FoBC latest: 9 July press release
Give Us A Home!
Supporters’ pressure group, the Friends of Bootham Crescent (FoBC) have issued a stark warning to the City of York Council – if they continue to show a total lack of commitment to making Huntington Stadium a suitable home for York City, then they must turn down the planning application on Bootham Crescent and the club stay at our rightful home.
FoBC have vowed to re-start their campaign for York City FC to remain at Bootham Crescent in the wake of the recent arguments over the role of the City of York Council (CoYC) in the re-development of Huntington Stadium. FoBC had initially pledged their reluctant support for the move to Huntington, as it seemed the only option for the survival of the club.
However the group now feels that an underdeveloped Huntington Stadium is now being fobbed off on the Club and will lead to the demise of the football club. FoBC are now calling on the Council to make a serious commitment to the future of professional football in the city, arguing that if there is no political will to make Huntington a genuinely suitable alternative venue, then all parties should work towards a solution involving Bootham Crescent remaining as the club’s long term base.
FoBC spokesperson Ian Savage commented, “Back in March, it was agreed that the plan for Huntington Stadium would include the re-location of the athletics track to a proper alternative site, thus enabling the club to use the available funding to build a 7,000 capacity stadium which would just about reach a minimum satisfactory standard.” He went on to say, “However, the Council have now gone back on their word, and are now proposing something entirely different. It’s now being suggested that the stadium would hold just 5,000 spectators, accommodated in temporary stands with an athletics track staying in place to distance them from the pitch. There wouldn’t even be sufficient room for a club shop or any other revenue generating facilities – it’s an insult and a joke.”
Mr Savage went on to point out that CoYC must now refuse the application to develop Bootham Crescent. “Unless the Council honours the original pledge to fund the re-location of the running track, then Huntington Stadium does not represent a suitable alternative leisure facility to Bootham Crescent, and the Planning Committee must act accordingly. A record number of people have already written in to oppose the planning application – the committee must now respect those opinions and refuse to allow Bootham Crescent to be demolished. BCH and Persimmon would still have the option of evicting the club of course, but would have nothing to gain by doing so.
The possible implications of recent events have not been lost on FoBC. “Without a long-term lease at a suitable ground, York City will be in breach of their agreement with the Football League, and will lose their league status – a move which will almost certainly drive the club out of business. For months, we have been calling on Douglas Craig (chairman of BCH who own the Bootham Crescent ground) and Persimmon Homes (who have applied for permission to build 93 dwellings on the site) to ‘do the right thing’. Now, we have come to the crunch - will these two local companies who claim to have the interests of the community and our football club at heart, evict the club making them homeless, knowing full well that doing so will ensure that York City FC dies?” said Savage.
Finally Mr Savage pleaded for all concerned to come to a satisfactory arrangement over Bootham Crescent. “The future of York City FC clearly depends on an agreement for York City to remain at Bootham Crescent. For this to happen, BCH, Persimmon Homes, City of York Council and the club itself must arrive at a compromise which will satisfy the requirements of the Football League. FOBC believes that such an agreement can be reached, and is willing to act as an honest broker in any negotiations - this is a genuine offer.” he said.