Today I'm going back three years to 2019 and York City's visit to the home of Evesham United to play (tenants) Gloucester City in the National League North. The match was attended by 652 which is pretty respectable given that everyone in attendance was effectively an away fan.
I recently covered a subsequent Gloucester City v York City match in my blog (search on "Gloucester City") where I explained that Gloucester had been homeless and nomadic for several years following the loss of their old Meadow Park ground to flooding. One of their stopping off points en route to eventually returning to Gloucester was Evesham's Jubilee Stadium which, if you know your geography, you'll know is over 22 miles from Gloucester and isn't even in Gloucestershire (Evesham is in saucy Worcestershire).
The featured game provided rich entertainment with the lead changing hands twice. York got the scoring started with a goal by Alex Kempster after just 6 minutes. Gloucester replied, first through Joe Hanks after 32 minutes and then Jake Jackson four minutes later to take the lead before Jordan Burrow equalised in the 39th minute to take the sides in level at half time. It was clear that the next goal was going to be crucial and, when it came, thankfully it went to York 4 minutes after the break and that man Kempster again. It was a lead that York would not relinquish and the match ended 2-3 in York's favour.
Every time I have watched Gloucester in recent seasons I have been impressed by their French midfielder Fabien Robert. Robert began his career at French Ligue 1 side Lorient before signing for League 1 Swindon Town in 2015. This was followed by a spell with Forest Green Rovers and then a loan period at Aldershot Town before he pitched up at Gloucester in 2018.
Steve Watson's York City side were top of the League after eight games played and Watson was delighted with the three points albeit that he was less pleased with his side's performance. We didn't know it at the time but this was to be the season which was curtailed because of Covid19. The season was initially suspended on 16th Match 2020 before being suspended indefinitely on 31st March. On April 22nd, the League's member clubs voted to end the season early with the Champions (and promotion) to be decided on a points per game (PPG) basis. Unfortunately, for top of the table York, because they had played two games more than second placed King's Lynn Town, they had an inferior PPG ratio and King's Lynn were promoted automatically as champions. York campaigned vigorously for the usual end of season Play-Offs to go ahead and eventually they did take place. Sadly for York, they lost at home to Altrincham (for an unprecedented fourth time that season) as Altrincham went on to take the final promotion place. Thanks Covid!
CRB Match No. 2321
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