Today I'm going back twelve years to 2010 and York City's National League (or Blue Square Premier if you prefer) Play-Off Semi-Final 1st Leg against arch rivals Luton Town at Bootham Crescent. The game was attended by 6,204.
The programme cover star is, of course, the "Angel of the North", Richard Brodie. Brodie had been spotted by York when appearing against them in an FA Cup Qualifying Round playing for Newcastle Benfield and he signed for the club on transfer deadline day 2007. Brodie would go on to make 184 appearances for York, scoring 76 goals in two spells and is surely one of the most popular City players of recent years. I loved watching Brodie. There was a kind of innocence about him although, as a big lad, he was never afraid to put himself about a bit. He certainly had an eye for goal and his work rate endeared him to the fans. On more than one occasion I encountered Brodie on a match day walking towards Bootham Crescent from the railway station with his boots in a bag over his shoulder. Always pleasant to speak to, he had a genuine soft spot for the club and has been seen on the terraces with the fans since leaving the club. Brodie was destined to receive a Conference Championship winners medal for helping to take both Crawley Town (2011) and Fleetwood Town (2012) into the Football League and was actually Conference Player of the Year in 2010 whilst at York. Lately Brodie has been doing his coaching badges, including a short spell coaching at York and I wish nothing but the best for him in his future football career.
Make no mistake about it. Today's featured game was huge for both sides and, in those days, before panic buying of toilet rolls became a thing, the City fans in the Shippo were literally giving them away possibly in the hope of wiping away the poop that had taken York into Non-League in the first place? Ahead of the game, City manager Martin Foyle had rested Michael Ingham, Richard Brodie and Ben Purkiss from the preceding end of regular season game away at Champions Stevenage Borough with York having already secured their Play-Off spot. Luton had finished the season as runners up to Borough with York finishing ten points further back in sixth position, the final Play-Off spot. Appearing for Luton that day was York-born Simon Heslop, on loan to the Hatters from parent club Barnsley. Heslop would go on to sign for City in 2016 but he never seemed to be a favourite with City fans and he can currently be found plying his trade for Blyth Spartans.
The start of the match, taking place on a Thursday evening, had to be delayed by 15 minutes to allow further time for the travelling Luton Massive to enter Bootham Crescent. I don't think I'd be exaggerating to say that Luton had the better of things in the first half in terms of chances created and Ingham was called upon to make a few saves. Luton were also guilty of some slipshod finishing including one chance which hit the post and stayed out. After the break, York came into the game a bit more and hit the post at the Shipton Street End shortly after the restart. However goals and chances were in short supply for either side and the match looked to be heading towards a goalless draw until, as The Press put it "a spot of divine intervention from York City's Angel of the North". It was the 89th minute when Brodie reacted first to an error by a Luton defender and fired home to send Bootham Crescent into raptures. In the ensuing celebrations, Brodie headed for the corner flag and was to be found shortly thereafter at the bottom of a pile-on which included none other than City mascot Yorkie the Lion (watch the video attached to my blog if you'd like to enjoy that golden moment again). It might have been fortuitous but York had a priceless one goal advantage to take to Kenilworth Road the following Monday. But that, as they say, is another story.
CRB Match No. 1747
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