Today I'm going back 4 years to 12th August 2017 and the National League North fixture between Bradford (Park Avenue) and York City.
In 2017 lightening struck York City for the second time in two seasons as they tumbled from the Football League, through the National League Premier and into National League North, their lowest level of league football in living memory. It was an utter disaster for the club and was largely thanks to one of the most inept managers ever to be appointed in the British game: Celtic legend Jackie McNamara. York clearly needed an instant return and under the leadership of new gaffer Gary Mills the early signs looked promising. McNamara had obviously been appointed as Chief Executive by this time! You honestly couldn't make it up!
Bradford (Park Avenue) themselves are a former Football League name, having played there until 1970 when they lost out in the re-election process to Cambridge United. Strictly I think that we should be calling them Bradford AFC but they are commonly referred to as Bradford Park Avenue with most of the media forgetting to insert the all important brackets into their official name. Bradford started out life as a Rugby Union Club in 1863 and became a Rugby League Club in 1895 when the Rugby world imploded over the issue of professionalism. Things didn't end there however and in 1907, in an act known as "the great betrayal", Bradford abandoned Rugby League in favour of the Association code.
Bradford, not to be confused with Bradford City, no longer play at Park Avenue. Instead they play at the Horsfall Stadium, an athletics venue with a running track separating the spectators from the pitch. York had opened the season with a surprise home defeat to AFC Telford United before a welcome away victory at Blyth Spartans. The Bradford game was York's third game of the season and they certainly filled their boots with a 5-0 score line. The goals were scored by Danny Parslow, Amari Morgan-Smith (2), Sean Newton and an own goal from Bradford's Havern.
It was at this point that supporter expectancy was at it's highest that season. The fans were demanding an immediate return to the National League Premier and, after such an apparently easy win, it did look like York would lead something of a procession to the title. Sadly it was not to be as underwhelming York went on to finish miles off the pace down in 11th place. Bradford, their victims on the day actually ended the season higher up the table in 7th place which gave them a shot at the Play-Offs. Once more York had to regroup and go again. They're still going again and Saturday's season opening home game against Kidderminster Harriers at their brand new stadium will be their fifth season at the sixth level of English football. It's really not good enough!
CRB Match No. 2165
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