Match programme: York City v Chesterfield (31 October 1987)

About this match programme

By Richard Snowball

After five reasonable and exciting seasons under the stewardship of Denis Smith and Viv Busby, who had left the club to manage Sunderland, York began the 1987-88 season under new manager Bobby Saxton in disastrous style.

Coming into their match against Chesterfield on October 31, 1987, they had not won a single league game managing only four draws in that time.

They were rock bottom of Division Three on four points with their opponents seven places higher with two wins from their eight away matches.

However, in a tight game, York managed to keep their first clean sheet of the season to win the match 1-0 with a goal from Dale Banton, his eighth league of the season.

Six weeks earlier, local player Marco Gabbiadini, who had made his debut for York two seasons earlier under Denis Smith, was transferred to Sunderland for £80,000 plus a 25% sell on clause which eventually netted a further £300,000 when he was transferred to Crystal Palace in 1991.

Another local player, Steve Tutill, made his League debut in September 1987 and became a regular in the side for the next ten seasons.

Acknowledgement

This facsimile of the match programme was created by the publisher of There’s Only One Arthur Bottom, the daily email newsletter for fans of York City FC, and TOOAB contributors Richard Snowball, Terry Espiner and Paul Bowser.

www.tooab.com