York CityFC - Subscribers List open for Bootham Crecent Book

[MINSTERMAN]

Bootham Crescent: A Second Home



A new book will be published shortly entitled ‘Bootham Crescent: A Second home’, to coincide with York City FC leaving the ground after 87 years of residence. The project has been over three years in the researching and writing.

The book is A4 format, consisting of around 280 pages, and with over 240 rare images, news cutings, and items of memorabilia including the wonderful cover shot taken in 1934 of the original entrance gates to the club car park. It includes a section on club programmes over the years, with one-per-season coverage from 1923 onwards.

Part one covers the period up to 1960, and I am optimistic that it will be published at some point during April to coincide with the club leaving Bootham Crescent. Part two will follow in late 2019/early 2020.

York City FC and Bootham Crescent have been intrinsically linked since 1932, the year in which the club vacated its previous ground at Fulfordgate. The move was completed in only a few months over the summer, which is a story in itself, yet there are many other tales to tell.

The circumstances behind the club’s formation, the time spent at Fulfordgate, and how Bootham Crescent became City’s home are all covered in great detail, as are the years for the ground before City’s tenure. The book describes how the club struggled through the 1930s, yet then came through the war years in a much stronger state, enabling the ground to be bought. The surprising residency of baseball in 1937 gets its own chapter, as does the logistics of packing the ground during the cup runs of 1938 and 1955. All the ground changes are captured in rich detail, and provide a fascinating insight of bygone days, and the wider events which impacted on York City’s fortunes.

From ticket pricing to cup-tie allocations, turnstiles to floodlights, dugouts to disciplinary notices, canine pitch invasions to five-minute flags, the glass bridge,finances, contracts, rent levels and leases, crowd disorder, it's all here and so much more. There are many fascinating details that have perhaps never previously come to light.

There is also a chapter which reflects on the brief history of the first York City club that existed between 1908 – 1917 which, ironically, also had two grounds.

For many supporters, as with the club, Bootham Crescent has indeed been a second home, and the book reflects this. It strives to be a worthy edition to the York City bookshelf.

The subscription list is now open until 5th March, so to secure a copy please PM or email me at [email protected] and I will send payment details etc. Each copy costs £25 plus £5 P&P.

Thanks for your support
Paul Bowser

[MINSTERMAN]

Just a bump/last call

The subscription list has been extended until Sat 16th March, then has to be closed due to printers deadlines.

I've been at the publishers today and, all being well, the book will be released around Easter time.

It's been a long road getting this far, so it's nice to be close to seeing something in print.

Thanks to those who have been in touch.

For orders, please contact [email protected]