[Match postponed] YORK City manager Gary Mills does not want to see a winter break introduced into the English game.

The recent frozen weather has led to renewed calls for a space to be installed in the league programmes to avoid the current spate of postponements.

Mills is expecting a third December fixture loss today with the Boxing Day home clash to Gateshead likely to be called off following the postponed Bootham Crescent game against Wimbledon and last weekend’s abandoned match at Luton.

But the City chief argued the unpredictable climate in this country means following the continental example is unworkable.

He said: “I’m not in favour of a winter break. I think it would be a farce because of the same old question of where you are going to put it?

“It would be a lottery because there’s no guarantee against bad weather wherever you put it. It would probably need to be three months long to cover all eventualities. You could look at six weeks in December and January but we’ve bad Februarys as well, so that could become ten weeks.

“One way or another we always get through, we always have done and always will do. We catch up with games because we have to. It’s not ideal but that’s the English game and English weather.”

Mills also refuted the popular suggestion that a mid-season break would avoid player fatigue, adding: “We play a lot of games but clubs have squads of players to cope with that.

“The argument about getting tired is not for me and I think sometimes people look for excuses. When I played, virtually the same 11 played for 50 or 60 games a season and we never thought anything of it.

“You enjoyed your weeks off in the summer but came back ready to start again and the intensity of English football is fantastic.”

The cold weather has continued to disrupt Mills’ training plans.

Nothing came of a request to Leeds United to use the Championship club’s indoor facilities with Mills saying: “It’s frustrating and tough mentally because you still have to prepare properly and maintain your fitness levels as if you are ready for a game. The problem is ‘where do we train’?

“We can’t get on our training pitch and are having to use the ROKO pitch in Clifton Moor. I’m not overly comfortable training on artificial surfaces but beggars cannot be choosers.

“You also rely on the players to be sensible and do their own bit.”


Match facts

THIS is Gateshead’s second visit to Bootham Crescent in the Blue Square Premier.

Last term, City won the corresponding fixture 1-0 thanks to an Alex Lawless goal.

The line-up on November 24, 2009, was: Ingham, Parslow, McGurk, Graham, Meredith, Mackin, Lawless (Smith), Barrett (Ferrell), Carruthers, Rankine, Gash (Gall).

The North East club made 23 Football League trips to York (1929 to 1959) winning three times and drawing on eight occasions. City’s biggest victory in the series was 5-1 in 1937/8.

Players who have appeared for both clubs include Ian Winters, Kevin Dixon, Paddy Atkinson, Nicky Peverell, Steve Bowey, Darren Williams, Mark Robinson, Carl Jones, Phil Turnbull and Craig Nelthorpe.

It happened on Boxing Day

1947: Alf Patrick scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Chester at Bootham Crescent in front of 10,435.

1948: Patrick again bagged a brace as City defeated New Brighton at home 2-1 watched by 10,870 and City were fifth in Division Three North.

1964: A 7-1 home win over Chesterfield with Paul Aimson (2), Andy Provan (2), Derek Weddle, Billy Rudd and Norman Wilkinson the marksmen. It was the seventh successive league win and City were third in the Fourth Division. The crowd was 6,216.

1973: An unbeaten league run was extended to 18 games following a 1-1 home draw against Grimsby Town in front of 5,890. John Woodward scored from the penalty spot and City were third in Division Three (League One).

1975: Blackburn Rovers were beaten 2-1 at Bootham Crescent thanks to goals from Ian Holmes (pen) and Bobby Hosker watched by 7,295.

1984: Dale Banton (2), Keith Houchen and Gary Ford scored in a 4-0 home victory over Burnley and were seventh in Division Three (League One). The crowd was 6,397.

1992: Top of Division Four, City came from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 at Cardiff City with Ian Blackstone (2) and Paul Barnes the scorers.

1994: Paul Barnes hit a hat-trick in a 4-0 home win over Blackpool watched by 4,542. Glenn Naylor was the other scorer and City were 14th in the Second Division (League One).

2009: City recorded their sixth successive league win and moved up to third in the table when they beat Mansfield Town 3-0 at home with Richard Brodie (2) and Michael Gash the scorers. The attendance was 4,587.

Compiled by David Batters