News archive - August 2003

Patience with Persimmon finally ran out on Saturday, with still no sign of a response to FoBC's open letter to the company.

We organised our first piece of direct action against Persimmon, by disrupting the grand opening of their latest showhome on Lawrence Street. About thirty City fans descended on the site shortly after 10.00am and stuck up posters and banners clearly proclaiming the message, "Hands Off Bootham Crescent".

The master-stroke was the realisation that we could easily attach a banner to one of Persimmon's monstrous flagpoles, making a very dramatic picture for the assembled media.

Passing drivers tooted their support. Bus drivers stopped their buses and took leaflets. Some people arriving for the official opening turned round and walked away when they saw the protest.

The majority of people involved were first-time protestors, but they soon got into the swing of things, quickly organising a game of football on Persimmon's manicured lawn because, as one fan said, "they want to build houses on our ground, so there's nowt wrong with us playing football on theirs".

Worried Persimmon staff called in managing director Ian Hessay, who attempted to rip down the banners. When that failed, he called the police, who didn't turn up until after the protest had finished. Hessay apparently spent the rest of the morning telling York City directors they had to stop the protests.

Later in the day, two policemen came into the Bootham Tavern to warn people not protest any more and to falsely claim that Persimmon had made a large donation to keep the club going.

This was FoBC's first piece of direct action, but it certainly won't be the last. Mr Hessay should realise that only Persimmon itself can stop the protests and the direct action - by withdrawing its application to build on Bootham Crescent and stepping aside to allow the ground's rightful owners to take control once more.

Frank Ormston

Photos: Daley