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Assessing The Squad: Defenders

Defence is a position City have no really got right, and this season is no exception, a point which is proved by 70 goals conceeded in the league this season so far.

Everybody knows about the early season problems and the occasional switch in formation, but in this post I will explore each individuals contribution.



After spending about 18 months on loan at City, McGurk completed his move from Darlington on a free transfer in August 2006. Since moving he has become the heart of the defence, and possibly the heart of the whole team.

McGurk has been the most consistant out of all the City defence again this season, impressing with his determination aswell as his ability.

The story around him, however, has been less than impressive.

Sharing the remaining centre back position (when only one is available) has been Darren Kelly and Danny Parslow.

Kelly has been a disappointment since his move from Derry City and the Northern-Irishman has consistantly been found wanting both in the air and on the ground.

Parslow, however, has been an improvement. The former Wales Under-21 international has done what has been required of him with minimal fuss. However, he has at times showed his lack of experience but at only 22 he can only improve.

In the full/wing back positions are Mark Robinson and Darren Craddock.

23 year old Craddock signed for city after having a brief loan spell at the club. Since then he has amassed over 50 appearences for the club. His defence is solid but never outstanding and going forward he looks suspect. His delivery of crosses is often disappointing but he does have good stamina.

26-year-old left back Mark Robinson joined the club from Torquay United in 2007 and when fit has been virtually assured of his place in the side. At 26, Robinson is the most experienced member of the defence, but has abused this position with a poor disciplinary record.

The back up to the first team is Jimmy Beadle, Anthony Lloyd and Ben Purkiss. They have proven to be decent back up, but have never really gone on and challenged for a first team place. Other than the three listed above, there are some decent youth players that may well be tried over the next few weeks.

The defence this year has been an absolute disappointment. Mcgurk is the rock that the defence should be built around. We need an experienced centre back and a utility player to directly replace two of the present squad.

Assessing The Squad: Goalkeepers

Another season of mediocrity. Another season of disappointment and hurt. But where did it all go wrong? Over the next few weeks I will assess each position and the players in those positions. This week, Goalkeepers.

The 'keeper has always been one of the most important parts of any squad. It is the last line of defence and any great team has a great 'keeper. At York, however, we don't.



The number 1 jersey has been in possession of Tom Evans for 2 seasons now, and he has been a complete disappointment.

Joining on a free transfer after being released from Scunthorpe, Evans has not proved to be the consistent rock that City have needed at the back of a young defence.

He has often made errors at crucial points and his general command of his area has been poor, leading to City being very weak when defending free kicks and corners.

The stand out memory of Tome Evans is in the play-off semi-final verses Morcambe, where his mistake lead to City being knocked out of the play-offs and denied their chance to climb out of non-league obscurity.



At the start of the season City secured a loan deal for Bristol City's young shot stopper Stephen Henderson. In his month at the club he made 7 first team appearances, but was deemed no better than what we already had.

In July City managed to poach the son of former City favourite Bobby Mimms from Liverpool Youth team. Josh Mimms signed as back up to the first team but in his two and a bit games thus far, has conceded 10 goals.

Mimms started in goal in the 6-1 defeat away at Crawley and manager Colin Walker openly admitted that he was at fault for at least two of the goals.

In the past City have had some excellent 'keepers, with Sir Alan Fettis, Dean Kiely and Bobby Mimms to name a few, but the current crop is just not good enough.

City need a new number one, desperately.

Deja-Vou?

This week has seen the potential return of an old city chairman in eerily similar circumstances.

John Batchelor has declared an interest in buying Mansfield Town. Just like with City he is hoping to rename the club to increase it's marketability. Only this time, it's worse!

Batchelor plans to rename the Stags, calling it Harchester United, the ficticous team in Sky One's Dream Team, instead.

The decietful businessman has already single-handedly collapsed the other offer that was on the table, that of James Derry.

This time, however, he appears to be meeting more of an opposition as City fans begin to rally and make as much noise as possible about the dangers that are present.

Even Sky Sports News' Jeff Stelling has voiced his concerns, speaking out on Saturday 29th March 08, saying words to the effect of Batchelor must have nothing to do with football.

John Batchelor is a destroyer of companies, the fact that he quotes the guy charged with the attempted murder of York City FC shows more about his character than anything else.

John Batchelor: "People will make their own decisions, if (in the words of my illustrious predecessor at York, Douglas Craig) they don't like what we have on offer then they don't have to come do they? I will budget for no fans turning up at the ground, which really every club should do."

Home For Life?

At the start of the season everyone realised that this season would be a defining one for the club. With the potential of promotion and plans of a new stadium on the horizen, city fans had every right to be optimistic for what the future held.

But, alas, the season draws to a close and hopes of promotion are all but a distant memory. Even more worrying, however, is the lack of plans for a new stadium.

After taking out a loan with the Football Foundation, City signed up to a contract which stated:
- The Foundation would loan City £2 million
- This money would be used to buy back Bootham Crescent
- York City would have to name a new site for a stadium by the end of 2007
- York City would pay £140,000 a year to pay back the loan

However, towards the end of 2007, a statement was released by Sophie McGill, stating that City were not going to be punished for not naming a site for the stadium and the Football Foundation were happy with the progress being made.

Months later, still no word.

There are two main proposed sites as far as can be seen. Many of the fans favourites is the site of the old British Sugar factory. This is a brownfield site so will please the council, however it will require complete redevelopment and is likely to cost a lot of money.


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The alternative is unpopular. It is Huntington Stadium. It is currently home to York's rugby league side, the York City Knights. They, however, rent the ground from the adjoining fitness centre, who are unlikely to want to sell. The stadium only has two very small stands, and also has a running track. It is also outside of the city centre so will be unlikely to help with attendences. It is, however, already built and would only need to be redeveloped and extended, so will turn out to be cheaper.



Although unpopular, Huntington Stadium seems to be the likely home for York City, that is of course if we still have a football team by then.....

Is It Over?

After defeat in the semi final of the FA Trophy many city fans are now thinking that this season is as good as over. With only an outside shot at the playoffs to play for now, questions have to be asked as to what went so wrong?

Last season, the then manager Billy McEwan took a team full of confidence into the playoffs against Morecambe, only to be knocked out 2-1 on aggregate. In some ways it could be said that that result would have a bearing on this season.



Perhaps not knowing which division he would be in McEwan was unable to plan which players he were to sign. Perhaps the head start in the transfer market given to clubs with nothing else to play for meant that McEwan missed out on some of his targets.

If this is true, then maybe this season it might work for Colin Walker and York City. Maybe this year we are able to be the first to pick up players, even with the financial situation that haunts the club.

Next year IS our year.....

Right Man, Wrong Team?

City are without a win in the league since February 9th, they have failed to score in their last three games (including the cup) and their visitors tonight are unbeaten in 10 games.

After going months on end unbeaten, steering City away from the unthinkable threat of relegation (and then surely the demise of our club), you would think that Colin Walker's job would be safe, for now at least.

Yet, after years of disappointment and failure, City fans are growing impatient. After actually playing football in a league that doesn't allow it, City fans are now growing to resent the route one approach.

The signing of Leo Fortune West, for many, was the turning point in City's improving season. This signing meant that instead of playing the football inspired by Arsenal (on a lesser level) we now find ourselves playing football inspired by Watford.

In the past, looking at the teams that have managed to climb out of this desolate league, they have not played the football that all fans admire. They have played it tough, and ground out the results.

Walker has seen this, he realises that this isn't an ideal world and in order to get out of this league we may have to mix it up a bit. Maybe it won't work straight away, maybe it won't work at all, but we have tried the beautiful football way, now its time for something new.