Back to the city

That is the overwhelming view of supporters who responded to an Evening Press appeal about the decline of the club's average attendance from 2,500 in 1989 to little more than 600 in 1997.

Most pinpoint the desertion of Clarence Street for the out-of-town Huntington Stadium as the beginning of the end for the Wasps.

Sadly Clarence Street was consigned to rugby league history in 1989, but fans would like to see the club relocate to a city centre ground - whether it be Bootham Crescent, Clifton Park, York Acorn's Thanet Road or Heworth's Elmpark Way - even though far more fans were at the opening game at Huntington Stadium than the final match at Clarence Street.

Many callers and correspondents believe a central stadium would win back the substantial 'sleeping support' for the club that exists within the city.

That may be the key to winning back the missing fans and saving the 113-year-old club from extinction at the end of the 1998 season, a stark reality raised by chief executive Phil Elliott.

The club can at least take heart from the weight of response prompted by the appeal in last Monday's Evening Press. The number of past and present supporters that telephoned or wrote proves the people of York do care about their rugby league club.

Several older supporters claim their loyalty has been lost because they have no means of transport to Monks Cross and simply cannot afford to pay for travel and admission.

Other reasons put forward for the decline in the Wasps' fan base included the switch from winter to summer rugby, a lack of success on the field, Sunday games instead of Saturday and the poor level of competition provided in the second division.

However, several supporters recognised that the club were making a genuine effort to build a side capable of promotion.

Former York coach and player Stewart Horton said: "This year I believe the club has gone for broke and spent money. Get behind the boys and support them. Let's try to get 2,000-plus supporters."

Many of the problems highlighted are beyond the club's control but tomorrow chief executive Elliott will give the club's response.

Ten supporter's suggestions to revive York's dwindling crowds:

Move the club back into the city, possibly sharing with York City or an amateur club

Re-introduce a bus service to the stadium

Encourage fans to return through success on the field, rather than threatening closure

Negotiate a better deal to ensure they take proceeds from bar on match days

Lower admission prices as cost of transport to stadium is also high

Create an atmosphere at Huntington Stadium, fans say it is cold and soulless

Revert from summer to winter rugby league

Return to the good old days, traditional strips etc, too much commercialism in modern game

More games, second division has too few matches and even fewer attractive fixtures

Lift the gloom and despondency surrounding the club

SUPPORTERS' VERDICT ON WASPS' PLIGHT

Shareholder Brian Macey, 59, of Hull Road, admits his support has waned since the move from Clarence Street.

"Huntington Stadium is the most sparse, cold, horrible place to go and watch a match. There is no atmosphere at all. There are no facilities after the game. That is one of the biggest reasons why they are losing supporters.

"The only way they are ever going to be saved is to move away from there. They want their own ground and bar. I am very sad that I do not have the urge to go any more. They have to find a piece of land, built a hut on it and start again."

Brian Cottingham, 56, of Boroughbridge Road, York, said: "I went to watch the Leeds match after a couple of seasons not going. The quality of rugby was worth following up and I will probably renew my support this year. I just hope the crowds increase.

"The heart of the club was ripped out when they left Clarence Street and the nucleus of support from the Groves was lost. There is a lot of sleeping support."

David Nicholson, a fan for 35 years, blamed the ineptitude of recent teams for the lack of support. "Most people like to see a team with decent skills. When you pay £5 or £6 you expect to see a better standard. You feel cheated when it's inept.

"It's been so long since we had a decent team that it's going to take a long time to get those missing fans back into the ground. York is rugby league town. We have got to see entertaining rugby."

Added Tony Thompson, 60, of Acomb, a supporter of more than 20 years: "I was a die-hard rugby league supporter when they were at Clarence Street. What if we could get one or two matches at Bootham Crescent to test the water? York is still a rugby league stronghold, it has been proved in the past.

"My main reason (for not going) is the venue. I really wish we could get away from there. There is more atmosphere at Heworth and Acorn than at Huntington Stadium."

Life-long supporter Les Helps, 75, of Wigginton, claimed the atmosphere "simply disappeared" with the move from Clarence Street.

"We used to get six or seven of us, have a couple of pints, go to the match and then walk home. They had 11,000 at Bootham Crescent for a game and that proved to me, if you had it in the right place, with the right atmosphere, you get crowds."

Follower of 66 years Ted Norman, 84, of The Groves, said his support ended due to the cost of getting to games. "I used to go on the bus but they stopped the buses. I started to go by taxi but it was £8 each game. I would certainly go if they revived the bus service. York rugby has been part of my life but I cannot get there at all."

Colin Benson, of Wigginton, called for chief executive Phil Elliott to take a less aggressive stance with the "missing 500" fans."You are not going to get 600 more people turning up because they say that. It does not work that way. If you are getting results on the field then people will come. I think Phil Elliott should cool it."

Tom Hutchinson, 67, of Hull Road, a season ticket holder for 30 years, said: "I think it was a bit of a disaster moving to Huntington but that is history. What is going to kill York RL is summer rugby. The sooner they get back to winter rugby the better. The second division is on a loser unless the RFL does something. I do not think it is York's fault. It goes deeper than that."

Huntington Stadium box holder John Taylor, 53, of Woodthorpe, claimed: "I do not think 1,200 people is too much to ask but it is not going to happen overnight. It is down to people being entertained". 'Yorkie', of Bishopthorpe, who has followed the Wasps for 30 years, regards the move from Clarence Street as "the worst move the club ever made".

"There is no bus service, the ground is too far out of the city and there's no comfort at the stadium. The £6 admission fee is too much for supporters, £4 would be reasonable. Ridiculous razzmatazz is killing the game with the silly names and strip colours. We all want success, so let's get back to the old York."

Sunday service is the root of the problem for Keith Pollard, of Osbaldwick. "To me rugby league is a Saturday afternoon game. Have they considered going back? From the Leeds result it looks as if there is a new era at York but there are alternative interests on a Sunday."

An Acomb man declared: "I used to go when they played at Clarence Street but since they moved on I have not been. "It is easier for me in Acomb to go to Leeds to watch the Rhinos and it does not cost much more."

An anonymous caller put a different view: "It is a very nice little ground, supporters see the bad side rather than the good side. To me there is nothing wrong with York. We have been following them for many years and it is an enjoyable package you get."

John Arnold, 32, cycles from his home at Escrick, near York, to every home game. He said: "I honestly think this season they will get promotion. If they do not come back now they never will. It would be an absolute shame if the club went bust and they are winning."

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