Old and New

Good Friday 19 April 2019, York City 2 Spennymoor Town 3 - National League (North), Bootham Crescent and then Harborough Town 2 Cogenhoe United 2 - UCL Premier Division, Bowden Park

One extreme to another, from an 'old school' ground to a new G4 out of town stadium, but both games had things in common- excitement, good goals and good playing surfaces.

York City, was a chance to visit Bootham Crescent before it comes under the demolition ball in the coming months ( or years). I can see why people like it, it is a flashback to 1970's league grounds, terracing a variety of stands but also some thing that we do want to forget - stinking urinals and expensive food!

What I did like was how the ground has a real inner city feel, hemmed in by neat streets of Victorian terraced houses. What was not a flashback to the 70;s was the immaculate playing surface and it helped both teams play good football with the visitors eventually coming out on top.

Harborough was an out of town ground, no houses at all to be seen, next to the rugby club and large car park. Inside, plenty of space, 3 very small boring stands but a good modern clubhouse with great food on offer then the final bit of the jigsaw, the latest G4 surface.

We also witnessed another good game, with cracking goals and a last minute equaliser by the visitors.

So two very different grounds however both had more positives than negatives.

Big Jon

Friday 14 April 2017, Solihull Moors 1 York City 2 - National League, Automated Technology Stadium

York City are on their way to Wembley but at the same time are struggling to stay in the top non-league division. Maybe a surprise to many when their team has experienced Pro's in their side like Scott Loach and 'Big' Jon Parkin.

Scott would have little to do till the second half but Jon was involved in everything in the first half, when York got a free kick over 30 yards out it was Jon who strolled up to take it - too far out I thought, but with all that weight behind him Jon can hit a ball, it beat the keeper, hit the post and a York played followed up to put the visitors one up. A second soon followed and it just seemed to be how many they would score but just before the break and brilliantly taken free kick and Solihull were back in the game.

The second half was all Solihull, not sure why York stopped playing but they did, so now Jon Parkin was quiet and it was Scott Loach who had to show why he had played at a higher level.

Solihull threw everything at York but the visitors held on and jumped the hosts in the table. But if Solihull keep playing like that they should still reach safety.

The ground was packed and i loved the fantastic main stand with an executive tier perched on top of it. A good day out.