For March 21st I'm going back 12 years to 2009 and York's FA Trophy Semi-Final 2nd Leg against AFC Telford United.
This was York's fifth season outside of the Football League following relegation in 2004. Promotion back to the league was the priority for everyone at the club and, since then, one Play-Off Semi-Final which had ended in defeat against Morecambe was not the kind of return that the fans expected. Indeed, far from being promotion challengers in the 2008/9 season, York had been battling against the spectre of relegation and only pulled clear of the trap door positions in the final weeks of the season, finishing in a lowly 17th place. Therefore the possibility of another Wembley trip was a welcome distraction as far as I was concerned!
Of the four semi-finalists, AFC Telford United were the only one not to be playing their football at the top level of Non-League so City were surely happy with the draw.
The Semi-Finals of the FA Trophy are, for some reason, traditionally a two-legged affair which, season after season, adds two extra games to the fixture list of clubs just as available slots have run out. Clearly a one-off game would make more sense from a playing point of view and, if a neutral venue doesn't generate the necessary revenues, I suspect that most clubs would accept the loss of home advantage in return for an equal share of match receipts. But two legs was the rule and two legs was what we got. Between the 1st Leg on 14th March and the away game against Barrow on 13th April, City were obliged to play 10 games in 30 days. Still, I think we'd all begrudgingly accept such problems if they come as the price of success (well relative success at least!).
The 1st Leg at New Bucks Head, Telford had resulted in a 2-0 away win giving City passage to Wembley unless they seriously messed up the formality of the 2nd Leg. Thankfully that was never on the agenda and, when Richard Brodie scored after 20 minutes, the aggregate result was never in doubt. I don't think I'm alone amongst City fans in regarding "Angel of the North" Brodie as one of my favourite players over the last 20 years. York had picked him up off the back of his performance for Newcastle Benfield in an FA Cup tie and he went on to score 76 goals in 184 games for the club in two spells. I can picture him walking down to Bootham Crescent from York railway station carrying his boots before each home game and I will never forget his appearance as a supporter on the terraces at Morecambe for City's final game in the Football League. Down to earth and a top bloke.
In front of only 3,512, Daniel McBreen scored York's second on the day. A consolation reply for Telford in the last few minutes did nothing to spoil City's day. Cue pitch invasion and Wembley Final here-we-go. Interestingly, in Telford's line up that day was one James Meredith who was to star in York's promotion season in 2011/2 before carving out a very respectable career in the Football League. Former Leamington player Jon Adams also appeared for Telford. Last but not least, spare a thought for Steve Jagielka, older brother of Premier League player Phil, who came on as a sub for Telford that day - his death, at the age of just 43, was announced just a few days ago. RIP Steve.
CRB Match No. 1687
Comments
Post a Comment