IN a fortnight, I hope to be one of the fortunate few allowed into Bootham Crescent for York City’s play-off semi-final against Altrincham or Chester.
Hopefully, it will actually happen. Six years ago, I walked from my home in the city’s South Bank to watch the Minstermen face Fleetwood in the first leg of the League Two play-offs.
It was not a pleasant stroll. Rain fell in blinding leaden sheets on that Saturday evening, as it had for much of the previous 24 hours. Clothes were soaked. Drains overwhelmed. At Ouse Bridge, the King’s Arms – a pub that floods so frequently its interior features only wood and stone – was fighting yet another losing battle with the river.
York had earlier announced their game would be unaffected by the weather, but as kick-off loomed, confidence wavered. Balls were bounced, only to stick like lead weights. Puddles formed, swelled and turned into small ponds.
One abiding memory is of Sophie McGill, the York director, giving a pitchside interview to Sky TV as her cream stilettos slowly sank into the mire. When she walked away, one stayed put.
At 7.45, ref Carl Boyson finally pulled the plug and a despondent McGill was left to hold court in the club’s incongruously jaunty kids’ club. “I just hope this isn’t our chance gone,” she told us privately.
Denne historien er fra July 12, 2020-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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Denne historien er fra July 12, 2020-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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SHAKERS REVEL IN MAKING HISTORY
DAVE McNabb says Bury's FA Cup heroes are proud to be writing their own chapters in club history.
WILCOX: WE FEEL COMPLETE WITH WIN
RUSS WILCOX'S verdict after watching his Gainsborough Trinity side outmuscle and outplay their hosts was that it was \"probably our most complete performance\".
CRACKER BY KABIA TOPPLES TUDORS!
ASSISTANT boss Stewart Yetton said his Truro City side were good value for their win over table-toppers Hemel Hempstead Town.
BRAKES PUT STOP ON BORO BATTLERS
SEPARATED only by goal difference before kick-off, these sides remain neck and neck in the embryonic table after playing out 90 minutes in the October sunshine that was a great advert for the division.
BOSS COTT'S GOT A REALLY GOOD THING WITH ROVERS
STEVE Cotterill hailed Forest Green Rovers’ first class performance as they produced a spirited comeback to topple fellow high-flyers Eastleigh at the Silverlake Stadium.
SKIPS STEER HEED'S SHIP
GATESHEAD captains of the past and present are playing a lead role in helping the National League club move on from the departure of FA Trophy-winning manager Rob Elliot.
FA CUP PREVIEW: SWEET! 'DREAM' DRAW IS CHANCE OF OUR LIFETIME
DAVE NORTHFIELD says minnows Biggleswade FC were like 'kids in a sweet shop' when they drew out York City in what he describes as the 'draw of a lifetime'.
PARKER'S HEART IS STILL AT HOME
FORMER England right-back Paul Parker has revealed he would never completely rule out a return to management – but says he would only do so for one of his beloved local clubs.
LOCALS RALLY TO REBUILD BRIDGE
WHEN committee members at Bamber Bridge set out to raise £30,000 to protect the club's future, they were apprehensive about the response they'd get.
RUTHLESS BEES FIND THEIR FEET
ASTERLING second-half performance resulted in league leaders Barnet brushing aside a Boston United outfit that led at the interval through Keaton Ward’s early strike.