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YORK CITY SOUTH |
Billy Plutch
Welcome to the exploits of Billy Plutch, you know him, you see him wandering around at every City game.
| 2007. |
| Aug 25. Looking forward to today's Premiership fixtures after 2 referees are dropped for making mistakes last week. On the basis of being dropped for making a mistake, I'm expecting most games to be 5 a side today. |
| Aug 24. Another seaon landmark reached. Walking out of the ground after our Forest Green performance, my son turned to me and mentioned the dreaded R word, its first mention of the season, in fact for 2 seasons. |
| Aug 24. Found it a bit rich of Fergie threatening to report Liverpool for an illegal approach for Heinze after their shenanigans for Tevez, they practically had him in for a medical when West Ham were adamant he was their player and not for sale. |
| Aug 11. Leeds win at Tranmere. I'm confused. After Ken Bates took Leeds into administration in May how come he's a director of the new Leeds, how did he pass his fit and proper person test? |
| Aug 10. Tevez joins Manchester United. Not sure how he did it but can we use 3rd party ownership to tie players to contracts to get around the Bosman ruling. |
| July 20. Dear Diary, I must be more regular this season. Just like Craig Farrell. |
| July 19. Where did last 2006/7 season go to? Did they really finish Wembley? I blinked and missed our new signing, Craig Farrell,score a hatful of goals. |
| July 18. Where did last 2006/7 season go to? Did they really finish Wembley? I blinked and missed our new signing, Craig Farrell, score a hatful of goals. I must have missed it as I trekked the country, groupie to the stars as Ted Chippington and I, Ludicrous, hit the comeback trial. How about a Desperate Bicycles reunion. Meanwhile RIP Sema 4. |
| 2006. |
| September 24. My eldest is keeper for his school team. I promised him a pair of goalie gloves if we could find something City related. Off to the shops and we found “Stockdale” gloves, unfortunately they were full of holes, hiding behind them were the “Porter” range. Next to them was the “Endersby” range, my wife wasn’t very keen on them as they jumped off the shelf and groped her. They were sold out of “Evans” so we had a choice between “Kiely” and “Robinson”. As my lad is about the same age as Paul Robinson when he played for City we went for his gloves. |
| September 23. Did a search on YCFC on youtube and the first 2 results were Nathan Peat and world class footballers. |
| September 19. Have to get my glasses changed. I thought I'd gone to see City, but those yellow shirts were more like Brazil and who was that coloured striker doing all those brilliant flick ons?. |
| August 19. What a day, I've seen 2 City away wins in a week, when was the last time that happened, I can't remember it in over 40 years supporting City. |
| August 19. Sat next to 3 middle aged Middlesbrough supporters on the train down to London this morning. They were off to Reading and were discussing Sunderland's game at Southend. One thought Southend was near Reading, one thought it was in Cornwall and the third was adamant it wasn't by the coast. They were last seen wondering around Kings Cross looking for a train to Reading. |
| Summer. Good day, so good I can't remember exactly when, must be the heat. Good to see Chris Brass again at Yorkie and Kirstie's wedding. |
| April 22. Working this morning so couldn't get to Stevenage. Thought I'd try a D2 game and drove up to Darlo to see their new ground. Had a pleasant surprise when Chris Brass was announced in the Bury starting line up, a rare appearance. He scored a great goal after only 8 minutes, back to goal, facing his goal, 8 yards out, he did an overhead kick hit, it bounced off his forehead giving his own goalie no chance. Darlo 1 Bury 0. He deserves better. |
| April 18. Why all the fuss about the Highbury squirrel? Or for that matter, the rats on the Old Trafford pitch (and some would say elsewhere at Scum United) earlier this season. We've had animals on the pitch at Bootham Crescent on many occasions. Now, now, I know what you're thinking, but that's down the A64 and the donkeys at The McCain Stadium. I was thinking of lions, seals, foxes and panthers, Barry, Jimmy, Christian and Emmanuel. PS What's the difference between the Highbury squirrel and Spurs, the squirrel has European experience. |
| January 19. Can't believe my ears when I read Arthur tonight. Criticism for Chris Brass for taking the pay off. He negotiated a contract and he's fully entitled to his money. He was a good servant for the club, first as a player and then as captain he held the team together through our dark days as we almost went out of business. Maybe he was promoted too quickly to manager, but he was the fans choice at the time. Good luck for the future. |
| January 13 2006. Postie dropped a thick glossy brochure on my doormat this morning for East London's latest buy to let bonanza. It seems that Leyton Orient are building a block of flats behind each of the four corner flags at their Brisbane Road stadium. The price list suggests that the higher stories are more expensive, reflecting the less likelihood of having their windows put through by stray shots and being further from the inaction. The flats with a view over the pitch are cheaper than those with no view of the inaction. The only other surprise is that they haven't plans to build on the adjacent vacant site that doubles as the home team's attacking penalty area. One block is assigned as affordable housing, yes it still exists in London, presumably with sky high rents in London, it works out cheaper for Orient to house their youth players at the ground in club property. But, as you can probably imagine if you've ever been to see City down there, there are no luxury roof top penthouse apartments. Even so, with a total sale price of about £20 million, its nice little earner for Barry Hearn and the boys. I cast my vote, on several occasions, to have one block named "Derrick Downing Court" in honour of our (and their) left winger of the 1970s but my attempts at vote rigging provided unsuccessful. However, I do intend to buy a couple of flats so that I can hang our Yorkcitysouth flag out of the window next time we play them. In fact, I'll hang it out at every Orient home game just to keep our flag flying. Arsenal are doing something similar with Highbury, but offering an incentive of a free season ticket with every flat. No such incentives at Orient, which I suspect is a clever little marketing ploy. |
| November 24 2005. Sorry, not been around much recently, have you noticed how our form slumped at the same time, coincidence or what. Any way, having heard rumours of the signing of Terry Barwick, I was dead impressed when I saw Teletext's football front page headline, "Barwick Eyeing Wembley Euro Final", I know he's only signed initially on loan, but he sounds confident and impreseive if he expects to lead us through the divisions to a European Champions League Final at Wembley, I wonder which of his new teammates will go all the way with him. |
| October 12. I know Billy Mc and Steve Beck are singing the praises of our Intermediates, but even I couldn't believe the crowds on their way to Trafford on Wednesday until someone told that England were playing down the road. Couldn't believe my eyes, England at Old Trafford again, I thought The FA were taking the games around the country, but they must be working from a Manchester A-Z. |
| October 1. Couldn't believe me eyes when I woke up and checked the club's little fixture list card this morning. There, handwritten it said, "October 1 Exeter (h)", who forgot to type it in? |
| September 12. Rush home from work to see climax of The Ashes. 2 Aussie batsman working off followed by a sombre looking England team to muted applause. We've lost again, I think to myself. Hours later I learn the truth, oh well, at least the cricket administrators can make as big a cock up as football's administrators. |
| September 10. Just back from another win at Forest Green, dizzy with success, but I'm worried. Billy and the boys (most if not all) are on one year contracts, they could walk at the end of the season, a bit like Aldershot last season, all their best players left and look at them now, struggling. Come on board, start getting Billy and at least some of the boys contracted beyond this season. |
| August 31. They say Newcastle fans are football crazy. 15,000 turned up to watch the ink dry on Michael 0-Win's new contract. Plain crazy if you ask me. O-Win leaves Liverpool for "success" at Real Madrid and jumps ship to Newcastle. No chance of any trophies until next July, Michael. |
| August 10. Been scratchng me 'ead all day. Bootham Crescent is in central York, land locked and ripe for housing development. The board and council then push 2 other city centre sites as the preferred choice for our new stadium. Why? Surely they'll have all the disadvantages of Bootham Crescent and can you name any other club who have moved from one city centre location to another? |
| August 8. Unsure why Chris Brass isn't in Billy's plans. He's got to pay his wages whether or not he plays, so he might as well play and be in the shop window. We could do with an extra player, an experienced one at that. |
| July 8. Just finished my stint helping Billy tidy up the ground. I was tidying up his office, spent most of my time emptying Chris and Viv's old desks. Read more. |
| July 5. With Stevie Gerrard constantly changing his mind I think I'd prefer Greg Heald in our side. Do you fancy Stevie who doesn't know whether to stay or go, will probably get confused as to whether to pass to red or blue and will then get dispossessed whilst trying to decide whether to cross or shoot. Meanwhile, no nonesense Greg decides he doesn't fancy it and off he goes. Top man. |
| July 1. Training has started and we don't seem to have the 20 plus trialists of recent years training with us. It looks like Billy McEwan knows what he wants as isn't getting as many bad playere through the door to see who is the least worse of the worst. |
| June 1. What a laugh at the "Colegate Trial". The Premier League set up (that took over 3 months) an inquiry and then the 2 main instigators (agents Barnett and Zahavi) are outside their jurisdiction. Its a case of having to call upon big brothers, The FA and FIFA, if they want to investigate them. Apparently the agents can operate in The Premier League but can't be controlled by them. |
| May 31. I see Rio Ferdinand is claimimg it might take him 18 months or 2 years before he makes up his mind on his new contract. I don't remember him taking so long when he had the chance to jump ship at West Ham or Leeds. Or is it a case that it will take hin 2 years to read his new contract. |
| May 15. Am I going soft or what? I'm starting to feel sorry for Fergie. Glazier tells him he's only got £20m to spend. He'd be better off at Wigan who offered their manager £25m to spend. For Fergie, is it a case of one yank and he's off. |
| May 13. Pouring over the Manchester Scumited take over got me thinking. McManus / Magnier are reputed to have made anything between £70m and £100m, that's probably more than City have turned over in our entire history. Probably the whole of Division 2 could live very nicely on the interest generated by that. I laughed out loud on the tube to work when I read the Independent Manchester United Supporter Association's spokesperson say, "This has come out of the blue, if we'd seen it coming we might have been able to do something different". How much notice do they need? Its been coming since they went to the Stock Market in 1991, the days of Robert Maxwell, recent events raised the stakes and the Takeover Panel's ultimatum of May 17 was less than a week away. If City's supporters were as well organised (and motivated), than we'd have no club by now and Bootham Crescent would to be York's latest Buy To Let investment. |
| May 8. Popped down to the New Den. Drinking before the game, at half time and at the end. Why can't we do that at Bootham Crescent? We could make a bar under the Pop Stand with access via the long lost tunnel. |
| May 7. Awaken at 7:30 (sic) by the thud of the latest When Saturday Comes on the doormat. Open it to find a pic of Norman Wilkinson and Billy Hughes, a strike partnership to strike fear (in more senses than one) into every opposing defence, No wonder we were so good in the 50s. |
| May 5. My old buddy, Josh is over from Kiwi land. He's going back tomorrow but he found time in his busy schedule to meet me for a drink. Its his first time in England and being a far away gooner, he'd tried to get tickets for a game before he arrived, their ticket office said they were sold out, but the nice lady he spoke to told him to go to Highbury when he arrived and she'd see what see could do. I said I'd take him to Canvey Island to see some real footy but he said no. I didn't see any footy that night as we lost 4-0. Anyway, Josh told me he went to Highbury on the day he arrived. The lady managed to find tickets for the cup semi and also the Spurs game. He was made up, especially as his hero, Kenny Sansom, was in the office. They got chatting and Kenny gave him personal guided tour of the stadium. "What you doing tonight?" asked Kenny, "Nothing", replied Josh, Kenny offered to take him to Stevenage to see the Arsenal Ladies. After the game, Josh chatted with one of the Arsenal players, a fellow Kiwi. "I know Charlie George, he'll be at Highbury next week, meet me there and I'll introduce you". A week later, Charlie gives Josh the same guided tour that Sansom had done. It gets better. David Dein was at the ground. He chats to Josh and invites him to go with the directors to see Arsenal at Chelsea. Somewhere in the story, Josh gets a phone call, "Josh, I'm very sorry, I couldn't meet you whilst you were in London", they chat for 20 minutes about Arsenal, goalkeeping and life in general, The caller? Bob Wilson, a boyhood hero for Josh, a young keeper in New Zealand. By the time I meet up with Josh, he's a week late going home. "What's your wife going to say when you get back?" I ask, "I can handle that", replies Josh, "but I'm not sure how I'm going to explain this", he says opening his shirt to reveal a new Gunners tattoo across his heart. Top story, true story, I thought it was only the little clubs who did this sort of thing. |
| May 3. Good to see Billy has pre season training starting on May 11. Only trouble is we don't have many players. Just hope he doesn't wait to July and August to make his signings like we've done in recent years when we've been left with the best (or should it be the least worst) of the rest. |
| April 30. As the end of the season approaches, I give you The Fourth Law Of Football Supporting, "The bigger the club you support, you more stupid you look when crying your eyes out after a defeat denies you the success you wanted". |
| April 27. Just read about 2 attempts to cut Chris Brass. Not so much of the friendly club evident here when we try to settle with him twice within weeks of his serious knee injury. |
| April 13. Now we can look forward to our 3rd annual player cull. One year contracts are a 4 edged saw. One, we only have rubbish for a year. Two, any one whose half decent can leave after a year. Three, no one whose half decent wants just a year. Four, it takes a lot of time for the boss to work out his best 11 when he’s got so many new players to pick from. As for the juniors, are the current 17 year old trainees any better than this season’s 18 year old first season pros? Whatever, I know Billy is up to the job. |
| April 12. Someone wrote on Arthur tonight that Chris Brass "should continue following his re-abilitation". I can think of far more worthy candidates for re-abilitation, especially after tonight. |
| April 12. What a night. Was it the first time I’ve celebrated after a City 6-0 defeat. At least we‘ve avoided relegation. |
| April 9. Day Jar Who or wot. Lose at Hereford and with other results going our way, everyone says we're safe. Just like 1999 I suppose when we entered the last week of the season needing to lose both our games whilst Lincoln and Wycombe both won their 3 remaining games. No prizes for guessing what happened next. Tempting fate or what. |
| March 25. What started as an Easter Extra finished with a blank. Early Good Friday train from Kings Cross up to York to see us play Aldershot. All quiet as I approached the ground, nothing unusual there. Gates locked at 10 to 3. No one told me they'd changed the date. Anyway, more to come. Back to London and off to Wembley the next day for the Northern Ireland game. Ground a building site. Who said they could rebuild Wembley and have you noticed how all the big England games are now played at Old Trafford. I thought they were being spread around the country when really its big games at Old Trafford and the crumbs for the rest. With German and Scottish fans trying to get Hamman and Baxter immortalised in the naming of the new Wembley stadium, how about starting "The John Woodward Walkway" campaign? |
| March 25. As for my dad. With no Good Friday football, he was tending the roses in his front garden when he saw a familiar car go by. It was Billy McEwan being chauffeured by Steve Beck. "It’s a holiday, no game, no training, what they’re doing going off together", he wondered as he jumped into his car to follow them. He ended up at Northwich for the afternoon, thinking he’ll be back in York by 6 he phoned me mum to tell her to get tea ready. Big mistake, after the game, Steve drives Billy drive to Burton to watch the evening conference game. What dedication, Bank Holiday, and Billy takes in 2 games. Top Man, or should that be Top Men, for Billy and Steve. |
| March 19. Billy's first signing. A new tractor, he'll probably be our fastest defender. A drainage machine as part of the deal, another bore. |
| March 16. Gary Pearson out. Calculator out. Reckon City have saved a grand by getting rid of injured Pearson. Possibly a win - win situation (rare for City) with a tax free redundancy pay off for Pearson and City save on national insurance and income tax. What price Pearson at Hartlepool next season? Who's next for a package, there were plenty on offer last season! And, if there's none, it must be because we can't afford the lump sums up front (the cash, not our strike force). |
| March 14. Saw the Welsh squad announced. Telephoned the Welsh FA and got rheir auto,ated recording machine, "Dial One For Tickets, Dial 2 for Membership Details and Dial 3 if you want a game". With Robbie Savage announcing his retirement today, I suppose they must be short. |
| March 9. Tried explaining the offside law to my little cousin. The linesman must have about 5 pairs of eyes, the legs of Linford Christie and the combined brain of Einstein, Newton and Pythagaros. I've got a worse headache that I've had since I went to see Scarborough play last week. My cousin? he's waiting for cbeebies to explain offside. |
| March 5. Sick before the game with all those Yorkies, more chocs inside the ground, couldn't face the half time pie but was sick again when I saw there was no pie queue, guess everyone has gone for the free choccy and sick again at the final whistle with another home defeat. |
| February 10. Dash down to the ground straight after work to be one of the first to get Billy’s autograph. Long wait before he emerges with Steve Beck, "Billy, can I have your autograph", I shout, Billy obliges, whilst doing so, Steve’s phone rings, he answers it and asks Billy what he’s doing next Wednesday, and replies to his caller, "OK, we can do next Wednesday". It was the York Minstermen, quick off the mark to get Billy along to his next meeting. |