Where are you?

At least York City have got several factors going for them.

A management team of Martin Foyle and Andy Porter, who have demonstrated a shrewd eye for dismantling a team almost doomed to the chop and building a promotion-challenging squad in its stead in less than a year.

Their efforts have been backed by the McGill dynasty, whose ability to keep investing will have been buoyed by the £200,000 eked out of the play-off final run. And then the majority of the players who performed so resiliently will still be in harness come the 2010/11 start on August 14.

But at the risk of sounding like Delia Smith, having over-indulged on half-time adrenaline, where are you, York fans? Let’s be having you.

No, I’m not bellowing at the 8,000 or so who made the trek to Wembley last week, nor the regular hardcore attendance of 2,600 at Bootham Crescent, nor the loyal and vocal legion who watch the Minstermen away. I am addressing the good citizens of this ancient walled city.

Where are you? Where were you last week?

On the club’s second appearance in 12 months at the home of the national game – some clubs would give their most-oiled turnstiles to appear at Wembley – those York fans who attended the Blue Square Premier play-off final were outnumbered almost four to one by the 30,000-plus following of 3-1 victors Oxford United.

First off, a revelation. I wasn’t there either – but I had some sort of excuse as I was back hunkered down at Walmgate HQ helping to sub-edit the succinct and superb array of words gathered and composed by diligent, dedicated and talented York City reporter Dave Flett and sports-writer Steve Carroll, as well as assessing the myriad of telling images from photographers Nigel Holland and Frank Dywer.

But where were the rest of you?

True, the 5pm kick-off was far more favourable to Oxford fans and certainly a hindrance to those travelling from anywhere north of Birmingham. And this in a country hosting the 2012 Olympiad and mad for it to stage the World Cup in 2018.

But even given the considerable transport problems the scarcity of Minstermen fans at Wembley hardly gives credence to the view that this is a city steeped in football folkore and that its resident club was once a member of the Football League 92-club for more than eight decades.

Oxford, whose Football League tenure was restored last week after four years in the colder climes of the Conference, have but a shade over 40 years as a Football League club.

You would not have thought so judging by how garishly overpowering was the sunshine shade of yellow which so bedecked Wembley.

It was nothing short of a Wembley wonder that the Minstermen on the pitch came back from that hideous two-goal start to make a contest of what threatened to be an abysmal day under the arch and that those diehard City fans refused to be either cowed or eclipsed by such superior numbers.

But there were only eight thousand at the most in thrall to City. A year previously the City contingent was at least in double-figures for the FA Trophy final lost in much more damning fashion to Stevenage.

Maybe that was a false figure swelled by the commonplace phenomenon of hordes of plastic supporters who just fancied a day out to see what the new Wembley was all about.

Oxford’s contrasting mega-support actually reflected the average attendances both clubs garnered during the 2009/10 campaign.

The U’s regularly attracted crowds of 6,000 plus to their Kassam Stadium, close to three times the amount regularly filing into Bootham Crescent these past nine months.

Both are cities of historical import, status and reputation, both have large student populations, both are around the same size with similar catchment areas.

Handicapping York is the presence of Leeds United. Oxford do not have a counter-attraction club a mere 25 miles down the road as Elland Road, a place of pilgrimage for many football folk hailing from York and surrounding areas.

But even that cannot fully explain why York City FC does not engender a greater corps of support.

Never mind c’mon City – c’mon citizens of York. Start showing the faith.