York City Past Players Festival Game

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The York City Past Players Festival game will be taking place at Bootham Crescent on Sunday 7th March, kick-off 2.00pm, admission £5 and £3 concessions.

The fundraising event will be a celebration of the Club staying at Bootham Crescent and will commemorate the 20 year anniversary of the record 101 points 1983/84 York City championship side and our 1993 win at Wembley.

Trust member Graham Bradbury has encouraged over 40 legends from City's past to play in the game and to attend the event with their families. The teams will comprise of members of the 1983/84 side against players from the 1992/93 Wembley side, with a few other ex-City stars as substitutes. The City heroes from the past who will be appearing at the event include: John MacPhail, Dale Banton, Gary Ford, Malcom Crosby,Chris Jones, Chris Topping, Jimmy Seal,Wayne Hall, Andy McMillan, Jon McCarthy, Tony Canham. The Club also stated they have a few further surprise appearances that will be announced early next week when the teams are confirmed.

The special day will also incorporate other events including an after match celebration in the Social Club with the opportunity for supporters to meet their heroes from the past and members of the current squad. After the match, Nick Bassett, Branch Manager of Preston and Duckworth jewellers will be presenting the Man of the Match with a watch to commemorate the occasion.

City supporters have the unique opportunity to reserve a place in the Boardroom and Directors Box for the event. The first 15 supporters to come forward can pay £25 to ensure they enjoy an afternoon of hospitality and a behind the scenes look at the Club . Supporters can also reserve spaces in the York City hospitality boxes at the cost of £20 per person. To reserve your space call Commercial Manager Peter Salter on 01904 624447 ext.6.

York City Communications Director Sophie McGill said, "This will be a fantastic day for City fans and enthusiasts. It is a totally unique opportunity to see our legends of the past in action. We will be announcing more surprise appearances early next week when the teams are confirmed. I think supporters will be very excited when they see the line-ups, I certainly am. We hope as many people as possible will support the fundraising event and fans will show their appreciation for the 40 plus ex-players who are travelling from all around the country to attend this Festival game."

FESTIVAL MATCH UPDATE (01/03/04): TEAMS ANNOUNCED

York City Football Club today revealed the team line-ups for their Past Players Festival Match on Sunday 7th March, kick-off 2.00pm.

Communications Director Sophie McGill said, “Match organizer Graham Bradbury has pulled off such a coup to encourage all these heroes from the past to play and attend the event. I think for many fans, this is a dream prospect to see the legendary Championship 1983/84 side pitching their skills against the heroes of the 1993 Wembley play-off winning team.”

McGill added, “This will be a tremendous day and a great fundraising opportunity for the Club. We would like to thank Graham Bradbury for all his efforts and also all the ex-City heroes who at taking part in this memorable occasion. Many of our ex-player community have kept a close eye on the situation at York City over the past two years, and this game is testimony to their devotion to the club and our home, Bootham Crescent.”

1983/84 101 points Championship side

Alan Hay
Malcolm Crosby
John MacPhail
Dale Banton (In place of Keith Walwyn whose wife Liz has been invited to attend)
Ricky Sbragia
Gary Ford
John Byrne (Traveling from Brighton)
Derek Hood
Brian Pollard
Chris Evans

1993 Wembley Play-off side

Dean Kiely - to be confirmed
Andy MacMillan
Wayne Hall
Paul Stancliffe
Paul Atkin
Jon McCarthy
Paul Barnes
Tony Canham
Glen Naylor
Ian Blackstone

Alan Little (Manager)

Ex-City stars who will be substitutes and supplementing the teams
Iain Dunn
Chris Topping
Chris Jones
Jimmy Seal
Roy Kay
David Spofforth
Joe Neenan

Attending the event, but not involved in the match
Phil Burrows
Graeme Crawford
Sid Storey
Gordon Brown
Dave McAughtrie
Norman Wilkinson
Mick Grainger
Gerry Baker
Dave Dunmore
Alan Woods
Alf Patrick

All tickets for this special match are £5 and can be purchased on the day. Various hospitality packages, including food and drink are available to any supporter....more details to follow shortly.

Refreshments including sandwiches will be served in the Social Club all day, and bucket collections have been arranged....so please bring plenty of cash!!!

[AcombDave]

Well done to all involved - this looks like being a real special event.

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SUNDAY SALE

York City Football Club will be holding a sale in the Club Shop on Sunday as a show of thanks to supporters who will be attending the Minstermen's Past Players Festival Game.

Fans who will be present at Bootham Crescent on Sunday for the historic past players tie will have the unique opportunity to purchase City merchandise at a cut down price. For one day only, supporters will receive a 25% discount on all goods sold in the Club Shop.

City Finance Director Terry Doyle said, "The 25% discount sale will be for one day only and is in recognition of the great support our fans have shown the Club. We particularly want to reward fans who will be attending our Past Players Festival match on Sunday. This is a great fundraising opportunity for York City and we hope supporters past and present will attend this exciting and unique event."

Sunday's match will also see a grand raffle take place to raise additional funds for the Club. Businesses from around the county have shown their support for York City by donating a range of superb prizes. Businesses who have contributed to the raffle include Nestle Rowntree, Nike Just Sport, GNER, York Theatre Royal, Mulberry Hall, Bengal Brasserie, Fitness First, Odeon Cinema, Aldwalk Manor and many more. Tickets for the raffle will be sold at the game and the winning numbers will be drawn at half-time.

Hospitality for the game is still available. 15 supporters have the unique opportunity to experience a behind the scenes afternoon at the Club by paying £25 for Boardroom and Directors Box tickets. Groups and individuals can also pay £20 per head for an afternoon in one of the York City boxes. The packages include match tickets, programmes, refreshments and the opportunity to meet City stars of the past and present.

LATEST TEAM NEWS

It has now been confirmed Alan Little and Malcolm Crosby will be managing the two sides. Denis Smith is unfortunately unable to attend as he is overseas at present.
The latest addition to the 1993 Play-off winning side will be Halifax Town's Steve Bushell and it has also been confirmed ex-City star Marco Gabbiadini
will also be maikng a cameo appearance for the 1983/84 Championship team. Ex-City goalkeeper Dean Kiely has been forced to cancel as his team Charlton Athletic will be training on Sunday. He will therefore be unable to join his ex-team mates, but he sends his apologies to City fans and hopes to visit Bootham Crescent again soon.

MATTHEW WALWYN TO DON FATHER'S SHIRT

As a tribute to City legend Keith Walwyn who died suddenly last year, the 1983/84 Championship side, who will be playing on Sunday, have invited Keith's 13 year old son Matthew to don his father's famous number 9 shirt and take part in the Festival match. Matthew, who has signed for Blackburn Rovers Academy, will be missing a game to play in the event and will be watched on in the stands by his mother Liz Walwyn.

City Communications Director Sophie McGill said, "Sunday will be a very emotional day for Keith's family, former team mates and many York City fans. Keith played such an important role in the Championship side and it is a tragedy that he is not here to see this unique celebration. Matthew Walwyn will be making an appearance in the game and will be donning Keith's famous number 9 shirt in memory of his father. This will be a fitting tribute to Keith and the great contribution he made to the history of our Club."

McGill added, "We would like to show our appreciation to Blackburn Rovers for allowing Matthew to play in this historic game."