No not me, sorry!

I've already been accused by someone of glory supporting York. Not that I've any need to justify myself, but I started watching York, my local club, in 2016. The first game I saw they were struggling to beat Coventry in front of 452. Sooner after were the off field issues, with the previous owner announcing he was closing the club.
My partner, who I met at a York game, has helped out at York for 18 years and she's seen the club go out of existence before (York Wasps) and it looked to be going that way again.

At the start of the next season (2017) when I started helping out, they somehow made the start line, then lost at home to North Wales twice and soon after were lucky to beat South Wales who of course later became West Wales (they of 144-0 fame). Meanwhile Cas have gone from strength to strength, so if I was going to 'ditch Cas' at one of the most successful periods in their history to glory support anyone it would've been a St Helens or a Toronto, not a club who at the time were a struggling, mid table, homeless club!

When I watch Castleford I'm just a fan, and I love going down the lane and being at games, that won't change. However at York I write 3 pages for the programme, I help out on match days, I liase with the local press reporter, I help tidy the stand before a game, I write the match preview for the website, I sell merchandise and tickets in the club shop, I show visiting club directors and other important folk to the VIP area (Ralph Rimmer is at least 7ft tall!), I report back to the chairman. I'm a bit more involved which I really enjoy, regardless of if they are losing to North Wales, beating Toronto or pushing Catalans all the way.

Re: the new stadium. I don't think being out of town will put that many off. At the moment there's hardly any parking near Bootham Crescent which deters some from driving. I think those who choose to no longer go because the new stadium is 4 miles further away will be countered by people coming because of better access, more parking and a park and ride site next door.

You support 4 clubs to suit your need to get on everybodys nerves, Hightown Tiger supports 2 clubs as 1 is his first club and the other he is involved in.

There is a difference between him and you. A very, very big difference

I've just read that back, jeez I sound full of self importance, which I'm not! Think my point which I made in a long winded way is the more fans volunteering (or employed) at clubs, the better, regardless of if it's Warrington or West Wales! Sometimes I think those running clubs just need a bit of constructive feedback and help from the fans.

Just would like the chance to wish you all the very best on a deserved title and for next year. Keep up the good work you have been richly rewarded.


I still think we should have beaten you at the Keepmoat

York could be a good growth area for the game, it is not a sports mad city, the football team always struggle and many support Leeds United or further north Middlesbrough.

They probably arent big enough for Super League in the medium term, but if they became top of the Championship contenders that would be a boost for the sport.

As others have said the new ground is out of town but has very good road and bus and park and ride links, also a decent population in smaller towns around York near there.

We ideally need a stronger 2nd tier, where being relegated from SL is seen as a blow but not a death knell for a club. We need to get a cluster of say 6-10 teams attracting 3-5k who are competing at the top end of the Championship

The new stadium is less than 3 miles from York rail station about 2.5 from the minster, headingley elland road, Dw and possibly Kc stadium all similar distance or more. That part of York is now a major hub part of the city, for shopping leusure etr. Its not like the original Huntington stadium which when it was built in the 80’s had nothing around it.