YORK CITY (York Community Stadium)

NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH, YORK CITY 3-1 SOUTHPORT, ATTENDANCE: 3,199

This afternoon I headed to York City to visit the second of the three brand new grounds in the National League North that I needed at the start of the season (Gloucester City and Boston United being the others).

My trip was slightly delayed, as such, because I originally planned to visit here a few weeks ago when Hereford were due in town but an outbreak of Covid-19 in the visitors camp saw that game postponed. There were no problems exchanging my ticket for the todays game, where Southport were the opposition.

So, after 88 years, York left Bootham Crescent to move across the city to the York Community Stadium, currently known as the LNER Community Stadium. The last game at Bootham was a 1-0 victory over Guiseley.

The Stadium is located just off the A64 in Huntington and is part of a leisure complex consisting of all the usual outlets. Indeed to get to my turnstile I walked past a cinema, a bowling alley and an indoor golf range.

It is also the location of Monks Cross Park and ride, which made parking very easy. I was off the ale today so I never bothered taking a bus into the city centre for a pint. The parking was pre-booked online and the getaway after the game was relatively painless.

The first competitive game at the York Community Stadium took place in February 2021, after delays meant the opening was over eight years after originally planned, where York were beaten 3-1 by AFC Fylde.

The ground, which is shared with York City Knights Rugby League, has a capacity of 8,000. It obviously lacks the character of Bootham Crescent but is a fine example of a modern Stadium, ticking all the necessary boxes. The leg room where I was sitting was very good, I must say.

There was a record crowd in attendance to watch The Minstermen despatch Southport 3-1. Both teams have struggled for form this season so I didn't anticipate a classic encounter but York had just enough to claim the victory, no doubt to the delight of their manager, ex-Evertonian, Steve Watson.

York could have been in front within a minute of the start but veteran striker Clayton Donaldson's header went agonisingly wide.

They did take the lead after 29 minutes when Matt Brown headed home. The lead lasted just a minute when Brown went from hero to Villa by conceding a penalty, duly converted by Josh Hmami (pictured right).

York 'keeper Pete Jameson made a terrific save from point blank range to prevent Southport taking the lead in first half stoppage time.

After 58 minutes York retook the lead with another header, this time fro. Akil Wright.

The game opened up as the Sandgrounders searched for another equaliser but in the 85th minute Olly Dyson netted to seal the win for York.

I don't know the ins and outs but there are clearly issues between supporters and the board. There were chants of "sack the board" ringing out during the second half, even when the team were winning and one fan even ran onto the pitch.

Just one more ground to go now to recomplete the National League North and I think a journey to Lincolnshire may be on the cards next Saturday!

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My first visit to Bootham Crescent was back in 1995 when Everton were unceremoniously dumped out of the league Cup, The Minstermen winning 3-2. My last visit was for a York City Knights match versus the North Wales Crusaders back in 2018.