Bootham Crescent: One Last Time | York City FC

York City supporters formed a trust in 2002 in reaction to former Chairman Douglas Craig’s announcement that York City Football Club was for sale. He announced that he had a contract with Persimmon Homes to sell the football ground, Bootham Crescent, for £4.5 million. The club was then sold to John Batchelor who put the club into administration within 12 months and shortened the clubs lease of the ground to just 12 months. York City fans then raised £60,000 in 4 days to save the club and buy it from the administrators.
The Supporters’ Trust now holds 25% of the shares of York City Football Club and continue to act as the guardian of the Club. Thanks to the new owner Jason McGill, York City continued to play at Bootham Crescent for a further 16 years. However, 2021 will see them move into a new Community Stadium on the outskirts of York.
In December 2020, fans had a chance to watch their team play at Bootham Crescent one last time, thanks to the relaxing of UK Government Covid-19 restrictions. York City won 1-0.
A SevenTwo Films Production, for COPA90.
/ seventwofilms
Produced, Filmed, Directed and Edited by James Scholey
Written and Voiced by Andrew Leathley
Additional Photography - Tom Leak
LNER Community Stadium Aerials - Matt Kirkham
City of York Aerials - DroneLad
Special Thanks to:
Dan Simmonite
Phil Howden
Tony Cole
Chris Forth
Match Archive courtesy of York City TV/York City Football Club
#YorkCity #BoothamCrescent
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[@jackchesterfc5585]

I’m a Chester fan and York was a proper great ground to visit regardless of what happened on the pitch. Gonna miss this ground one of the last remaining proper English grounds

[@MrSmartlad]

The football we used to know is changing, sadly changing. As an Atlético de Madrid fan, emotions return every time I see traditional Clubs losing their homes, because they are homes, not just grounds. Business and marketing; expansion and rebranding... We, the true fans, got to mantein the identity of our Communties, our Values as a Club. There is a light that never goes out...

[@blockscycfc]

As a york fan myself I’m gonna miss this place sm, Bootham was my second home❤️

[@balkanboy864]

BRAĆO SRBI vratite se svojoj katoličkoj vjeri i Hrvatskim korijenima i bit će vam sve oprošteno a onda ćemo napraviti veličanstvenu Nezavisnu Državu Hrvatsku skroz do Rumunjske

[@reubenpugh8750]

Chin up George ya drum will be loud a proud at the LNER 😂♥️

[@michaeluzoho5838]

I love the intro, city founded by Romans, invaded by Vikings and Normans, I felt really intrigued.

[@SunnyD1865]

It’s a shame it’s going. It may be tired and worn, but it’s a true characterful ground and York is a lovely city. Sad that teams are moving to out of town grounds away from pubs, bars and charismatic back streets - especially for teams in lower divisions where the whole day is part of the experience. York City is one team I’d like to see do well since I’ve got family heralding from York . Good luck to the Minstermen from a Nottingham Forest fan.

[@derkaiser420]

As an American and Arsenal fan, this was great. In the USA, we do not hold our stadiums as dear as the English do. We move teams to different cities at random and it isn't a big deal. We destroy stadiums and put up new ones and it is... well whatever. I think it is so awesome that the English actually care about where they came from. The sports culture is so different across the pond.

[@tomventro6734]

feel honoured being in the thumbnail

[@baileycamerin5626]

You look bent Tom mate

[@tomventro6734]

@@baileycamerin5626 ffs ahahaha

[@morganbruce9087]

As a city fan myself i love that you've done this. I'm gonna miss Bootham Crescent

[@DaleyMayall]

Pleasure to be asked to pen some accompanying words to this by the film-maker. Thank you.

[@robtylerblack2617]

Hammers fan wishing you all the best with the new ground, least your have a better atmosphere than us in ours. Shame we can't stay where we belong. Saying that we are 4th so lets hope to have York where they belong, knocking out Arsenal & Spurs again and in higher places.

[@JJJackson777]

I've only been to one footy match in my life, was at Kit Kat Crescent watching York smash Rotherham 3-0 in FA cup 2010. Burger King afterwards, peak of my life honestly, been my 2nd team since

[@CarlosEduardo-kc1qm]

Even though I'm not familiar with the team but just knowing the history and everything that has happened on that ground. Puts me in tears.

[@prayaaskochhar8783]

This is the same team for which the legendary Jamal.FYFIELD PLAYED .Check his fifa 13 card tho!!!

[@miketolhurst4637]

Brought back memories from the time in the mid/late 1950's just after City reached the FA cup semi-finals ( lost to Newcastle in a replay). As a young teenager selling cushions in the season ticket section of the main stand (2d each) as there was only a wooden plank to sit on. Now living in West Cork, Ireland and had intended to go to Bootham Crescent to watch 'City' before the move, but now too late thanks to my dithering and the pandemic. Best wishes to all at YCFC and hope for a better future. Added 24th May 2022:- Congratulations to all at 'City' on your promotion to the National League.

[@alexsandusky7691]

I’m glad you guys do so much for clubs in lower divisions. It at least brings it to the attention of fans of biggest clubs and even to people in foreign nations like me A Liverpool from the USA. Fantastic video! Maybe one day soon I’ll see York play a game!

[@staynielherbayn657]

We sometimes livestream games on the York city F C KZbin channel

[@callmedavid9696]

I love it, end up seeing teams I've used or had rivalries in fm or getting ideas for new saves. Plus there's way more interesting stories and character at these clubs.

[@hawkinsstern5356]

Yeah just whatever you do dont bring any liverpool gear with you outside of a liverpool mstch

[@SissoYcfc]

Very touching tribute to the old girl. Memories were made stood on the shippo terrace. Kills me that we were all stood there for one final time and didn't even know it.

[@WhiteHartDane]

That was sheer poetry amid the sadness of leaving an old ground behind.

[@theee219]

As a brentford fan, this seems all too familiar to us. All the best York City, new stadium still looks like a nice one

[@freddiemills4068]

Bootham Crescent what a home to have for almost 100 years. Well miss that place

[@LiamRobertsWxm]

My only memory of coming to York to watch a game was in April 2017 with Wrexham, we won 3-1 and the atmosphere was second to none. Great club and great ground, utst 🔴🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@blockscycfc]

Remember that day, really warm bank holiday wasn’t it?

[@ethanc1719]

Remember it well

[@adameaton2648]

Had some great days watching York home and away. As a Wednesdayite my best mate is a Blade. One night we picked a team to jointly support from the Conference. We picked York out of a hat and went to 3 or 4 games a season for a good few years as they climbed out of the conference and up to the top of league 2. All the best in the future

[@MassAwakening1]

Did you see many good games? 2012 season double Wembley

[@thisisstuart7951]

Good luck York City FC in your new ground hope create historical moments like in your old ground. Love from Arsenal fan

[@alexanderhamilton8971]

My Great-Great-Great-Great Uncle attempted to burn down the Minster and then got put in a mental asylum in 1829. If he’d succeeded, York may have had a different nickname. Strange

[@HarryWessex]

They would have fixed it up at the time and I guess the clubs nickname would have been The Phoenix's

[@alexanderhamilton8971]

@@HarryWessex you never know

[@reeceycfc1772]

My second home ❤️

[@staynielherbayn657]

💔 regret missing that final game

[@mattynewbold3008]

What sucks the most is the last time we went to the ground, we didn't even know it was our last

[@jones1068]

I got family in York and Pocklington i went to Bothem Crescent to watch them occasionally.

[@christyson1896]

i play grass root football for a york league division 1 side, when i was 13, our team got offered the opportunity to play our under 13s cup final at the main pitch at bootham, it was such a great experience. that said, the new stadium is modern and in a better location!

[@alansmith795]

Was one of my favourite away games with Bradford city loadsa pubs ,fish nchips and a fkin great train ride ,worked there a lot too ,cheers york

[@matthewanstey5185]

I bring this up in Australia all the time when people are going too Britain and want too see some football , I always tell them go too one of the lower tier clubs the atmosphere is always better ... I’m Luton though so still seems kind of funny watching the York thing

[@JoeLisle]

Went to the old ground when Newcastle played York in a friendly game about 4 or 5 years ago. As Newcastle fan I liked it!

[@James-sh8mu]

Girls:I can’t believe he didn’t cry during titanic! Boys:

[@HarcusCGTV]

Simply beautiful piece.

[@0211brucetube]

Despise seeing the old grounds disappear when they're so often replaced by corporate garbage. It wouldn't be quite so devastating if the new grounds were atmospheric, and designed for proper fans; close to the pitch, low roofs to project out the noise, safe-standing areas. Instead Ninian Park is replaced by the travesty of CCS, the Vetch by Liberty Stadium, The Dell by St Mary's etc etc etc. Lifeless shells. Really hope York's new ground is built with the fans in mind.

[@jacktye]

Been to ground when Kettering played them two year ago great ground remind me of are old ground Rockingham road

[@callmedavid9696]

Great video. Did a long york save on fm20 and took them to a champions league win. Fun times for the minstermen

[@reecefinnigan4523]

Great city, great ground and great local folk. Had the pleasure of living in York for 5 years. Would often go to Bootham to get my football fix as I couldn’t get to watch my beloved Pompey. Gutted I can’t go there one last time

[@matteoquirke1891]

Lucky enough to go a few years ago. Great atmosphere!

[@no_one_of_that_name_here]

York City are magic!!

[@maxt.5457]

american tourist who went to a YCFC game at the crescent when they were in league two, was a great time

[@georgemacpherson1992]

I went here a few times. Once it was for a rugby league match against Leigh.

[@jywei5785]

It's just like a music video of an old-school hiphop song. Love it.

[@MrOFF-Licence007]

What an amazing story. Quality video Copa90👏🏾🤝🚀

[@ruairidhjones6817]

I've supported Farsley since moving to Leeds, but I'm still disappointed I never managed to see the teams playing at bootham crescent. An iconic old fashioned ground, a proper ground

[@calzirongaming1332]

Love my club ❤️🔵⚪

[@jonathanbarlow2509]

Should do a Lincoln city documentary, the rise from nonleague to two promotions in three seasons and an fa cup quarter final. Now top of league one, big stadium and great fan base. Be good to see the cultural difference between the top of the city the affluent area near the cathedral (tallest building in the world when built and was the location of filming the da Vinci code) and the lower part of the city where the stadium sits in a close nit community whom follow in the imps through thick and thin.

[@billyferguson8717]

Thick and thin? Were getting 1k before the success started? Plastic fans everywhere

[@jonathanbarlow2509]

@@billyferguson8717 ok bill

[@maxpowerii7368]

@@billyferguson8717 better a plastic fan at Lincoln than yet another at Arsenal or Manure in my book.

[@travburton3075]

Cmon the boys

[@tomventro6734]

i'm in the thumbnail

[@pkingglazersout6665]

@@tomventro6734 congrats and I genuinely mean that

[@tomventro6734]

@@pkingglazersout6665 man like

[@travburton3075]

@@tomventro6734 I know Tom hahahhaa

[@Adam-rt9gt]

Beautiful

[@nigelperyer9354]

Bournemouth fan my one and only time I went there was way back in 1973 when we seemed to play each other quite regular in the lower divisions grounds like these are disappearing nowadays unfortunately

[@jbcf4490]

Seeing all these clubs moving grounds and seeing how times are changing makes me glad the lansdowns decided to keep us at ashton gate

[@Lyndon_Bikes]

My cousin has great memories of playing for York city at this ground

[@YCFCfollower]

Who’s your cousin, if you don’t mind me asking?

[@Lyndon_Bikes]

@@YCFCfollower Levi Mackin he wasn’t a great player but he did play he also played for Chester and Wrexham it’s on ma mum’s side she fae Chester so that’s how I’m related to him

[@danielprocter1730]

When all York city walk into the new ground it’ll feel weird but you’ll get used to it

[@TheArtofTheGentleman]

Don't know them but looks like a proper oldskool friendly small club. Cheers from The Netherlands, a NAC Breda fan

[@nickfudge6253]

RIP Luton

[@lutontown5923]

fair plays, theyll have the best stadium in step 67 👍🏻.

[@Cal2929]

Moving into some souless football ground

[@AsaD-lf3ok]

Great place ♥️

[@mainlineto5988]

Wonderful.

[@prayaaskochhar8783]

Even though i am from fukcing 🇮🇳, this, and the leyton orient video give me the feels.

[@samycfc3709]

Best ground itw, gonna miss it

[@keirancockerill1349]

Being from york it's going to be a big miss farewell bootham crescent

[@johnmitchell2269]

Remember when York beat Man Utd 2-0 at Old Trafford and every Man Utd 'fan' at school got absolutely ripped into. Lived in York for a couple of years, fantastic City which is very good at mixing the new with the traditional, hopefully your new ground can do the same.

[@ethanc1719]

My club🔴

[@benyorkysankey7086]

City ❤️

[@louiswragg7549]

Massive club

[@CitrusMenace]

Fantastic ground loved visiting and love the city such a shame the new ground is going to be a souless synthetic stadium away from the city centre

[@YCFCfollower]

Yes lads, we are york.

[@daverose23]

Fucking sad that. Well put together though.

[@malikshakur1306]

York City Fc fans welcome at New York City FC ✊🏿😭

[@nigeljackson1987]

After we get rid of this covid I think we should be aloud one last game there to say goodbye send the place of with a proper city bang . I'll have tears in my eyes seeing the bulldozers come in .

[@HarryWessex]

My Dad was born in York, so I hope to see them in the football league again soon.

[@cdubs9918]

I always thought that old, abandoned stadiums were probably the saddest places on Earth.

[@debbiedreg6614]

4 Bedroom houses now for Ukranians

[@AndrewG1989]

Southend United FC are also going to move from their current stadium at Roots Hall to a brand new stadium called Fossetts Farm Stadium behind Waitrose supermarket. But not sure when it will happen. Depending if they are still in League 2 or relegated to National League. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossetts_Farm_Stadium

[@ramesh8504]

So it's the "good old" York City FC which plays football and not the "New" York City FC which happens to play soccer.

[@n17whlronnie92]

Underrated

[@chasemartins3359]

Ur corny. USA lives rent free in ur head.

[@Anubis-dd4ee]

😭😭

[@someyorkguy1683]

Went there to watch Pompey play there three times when I lived in York (and lose twice I might add). The atmosphere was great with such a great feeling and even walking to and from the ground you just felt the lifeblood of the city. I especially remember the wooden chairs and the old terracing - something to be said that even a ground as small as that had a character of its own to make it an individual. A inevitable, probably necessary, passing but one that should be mourned all the same.

[@tomspencer1471]

👍

[@MrSnrub123]

You should do a documentary on Coventry City and How we have no home due to shit owners.

[@thisisstuart7951]

That ground was yours first not some shit rugby team from London

[@rustyshackleford4918]

Cov got greedy, you thought you were big time (even though you blatantly weren't), got ideas way above your station after a few narrow escapes from relegation, and you are getting what you deserve. Sit back down, thought you lot would have realised after years of moaning that no-one else cares about you

[@Villa006]

No one cares about you

[@Zmaenlplibi]

Man there shouldn't be owners at all. Great Britain needs 50+1.

[@rustyshackleford4918]

@@Villa006 05/05/2001 what a day

[@lewisforster6549]

Donny fan but feel sad for bootham crescent shame all new grounds have no uniqueness

[@YjoCeyFaC96]

Up the Minstermen!!

[@dylanmilesfrombasingstoke8690]

Hello

[@radzo1675]

Once again COPA90 makes me well up.

[@Fercough]

The new ground is a boring sterile box.

[@karenchungus4880]

R.I.P York

[@DaleyMayall]

Karen Chunky.

[@spriteisgoated]

E

[@ewanmacfarlane9195]

Moved to another soulless plastic box.Why

[@CitrusMenace]

so the ground can be demolished and the land sold for a fortune to build extortionately expensive flats to rent and landlords can make a killing

[@matthewhernandez8342]

New York City FC would beat York City FC 6-5 if they were to play.

[@johndogwalker2531]

Say aye if your racist, homophobic or you discriminate i just wanna know 👍

[@johndogwalker2531]

@@n17whlronnie92 what tge hell mate

[@n17whlronnie92]

@@johndogwalker2531 apologies, didn't read it properly, thought it was about football as why I said aye.... Saying that, answer to your question, honestly really couldn't careless, not a problem....

[@n17whlronnie92]

What's the reason for asking this?

[@robbie73vespa]

Not a word about us 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 invading though eh surprise surprise 😂😂