IT'S A FACT: Fans gather at the FACT (Fans Against Craig's Tyranny) meeting last month to try to find ways to put pressure on the current regime at York City.

As a York City supporter for nearly 40 years and a season ticket holder for many years I feel I must add to the confusion of who represents the York City supporter.

I am a near 50-year-old professional who enjoys watching my own town football team with my family, home and away, not a loud mouth moron or part of a pseudo-fan faction.

I say this because we have been bombarded, via the media, as being represented by either Douglas Craig, the chairman, or Greg Stone, spokesman for FACT (Fans Against Craig Tyranny), both claim to speak for the ordinary supporter.

On the one hand we have an autocratic chairman who apparently has, by his own admission, few skills in communicating with the paying public.

On the other is an articulate man who immediately loses credibility when you see the name of the organisation he represents.

While each claims to want York City to be successful, all the rest of us who desperately want York City to progress seem to be forgotten in this now petty, personal feud.

I think it is time Mr Craig, Mr Stone and the media concentrate on the problems facing York City in a positive way without one side looking to score points against the other fuelled by being elevated to small-time media personalities (good or bad) by the press, radio and television.

Mr Craig must also be aware that while he may have the option to wind up York City as a company he does not 'own' York City Football Club. This was started by York people and it will belongs to the people of York.

He may own the majority shareholding but he is only the present custodian. York City and the supporters will be there long after he has gone - no matter what he thinks!

Kevin Calpin,

Almsford Road,

York.

Stand up and be counted

As a member of FACT, and more importantly a York City fan, I feel deeply disappointed and angered by the comments made by Messrs Eve and Cox in the Evening Press (Friday, December 31).

Their collective claim that fans chanting for Douglas Craig to step down as York City chairman are merely uneducated, self-centred, publicity-seeking yobs is totally unfounded.

Had they gone to the trouble of attending FACT's pre-Christmas open meeting then they would, probably, realise what the members are trying to achieve through their campaign and also realise that they are decent and respectable individuals.

The fact of the matter is that members and supporters of FACT care about the club to such an extent that they are willing to stand up and act on their own initiative in a bid to oust Mr Craig and in effect improve on the way in which the club is currently being run - contrary to what Mr Craig would have people believe. If these Messrs Eve and Cox cannot see that then they must be living in a very, very sheltered environment.

Those fans that make up the alleged 'silent majority' and are against FACT's methods of trying to bring about change, but yet still believe it would be better for York City Football Club if Douglas Craig stepped down as chairman, should think long and hard about what they see as a feasible alternative to achieve change at the club before they openly criticise those who are brave enough to publicly oppose Mr Craig.

As was stated at the group meeting, FACT are open to fan suggestions in relation to the development of the campaign.

Will Thornton,

Maclagan Road,

Bishopthorpe.

Voice opinions

In reply to A P Cox's letter (Evening Press, Friday, December 31) referring to the 'children' in the David Longhurst Stand chanting at Douglas Craig.

If Mr Cox were to take a closer look at the children he may just notice that the age range of these children vary from teenage to middle age.

I have been watching York City for 30 years home and away and what Mr Craig and manager Neil Thompson have done to the side since last March is beyond belief.

They have replaced quality players with youngsters who are not yet ready for first team football. And, more worryingly, old has beens or never weres.

These players are all contracted to the club for at least another season. If we survive this year with these players, next season could be our last in the league with these players another year older and slower.

The only way forward is a new chairman with financial backing to support a new manager, who would be able to pay off contracts of some of the rubbish wearing City colours.

So if Mr Cox is happy with the current situation at Bootham Crescent he is easily pleased.

I say voice your opinions from the terraces because change is the only way forward.

Steven Walker,

Stockwell Lane,

Knaresborough

Get off the fence

I take great exception to being one of the people whom correspondent A P Cox refers to as a yob (Evening Press, Friday, December 31).

We do get behind York City. Then what happens, we get let down, time and time again.

If you do not let your voice be heard then nothing gets done.

I applaud FACT and Greg Stone. They care about the club.

As for Douglas Craig not being responsible for the players. How many did we let go during Alan Little's reign, saying they were not good enough?

Now some are playing for Southend, and Marco Gabbiadini is top scorer in division three with Darlington.

I get upset when I see the likes of Bradford City, Birmingham and Huddersfield, when it's not so long ago that we were playing and beating them at Bootham Crescent.

The players brought in by Neil Thompson are just not good enough. It is about time all the silent fans we keep hearing about got off the fence and did something, or will they still be saying nothing when York City don't exist any more.

Katherine Diver,

Glen Close,

Fulford, York.

Who's listening?

I have some reservations about the "Craig Out" chanting heard at Bootham Crescent in that it may alienate other City fans.

However, when those in charge at the club seem to be unwilling, unable and/or incapable of changing things then protest of some form is definitely needed.

When a supporter of the pedigree of Barry Hutchinson decides that enough is enough (Evening Press, Friday, December 31) then somebody ought to be listening. I

very much doubt if anyone is.

"Get behind the team", shouted some people at the Cheltenham game. A laudable sentiment but unfortunately likely to have little effect on the standard of play on the pitch.

You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear - or even out of several donkeys.

"Stop tearing my club apart", screamed the Evening Press headline (Friday, December 31) and this has certainly happened over the last eight months or so.

It has little or nothing to do with FACT's campaign.

Alan Lowey,

Marshfield Avenue,

Goole

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.