Match programme: York City v Rochdale (February 5, 2002)

About this match programme

By Richard Snowball This match at Rochdale should have been played on December 22, 2001 but was postponed because of the weather. This was two days after chairman Douglas Craig announced he was going to close down at the end of the season, because it was no longer viable, unless a buyer could be found.

This instigated the setting up of the York City Supporters’ Trust after an open meeting on January, 7, 2002, and the rest is history.

The match was re-arranged for February 5, 2002 with Rochdale using the original dated programme that had been printed, along with two inserts, one of which makes interesting reading bearing in mind Douglas Craig’s statement.

York were only one of many clubs losing money every week at that time.

The match itself turned out to be a nine goal thriller played on a wet day with York coming out on the wrong side with a 5-4 defeat.

The attendance was only 2,823 which was slightly less that York's seasonal average of 3,144.

At the end of the season York finished just below halfway in the table and Rochdale managed a play-off position in fifth.

One or two notable names were playing for York: Alan Fettis in goal, Graham Potter (later Brighton manager) at left back and Chris Brass who the Supporters Trust appointed as manager two seasons later.

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