A PLAQUE commemorating York Rugby League Club's historic Clarence Street ground is to be put up on the site of its old main stand.

It is 30 years ago today since the ground - York RL's home for 104 years after first opening in September 1885 - staged its last-ever match, before the club relocated to Ryedale Stadium, later to be called Huntington Stadium, at Monks Cross.

A crowd of 2,904 turned up to see the Wasps, as they were then known, defeat Second Division rivals Hunslet 26-17, before the bulldozers moved in and flats were built. The ground - also known as Wigginton Road given it was situated on the corner of both roads - held a record attendance of 14,689, set on February 10, 1934, for a Challenge Cup match against Swinton, which ended in a rare 0-0 draw.

York City Knights, as the club are now called, returned to the city centre in 2016, sharing York City FC's Bootham Crescent ground before both clubs move out to a new arena on the site of Huntington Stadium, which is currently under construction.

The idea for the Clarence Street plaque came from Councillor Mark Warters.

He said: "On the 30th anniversary of the last game to be played here and with the upcoming move back up to Monks Cross, it's even more appropriate to ensure there is a permanent reminder of the old Clarence Street ground.”

Cllr Warters is pictured at the Wigginton Road site - the flats in the background correspond with the back of the old main stand - alongside Knights coach James Ford and historian Mike Smith.

Ford's father, Chris, played for York at Clarence Street in the 1970s and 80s.

Ford said: "It will be good to have the location recognised for new fans."