Anglo Italian tournament, including one game where the opposing goalkeeper was Dino Zoff. Loaned out to Mansfield, he accepted the offer from York as we guaranteed him first team football – “sign today and you will play on Saturday.” During his time at York the camaraderie was excellent, with most of the team of 73/74 still in regular contact.
Many stories followed – FA Cup preparation involved the squad going to Filey and included playing Tom Johnston at draughts, put his 11 game clean sheet record down to luck and an excellent defence, Colin Meldrum was both a great bloke and coach as was Clive Baker, Tom Johnston built an excellent squad, turned down the chance to go to Southampton, preferring first team football, Charlie Wright was the only manager to coach him (“more time with him would have made me a better player”), became disillusioned with the game before spending 3 enjoyable years at Scunthorpe, and later moved to Rochdale because of Jimmy Seal. Whilst many felt his best game was Grimsby away in 1972, he played this down saying it was the ball hitting him rather than his positioning.
Best player he has seen at York, Paul Aimson. Most underrated, John Woodward. Best City keeper, Dean Kiely, (then Alan Fettis). Barry Swallow was a great leader and communicator. Best opponent, Mike Channon. Best goal seen, Jimmy Seal’s volley at Highbury in the FA Cup. Fittest player, Chris Topping.
NEXT SOCIAL EVENING - York City South Christmas Party will be held on Thursday 7 December from 7.30 pm The Sheephaven Arms 2-3 Mornington Street, Camden, NW1 7QD. 5 minutes walk from Mornington Crescent or 10 minutes from Camden.
Nuneaton (August 19 2017 / Derek Feasby) Welcome It is great to be back at Bootham Crescent for another season. As Gary Mills said, the season started at Wembley in May.
It's not going to be in the Division we hoped it would be, but that said, it is very heartening to see the excellent number of season ticket sales, among whom are some of our members. Of course we face longer travelling distances than we have ever done before.
Whilst the big clubs seem to become more detached daily from reality, its good to see clubs like York City still hold a special place in the hearts of many, in my case 3 generations regularly follow City. We would not want to travel to see the big clubs. Following clubs like ours, you have the chance to chat with players and management and to be directly engaged with supporting and fund raising for the club. Would we exhange that for the privilege of a prawn sandwich and constant changes to kick off times to suit TV? No thanks! In this regard, we have arranged for Graeme Crawford, our highly rated keeper from our successful 1970s side, to come down and speak to us on Thursday October 19 at 7:30 pm at The Perseverance 63 Lamb's Conduit Street, London WC1N 3NB. All welcome. Its an independent freehouse in Bloomsbury, close to both Russell Square and Holborn tubes.
Although its going to be more difficult, I’m sure our members will make it to many of the new northern outposts. We’ll be easy to spot with our new, rather special YCS flag.
Down south, we’ll have our usual mix of events with guest speakers, darts tournament, Christmas parties and quizzes included.
A first for us will be our support of York City Futsal when they make 3 trips to London in the spring.
Here’s hoping for a successful season.
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, our programme page co-ordinator 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: