News archive - February-June 2004
11 June 2004 - details of Bootham Crescent deal revealed
The Friends of Bootham Crescent (FoBC) today welcomed the deal which secures the rightful home of York City FC for the coming ten years. The group also congratulated the York City FC board and everyone else who has helped to broker this very complicated deal which helps to safeguard the future of YCFC.
Spokesman Ian Savage said "Throughout last season York City faced the threat of eviction from Bootham Crescent. A very complicated series of agreements with a number of parties appear to have been made which will secure the long term future of York City and where they will play.
"We are pleased that the City of York Council has agreed to work with the football club by helping them to find a suitable location to build a new ground.
"Although FoBC is disappointed that York City will be vacating Bootham Crescent in ten years, the group has always stated we would accept a move away only to a new home superior to Bootham Crescent. We fully expect a new ground would fulfil this wish. We also hope this new stadium will have easy access and excellent transport links and urge the Council to ensure these issues are addressed when working with the club to find a suitable location".
FoBC urge the major shareholders in Bootham Crescent Holdings (BCH) - Messrs, Craig, Webb and Swallow, and local house builders Persimmon Homes - to plough some of the massive profits they are making from this deal back into the football club. This would help to defray the costs of the interest payment on the loan; a payment that amounts to rent to stay at a ground that the Club once owned and for which the club received a token payment well below its market value
FoBC are disappointed with the "compensation" which Persimmon is to be paid for a cancelled deal which is not cancelled, but postponed for 10 years. However, if this payment is recompense for the £400,000 "sponsorship" which Persimmon paid to John Batchelor, we would urge Persimmon to reconsider, and seek to recover its money from Mr Batchelor, who did not pass the full amount to York City as Persimmon seem to have expected.
The Friends of Bootham Crescent would like to put on record their congratulations to the whole of the current York City FC board for their tireless efforts to secure this deal which a few months ago seemed impossible.
For further details and all the latest news from York City FC at Bootham Crescent, visit the official club website www.ycfc.net, www.yorkcityfc.com and the York City Supporters' Trust website www.ycst.org.uk
4 February : major announcement
York City Football Club directors today announced that an agreement has been reached which will see York City FC stay at their Bootham Crescent home for the foreseeable future. The planning application to redevelop Huntington Stadium will now be withdrawn.
FoBC reaction: PRESS RELEASE - FoBC hail ground breakthrough
Supporters' pressure group, the Friends of Bootham Crescent (FoBC) today expressed "joy and great relief" that an agreement appears to have been reached which will see York City FC stay at their Bootham Crescent home for the foreseeable future.
FoBC spokesperson Ian Savage was quick to praise the efforts of the club's directors, and the hard work of the club's owners, York City Supporter's Trust. "Without the Supporters' Trust, and the efforts of its directors and ordinary members, York City FC would without question have folded in January last year," he commented. "Now thanks to the unpaid efforts of the Trust and Club boards, particularly Jason McGill, it looks as though Bootham Crescent has been saved as well - a massive achievement in the circumstances."
FoBC feel a great relief that a solution had been found to the apparent deadlock over City's home of over 70 years. "FoBC have always said that we would campaign against the club being forced out of Bootham Crescent until a suitable alternative venue was available," said Savage. "It has become more and more apparent that Huntington Stadium was never going to be suitable for League Football for a large number of reasons - not least of which being the eviction of Nestle Rowntree Athletics Club from the venue. We're all delighted with this news and we're sure that the residents of Huntington and the Athletics Club feel the same way."
"York City has now shown the footballing world what fans can achieve. Hopefully now the Club can move on to show the population of York what community spirit actually means."
Evening Press leader
ELATED York City fans will be more than merely over the moon. Today's fantastic news will rocket them to infinity and beyond. More
BBC North Yorkshire - Bootham Crescent saved - Full official statement
Evening Press - Home win
YORK City have won their two-year battle to stay at Bootham Crescent. After months of behind-the-scenes negotiations, jubilant directors revealed the club had struck a deal to call the ground their home "for the foreseeable future". More
BBC Sport - York future safe at Bootham
York City's future at Bootham Crescent home has been secured. More