Today I'm going back seven years to 2015 and York City's League 2 game at home to Gary Johnson's Cheltenham Town played at Bootham Crescent in front of a healthy 4,151.
The game is perhaps notable for the appearance of not one but two Shaquiles on opposing sides. York had programme cover star Shaquile Coulthirst, on loan from the mighty Tottenham Hotspur while Cheltenham fielded Shaquille (two L's not one) McDonald, on loan from Derby County. In fact York had missed the opportunity of a Shaquile double as the Cheltenham version had also been on City's books in 2014 but was released at the end of the season without playing for the club. Both players have had a chequered lower league career since the featured game with York's Shaquile now plying his trade at Ebbsfleet United whilst the Shaquille with two L's is gracing the turf at Mickleover in the Northern Premier League.
York's had keeper Michael Ingham to thank for still being in the featured game deep in the second half following more than one reaction save to keep Cheltenham at bay. York's goal and, in fact, the only goal of the game came in the 73rd minute and was scored by a defender that I always liked the look of: Dave Winfield. Winfield had already had one headed goal ruled out for offside when he struck a second time and thankfully this one actually counted. It was another header from a corner and led to a pile on of joyous City players desperate for the three points. Winfield played in the Football League for Aldershot Town, Wycombe Wanderers, Shrewsbury Town and York and indeed won a National League title whilst at Aldershot in 2007/8 and League 2 promotion with Wycombe via the Play-Offs in 2010/11. After a career that began at Aldershot Town in 2004/5, Winfield is still active to this day and can currently be found playing for Chelmsford City in National League South.
City's manager Nigel Worthington had resigned the previous October to be replaced by former Scunthorpe United boss Russ Wilcox in this, City's third season back in the Football League following eight years in the "wilderness" of Non-League (not my words, I love Non-League). We didn't know it at the time but York were soon to be on their way back to the National League and they would complete the journey the following season by finishing bottom of the Football League. The efforts of the glorious 2011/12 season and those wonderful eight days in May 2012 were all in vain. In 2014/15 City finished in 18th place (of 24) in League 2, comfortably clear of the two relegation positions which were occupied by Cheltenham Town and Tranmere Rovers. Champions of League 2 that season were Burton Albion and also promoted were Shrewsbury Town, Bury and, via the Play-Offs, Southend United. In the seven years since it's interesting to note that two of the four promoted clubs are now in Non-League and that both of the relegated clubs are back in the Football League. Funny old game eh?
CRB Match No. 2030
Comments
Post a Comment