York City FC: End of Season Verdict

LEADING LIGHT: Leading scorer Richard Cresswell gets on the ball for York City

Seven minutes away from safety was the wail of York City. But if truth be told they had gone to the well once too often in the perilous waters that harbour the dreaded drop.

Now the Minstermen are at rock-bottom after falling foul of arguably the greatest soccer sin of all - stagnation.

No-one likes to see anyone get the sack, but the seeds of City's demotion, confirmed in those fateful final minutes of the 1998-99 term, lay in the calamitous collapse suffered just after the mid-point of the season.

As the nation were still in the pangs of a new year City were lording it in ninth place.

They were five points off the play-offs. Thoughts of another relegation-spectre were remote.

But from the 2-1 win over Wycombe, ironically the club that drove the final nail into City's coffin last Saturday, the Minstermen embarked on a limp run of just two points out of 33 that ultimately ended in the dismissal of Alan Little.

The then City manager himself conceded maybe it was time and it has always been the contention of no less authorities than Jack Charlton and the late Bob Paisley.

Both subscribed to the view that teams and bosses had natural shelf-lives. If the team was not completely 'dug over' - Paisley's quaint phrase - then the manager had to go.

Little wasn't just six years to the day in charge of the Minstermen, but had also served the club stoically for five more years as number two. The concept of familiarity breeding contempt was not applicable to the relationship between manager and board, but evidence shows it was between fans and the man in charge, and maybe even some players.

Whatever, the changes wrought on the ides of March came too late to halt the slide into the basement.

City have also been on the wane as a force throughout an entire campaign for at least three of the last four seasons and that's due to a lack of investment.

The club argue it is more prudent to spend money wisely rather than rashly. True, but they are financial strictures which are not going to always attract the best players.

This season City gambled with a lot of eggs in the one basket of experience, via Steve Agnew and Neil Woods. It backfired badly leaving yolk on Crescent faces.

Now the task is to get City on the rise again, but with more substance than a souffl. A season that brought delight in the frame of Richard Cresswell, Martin Garratt, Scott Jordan and the new brigade of youth talent also brought failure. What a contrast.

King Richard's award

Two players now no longer at Bootham Crescent have completed a double cash and grab raid.

Despite his end of March surge into the Premiership in a £1million deal with Sheffield Wednesday striker Richard Cresswell has remained unassailable in the Evening Press-Tap and spile sponsored player-of-the-year awards. He has netted the £400 first prize from sponsors Tap and Spile.

The rousing form that brought Cresswell 19 City goals, since supplemented by his first strike in the top-flight for the Owls, ultimately could not be overhauled, though midfielders Mark Tinkler and Scott Jordan came within 100ths of a mark in deposing the long-time table leader.

And the final quarterly prize of £50 headed for other pastures.

On-loan defender Chris Fairclough topped the March, April and May performances with a stunning match average of 7.63. Behind him were Jordan on 7.18, and the duo of Bobby Mimms and Marc Williams, who each averaged seven in the final quarter, which ended in the despair of relegation.

The first quarter award was shared between Cresswell and Alan Pouton, the second landed outright by Tinkler, while the third was divided between Mimms and captain and clubman of the year Barry Jones.

To qualify for the final first prize of £400 from sponsors Tap and Spile, a player had to appear in two-thirds of the season's fixtures.

For each City senior match marks out of ten were awarded in the Evening Press, including points for substitutes provided they featured in at least 20 minutes' action.

Season's statistics

City used 28 players during the campaign

City's average crowd was 3,645, which is down on last year's 3,853.

Doubles were achieved against Blackpool, Wycombe and Lincoln City

Clubs who did the double over City were Preston, Colchester, Chesterfield, Wigan and Bournemouth,

It was the highest number of goals conceded, 80, since the relegation year 1987-88 when City let in 91.

City suffered 22 defeats which is the worst record since 1990-91.

They notched six home wins which is the worst for 12 seasons when they only won four times at Bootham Crescent.

How they fared player by player

STEVE AGNEW: (appearances 23 + 1 as substitute, goals 2) - Hailed as City's best signing for seasons, Agnew's undoubted know-how was to provide a much needed injection of experience. Suspension delayed his start and injury also took its toll, Agnew's class surfacing sporadically. Rumoured bust-up with ex-manager Alan Little after asking to go in February. Likely to get wish in summer. Mark out of ten: 5.

TONY BARRAS: (26, 0) - Major surgery on a long-standing hip injury sidelined the former player-of-the-year for the first month. Barras never recaptured the solid and authoritative form of his previous four seasons as a defensive prop. Embroiled in a contract wrangle added to the unease between the club and the player. Sold to Reading for £20,000. 6.

LEE BULLOCK: (1, 0) - Teenage midfielder afforded a shock debut in the FA Cup defeat at Wrexham. Showed neat passing promise, but had to be substituted after Mark Tinkler's harsh dismissal. A mainstay of the vibrant FA Youth Cup team Bullock is definitely one for the future. Neat in possession and strong in the air has also shown promise at centre-back. 6.

MARTIN CARRUTHERS: (3 + 3 as substitute, 0) - Ex-manager Alan Little's last loan signing Carruthers could have been a City player much earlier in his career. But when he finally arrived Carruthers failed to make any headway. Always energetic, but seldom looked like scoring. 5.

GORDON CONNELLY: (34, 4) - Bought for £70,000 in the first week of the term from Scottish outfit Airdrie after impressing in City's pre-season tournament. Began like a veritable Scots flier suggesting that the man to fill Graeme Murty's boots had been found. Aggressive going forward and no-shirker in the work-ethic stakes Connelly gradually ran out of steam. 6.

RICHARD CRESSWELL: (42, 19) - What more can be said about the striker, who in less than a season turned the terrace critics into admirers. He led the City line with bravery and guile and stepped into City history as the first winner of an England Under-21 cap. Cressie was also the subject of the biggest 'if only..' fans wondering whether had he stayed City would have remained in Division Two. No-one more deserved his shot at the big-time. 9.

ANDREW DAWSON: (7 + 4, 1) - Oodles of potential. The York-born defender emerged with a growing confidence as he was given his fling towards the end of the season. Pacey and powerful going forward Dawson also has the distinction of notching the most enthralling boys' own goal of the season, that late, late winner over Manchester City on his professional debut. 6.

CHRIS FAIRCLOUGH: (11, 0) - Almost a master-stroke. Fairclough's recruitment as the first signing under the caretaker stewardship of Neil Thompson restored presence and poise to the City defence. Apart from a rusty first-half on his debut the former Leeds and Nottingham Forest ace oozed class. The fans immediately took to him. Their hope is that his on-loan move will become permanent. 8.

MARTIN GARRATT: (37 + 7, 1) - From fringe player to the next big talent on the City production line is the mighty leap made by the youngster. He started the pre-season on fire and maintained the passion right through the campaign. Fluid in movement, tricky in possession and a fierce desire to succeed Garratt's impact was only lessened after being played out of position. Even then he never shied away from the cause. 8.

WAYNE HALL: (29 + 1, 1) - City's Mr Steadfast, though this season he was up against both injury and the pedigree of Thompson. Hall however is one of those rare, but so valuable players, in seldom turning in a below-par performance. If trophies were handed out for dogged persistence Hall would have to place Brasso on his weekly shopping list. 6.

GARY HIMSWORTH: (14 + 2, 0) - Placed on the transfer list in October it was nearly two months later that Himsworth made his first start in the first-team. He needed no time to slot into his customary consistency. Gritty, durable and reliable, but those qualities were deemed superfluous as he returned to Darlington for a second spell and a longer contract. 6.

MATT HOCKING: (4 + 2, 0) - Arrived on-loan from Hull City, from where a suspension blocked his route to more appearances for the Minstermen. Clean in the challenge he has undoubted pace and has expressed a wish to give up his Tigers' beat for a City patrol. Rated highly by the new City manager. 6.

BARRY JONES: (52 + 1, 2) - The mainstay presence of the Minstermen's defence. A one-match ban for a harsh sending-off at Fulham forcing him to miss the action just once all term. Refusal to acknowledge a lost cause applied to outings at centre-back or right-back. Graduated to the captaincy of the side and deserved clubman of the year winner. 7.

SCOTT JORDAN: (31 + 5, 7) - In his seventh season as a Minsterman the midfielder flourished with a vengeance. Given the confidence of a long run in the heart of the team the 24-year-old Jordan showed why he is regarded as one of the best passers of the ball. Added to his armoury was greater steel in the tackle and to City's delight an unerring eye for he spectacular goal. The comeback kid. 8.

ANDY McMILLAN: (38, 0) - Twelve seasons and out. That's the heart-aching finish for the man to make the second most appearances for City. Two nasty injuries marred his campaign, which he conceded was not his best. But on his day still one of the most stylish and gifted of defenders. Will be difficult to imagine not seeing McMillan in the number 2 shirt. 6.

BOBBY MIMMS: (38, -) Signed in the second week of the season to come in for the confidence-shot Andy Warrington Mimms finished number one, though his hold on the gloves was twice interrupted by his younger rival. Experience vital at times, but prone to the occasional error, which was always heavily punished as were City's overall defensive deficiencies. Likely to be more involved in coaching next term. 6.

ALAN POUTON: (26 + 3, 1) - Great expectations turned into a bleak house for 'Pouts'. One of the most accomplished attackers from midfield his season was wrecked by a fluke training ground injury that sidelined him for more than four months. Did not rekindle his firepower on his return, which was also blighted by uncertainty over committing himself to a new deal at the club. 6.

RORY PRENDERGAST: (1 + 3, 0) - Joined from Barnsley on recommendation of Neil Thompson, but did not make the desired impact. Good crosser of the ball, but lack of defensive nous hindered his chances of a regular slot on the left side of midfield. Released in spring. 5.

MARTIN REED: (9 + 5, 0) - Abrasive central defender, who was an early casualty of the first-day defeat at Preston. Rugged in the tackle, but distribution too awry to threaten the more established centre-backs, even though City's rearguard was hardly performing at its best for most of the season. Freed by new manager Thompson. 5.

GRAHAM RENNISON: (0 + 1, 0) - Still to make the transition from reserve to senior selection, though was a steady influence in his only outing in the FA Cup reverse at Wrexham. No-one with a bigger heart than 'Renno' at Bootham Crescent. 5.

RODNEY ROWE: (26 + 18, 8) - At one stage dropped down to fourth in the attacking pecking-order and his days at the Crescent seemed numbered. Battled back at Christmas time for a purple-patch of five goals in seven games, but unable to sustain that strike-rate in a below-par finish to the season. Yet still finished second-top scorer and the potential remains. 6.

CRAIG SKINNER: (3 + 2, 0) - Jury still out on City's lone deadline-day arrival for £30,000 from Wrexham. Hampered by hernia operation earlier in the year, which stalled his progress. Will hopefully benefit from a full pre-season at City. 5.

NEIL THOMPSON: ( 26, 7) - A season and a half for the veteran defender. Started as player-coach, finished it as caretaker-manager, then, after relegation appointed the 'gaffer'. May not be as regular a contributor on the field, the player's manager tag one of the most exacting in the game. Solid defensively, opposing pace could cause problems. However, thrilled the fans with those glorious free-kicks often worth the admission price alone. 7.

MARK TINKLER: (42 + 1, 2) - Unfortunately for 'Tinks' his campaign, likely to be his last in City colours now that he is up for sale, will be more remembered for his three sendings-off and flurry of cautions. But what also has to be recalled is that the commission of his offences was largely in the cause. One of City's 100 percent performers, adroit and aggressive either in midfield or central defence. 7.

NEIL TOLSON: (19 + 13, 4) - Too easily cast as the joker in the pack Tolson cares passionately about the game. But only briefly did he hint at the marksmanship that so graced his debut campaign as a Minsterman. His overall season was one of fits and starts and three times he almost joined other clubs between February and may before his eventual release. 5.

ANDY WARRINGTON: (14, -) - There was precious little down for the young goalkeeper once he had been the subject of boos during the warm-up the opening fixture of the season at Preston. No wonder his confidence suffered and he almost immediately lost his place to Bobby Mimms. Twice battled back, the second time from a broken hand, but ever fragile was the brittle relationship between him and the home crowd. 6.

MARC WILLIAMS: (11, 4) - Winter scourge of the Minstermen in the Auto Windscreens Shield while at Halifax Town, the Welsh ';B' international proved almost the spring-time saviour in the relegation fight after his £30,000 capture. Even if his first touch is frequently awry, 'Willo' is daring, direct and dangerous. May prosper even more alongside a target-man. 7.

NEIL WOODS: (7 + 3, 0) - Alongside Thompson and Agnew was the third in the 'experience' package lured to City with the brief of providing the vital know-how in the chase for honours. Started as first-choice partner to Richard Cresswell, but was soon eclipsed by him and then exiled by management. Arguably arrived at his home-town club several years too late. 5.

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