Reasons behind Oaklands pledge

Now more than ever, the Trust needs everyone's support as it seeks to safeguard professional football in the city.

The Trust has been rightly praised for its efforts over the last year, conducting itself in a dignified manner, and its continued presence must be reassuring to fans during these troubled times.

However, in respect of its decision to pledge £10,000 to the Oaklands School appeal to become a 'sports college', a few eyebrows were raised at the time of the July announcement.

And, given the club's pressing financial problems, barbed comments continue to be fired in the Trust's direction from some fans who believe the money could have been better spent.

Earlier this week Steve Beck of the Trust tried to explain some of the background to the board's decision.

Beck said that by acquiring sports college status Oaklands, which is attended by almost 1,000 pupils in the Acomb, Foxwood and Woodthorpe area of York, would help build a sporting community with improved facilities for the community.

Those facilities and the subsequent spin-offs, like coaching schemes, would be available for use by York City.

Significantly, said Beck, the pledge showed a commitment by the Trust to the community, helping it meet its own objectives set out in its constitution and promoting football and City as a focus for community involvement.

As well as having a positive effect on thousands of people's lives and encouraging both short and long-term support for the club, the Trust board reckoned the gesture could also help it develop relationships with other organisations who might play an important role in the future of City.

The City of York Council, for one, have also backed the Oaklands' bid.

Beck said: "The decision to make the pledge of £10,000 was made by the Trust's board of 11 life-long City fans, elected to their positions by the Trust's members.

"The Trust considered the merits of the project in light of its community and club objectives and unanimously backed the pledge.

"At the time, we should have communicated to members more clearly."

Significantly, Beck said the Trust also had an agreement with John Batchelor whereby it was expected that the £10,000 would be 'costless' for the Trust.

Batchelor made a personal pledge of £10,000 to the Oaklands project.

"As far as we are aware, like the Trust, John Batchelor has not yet had to turn that pledge into hard cash," explained Beck.

"In July 2002, the Trust agreed with Batchelor that the £10,000 would be deducted from the sum that the Trust would have to pay to Batchelor for the (promised) 25.1 per cent stake in the ownership of the club and whatever entity owned the ground.

"Based on a request by Batchelor, the agreement to deduct the pledge from the cost of shares was not publicised. Circumstances have now moved on.

"In July 2002, like others, the Trust was led to believe that the share ownership, seats on the board, ownership of the club's ground and a secure future for the club would be delivered. Clearly, reality has turned out to be somewhat different.

"The Trust will continue to pursue the matter with Batchelor."

Beck added: "Those leading the work of the Trust face many challenges over the next few days, weeks, months and years. The Trust will do its very best to deliver a secure future for York City Football Club so that we can all continue to be 'Proud to be York'."

THAT the game went ahead on New Year's Day is testament to the skills and hard work of City's head Bootham Crescent groundsman Jez Milner and his team.

As reported in the Press, Milner who, like other staff members at Bootham Crescent, saw his Christmas wages cut and future placed in doubt, started work at 7.30am on New Year's Day to ensure the pitch was playable after an overnight deluge.

Given the club's financial problems, the administrators had warned it was very important the game went ahead -- so Milner's efforts cannot be underestimated.

Underlining the 'Dunkirk spirit' surrounding the club at the moment, the Evening Press understands helping to fork the surface on Wednesday morning was City's chief executive Keith Usher.

THE referee for last Saturday's clash with Hull City, Woking's Lee Cable, demonstrated that referees are as committed to their profession as fans are to their clubs.

Officials who assign the men in black to matches usually try to keep things local over the festive period, with northern-based referees taking charge of games in the north.

The Evening Press understands that Cable was actually on holiday in Skegness last week, but rather than clicking his no doubt chilly heels at the seaside, the Surrey-based referee asked if he could be assigned a game.

He was duly handed City's clash with the Tigers -- no doubt much to the chagrin of Minsterman Chris Smith, who was shown the red card by the willing and Cable.

Minstermen's rare New Year's Day run-out

IT'S BEEN a week of firsts for York City.

It marked Darren Edmondson's first goal for the club and the first time City have played a game on New Year's Day for nine years.

Way back in 1994 a Paul Barnes strike gave City a 1-0 win over Port Vale in front of 5,903 fans at Bootham Crescent.

Despite City losing 3-1 this time around to Scunthorpe, they remain in the promotion hunt and those looking for omens should bare in mind that back in 1994 City went on to reach the Division Two play-offs.

Since 1994 a number of New Year games have fallen foul of bad weather, though a couple have taken place on January 2 because the date was a Saturday.

There was no New Year's Day match scheduled for the first day of the new Millennium in 2000.

Why it's important Duffield's soon back on target

HERE'S hoping top scorer Peter Duffield gets back on the goal scoring trail before too long.

The City hit man has bagged 12 goals already this season and but for being rested against for City's LDV Vans Trophy tie at Lincoln has played in every game.

It's the kind of form and fortune that fully justifies manager Terry Dolan's decision to give Duffield a fresh contract for this season, despite the former Sheffield United and Middlesbrough player missing most of the previous two campaigns with broken legs.

Duffield was goalless in December, not that the sharp-shooter will be unduly concerned.

A similar barren run earlier this season was ended with fours goals in three games in November.

But it's perhaps no coincidence that as Duffield struggled to find the net in December so City managed just one win.

In the 11 games Duffield has scored in this season -- he scored twice against Swansea in the FA Cup -- City have won seven, drawn three and lost just once.

That's not just promotion form, it's championship winning material.

WOULD be winners beware. Defending champion Alan Fettis is closing in at the top of the Evening Press player of the year table.

Twice winner Fettis moved within four points of leader Chris Brass with another man of the match display against his former club Hull City.

Darren Edmondson enjoyed a productive week in front of goal -- two goals in two games against the Tigers and then Scunthorpe -- and also picked up three points over the two matches, two against Hull and one against the Iron.

Likewise Gary Hobson, but in reverse order to Edmondson, while Christian Fox underlined his return to fitness and form with a man of the match display against Scunthorpe.

Latest positions: Brass 23 points, Smith 21, Fettis 19, Duffield 17, Parkin 15, Cook 13, Nogan 13, Edmondson 12, Cowan 11, Fox 6, Beresford 5, Brackstone 5, Reddy 4, Bullock 3, Hobson 2, Jones 1, Potter 1, Wise 1.

YORK City Ladies lost their most recent outing 4-1 to Thorpe United Ladies, despite taking a first-half lead.

Lou Ross slotted home to put City in front before the home side equalised midway through the first-half.

Despite the best efforts of City Ladies' substitute and debutant Nikki Baker, Thorpe took control of the game after the break and scored their remaining three goals without reply.

Updated: 12:04 Saturday, January 04, 2003