Wishing swell is York City’s stadium bid

The Minstermen have begun the process of canvassing fans’ opinions on what facilities they would like to see at the Monks Cross-based arena, which is the proposed new home for the city’s football and rugby league clubs.

Terracing is currently a popular option at both Bootham Crescent and York City Knights’ Huntington Stadium and City supporters have suggested that a contingency plan be put in place should the football authorities relax their stance on standing areas at some point in the future.

The Minstermen’s regular fans’ forums are now concentrating predominantly on Oakgate’s planning application for a new stadium with invited members from the York Minstermen, Harrogate Minstermen, Pocklington Minstermen, York City Supporters Club, York City in the Community, York City’s vice-presidents and the York City youth team, who were represented by scholars Tom Platt, Tom Allan and George Foster-Vigors, offering their thoughts at this month’s meeting.

All the groups have been asked to report back with their thoughts on what should be included in a new stadium.

Early responses have been interesting with other notable recommendations including the home supporters’ end being named the David Longhurst Stand, as it is at Bootham Crescent in memory of the club’s former striker who died after suffering a heart attack on the pitch.

Fans have also lobbied for the white picket fencing that once framed the perimeter of the playing surface at the club’s current ground to be recreated in some form, whether that be in wooden form or moulded plastic.

Others want a city-centre outlet linked in with the project to sell tickets and merchandise, potentially tapping into the lucrative tourist market and discounted admission into any concerts held at the new stadium for City and Knights’ season-ticket holders.

Calls, meanwhile, have been made for a modern TV gantry to be built into the main stand to embrace the potential of new media, as well as hospitality boxes behind the goals, which could prove popular with visiting supporters.

The possibility of cycle routes to the stadium and the provision of bike racks are among further items fans want to see considered, as well as dedicated cheap bus services for match days, rather than an over-priced park-and-ride scheme.

It is also hoped any bus services would continue to run a couple of hours after games, enabling spectators to enjoy post-match drinks and potentially watch Premier League games, ensuring a useful revenue stream for the new venue.

Early feedback has placed an importance on suitable facilities for disabled supporters too, including parking spaces at the stadium and a choice of where to sit, whether that be pitchside or in the middle of the main stand.

City communications and community director Sophie Hicks has been encouraged by the positive response from the recent fans’ forum and is now calling on the wider supporters’ base to forward their “wish lists” to the club.

She said: “We would like as many supporters of York City as possible to send in their wish lists of what they would like to see at the new community stadium. The board would then review them all and forward on the suggestions to Oakgate and the council.

“We want everybody to have their say so as we can endeavour to provide the most suitable facilities for York City’s supporters.”

Hicks is now hoping supporters will send details of their wish list on the form printed above.

Fans are also reminded they can rally support for the stadium planning application by contacting their councillors, whose email addresses are available at the www.york.gov.uk website.

This opportunity is also open to people living outside of York, either in this country or overseas.

• York Minstermen will hold a music quiz in the Pitchside Bar on Thursday at 8.30pm.

Entry is £1 per person with a maximum of four per team.

The bar opens at 7pm with prizes for winning teams including beer vouchers and cans of lager and beer. Anybody is welcome.

There are raffles to win a navvy’s breakfast, wine and a pair of City match tickets.

Okay for Moké as Adriano makes his play

ADRIANO Moké jumped to third on The Press Player of the Year leaderboard after another stunning substitute outing during last weekend’s 4-2 away win against Hayes & Yeading United.

The Glenn Hoddle Academy graduate was our man of the match during the victory, earning three points towards the contest to move behind second-placed Ashley Chambers and runaway leader Jason Walker.

Jon Challinor (two points) and Scott Kerr (one) were also rewarded as our second and third-highest rated performers against Hayes.

Midfielder Paddy McLaughlin, meanwhile, received the two Player of the Month bonus points on offer to the player who received the most man-of-the-match votes from visitors to our website.

Walker remains five points clear at the top of that competition’s standings and is on target to win a third consecutive monthly prize.

Don’t forget to vote for your City man of the match from today’s game against Wrexham.

By doing so, you could also win the chance to present the October Player of the Month winner with a framed photograph before a City home match.

The Press Player of the Year standings: Walker 28 points, Chambers 11, Moké 9, Ingham 8, Meredith 7, Smith 7, Kerr 6, McGurk 6, Oyebanjo 6, Fyfield 5, Boucaud 4, Blair 4, Challinor 4, McLaughlin 4.

The Press Player of the Month standings: Walker 13, McLaughlin 8, Kerr 7, Challinor 5, Moké 5, Meredith 4, Boucaud 2, Blair 2, Chambers 1, Smith 1.

Goals: Walker 15, Chambers 7, McLaughlin 5, Reed 3, Blair 2, Moké 2, Boucaud 1, Challinor 1, Fyfield 1, own goal 1, Pilkington 1.

Assists: Chambers 8, Meredith 5, Moké 5, Walker 5, McLaughlin 4, Blair 3, Kerr 2, Challinor 1, Henderson 1, McGurk 1, Oyebanjo 1, Potts 1, Reed 1, Smith 1.

Bad boys: McGurk 5 yellow cards; Blair, Boucaud, Challinor, Kerr, Walker all 3 yellow; Fyfield, Smith both 2 yellow; Ingham, McLaughlin, Meredith, Moké, Oyebanjo, Parslow, Reed all 1 yellow.