The waiting is finally over and York City are only a potential three games away from a return to the Football League as they take on Luton Town in their play-off semi-final first-leg at Bootham Crescent.
The famous old stadium will be simply shaken to its rafters and the atmosphere positively rocking as legends are waiting to be made. Certainly Martin Foyle would become one if he completes the task of turning the Minstermen from tame relegation fodder into glorious Wembley winners within just twelve short months.
But there’s plenty of others too … Lawless, Barrett, Rankine, Graham, Ingham, Purkiss, Carruthers, Mackin, Meredith, McGurk, Gash, Brodie, oh Brodie! – the names just run off the tongue.
Nerves will be frazzled and anxieties heightened. Will you be floating on air come 10pm tonight or feeling darker than the bleakest tempest? Over seven thousand are going to be there and packed into an absolutely throbbing Bootham Crescent on what should be a momentous occasion.
Therefore ladies and gentlemen, take to your seats, puff out your chests and sing until you drop; make sure that you roar on your heroes to victory. Prepare for the greatest show on earth …
THIS IS CITY, THE MIGHTY YORK CITY!
LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE!
Vital Quotes:
York boss Martin Foyle told The Press: “We need to make sure everyone is on board. We are all in this together. We are a team and that includes the fans. We are all looking to forward to it. The attitude of the players has been spot-on all season and they are champing at the bit. There have been a lot of positives this year, with the FA Cup run and results in the league, and the fans` support is great – it is much needed. You want to go to Luton not losing. That`s not being negative. We will be playing the right side to unlock Luton Town but if it is 0-0 they will be under massive pressure. We are trying to win a game (tonight). I would like to win 4-0, but are we going to? It is going to be tight and the second leg is going to be very, very interesting.”
Luton manager Richard Money told BBC Three Counties Radio: “We are looking at two very intense, very competitive, and, I’m sure, very exciting legs of a semi-final. They are tough. They are a good unit and have a front two who are dangerous and have been giving people problems all year. I know their manager Martin Foyle really well. I like him a lot and I know he will have his team well prepared and well up for the challenge. You can forget all this nonsense that Luton and Oxford will be in the final because there is absolutely no guarantee that either of us are going to make it.”
York City Team News:
York manager Martin Foyle has a full-strength squad available to select from. The Minstermen are certain to welcome back skipper Michael Ingham and leading scorer Richard Brodie, while Ben Purkiss should also return to the side after being rested at champions Stevenage Borough.
York City (probable): Ingham, Purkiss, McGurk, Graham, Meredith, Lawless, Mackin, Barrett, Carruthers, Rankine, Brodie
subs (from): Parslow, Sangare, Gash, Smith, Pacquette, Harsley, Pitt, Clarke, Mimms
Player to watch: Richard Brodie
If you’re looking for a probable match-winner then it just has to be Brodie. 33 goals already this season (36 if you include the expunged Chester records), he will surely be the key. One day they WILL build a statue to him in York. Let’s just hope they are ordering the concrete early next month.
Luton Town Team News:
Midfield pair Keith Keane (knee) and Claude Gnakpa (hamstring) have both recovered from injury and are available, while George Pilkington and Ed Asafu-Adjaye are also in contention after shaking-off minor knocks. Former York loan centre-back Janos Kovacs is expected to be on the bench. Meanwhile, on loan York winger Craig Nelthorpe is ineligible.
Luton Town (probable): Tyler, Asafu-Adjaye, Blackett, Pilkington, Murray, Gnakpa, Heslop, Keane, Howells, Gallen, Craddock
subs: Gore, Kovacs, Newton, Hatch, Barnes-Homer
Player to watch: Tom Craddock
Dangerous striker who rose through the Middlesbrough youth set-up before eventually sealing a £200,000 move to the Hatters. Has netted 24 goals this season.
Match Facts & Stats
York and Luton have met nine times before at Bootham Crescent. York have won twice, including 5-1 in the first-ever meeting in March 1966, with Andy Provan (2), Les Collinson, Tommy Spencer and John Goodchild their scorers. York also won an FA Cup third round tie 2-0 thirteen years later, when Gordon Staniforth and Kevin Randall were on target. Both games this season were drawn. The Hatters are currently unbeaten in their last fourteen games, winning ten. But they have won only one game – and that a dramatic late 2-1 triumph over Oxford – against the other three play-off sides.
Match Prediction:
We could never back against our heroes in such a crucial game. Luton are a really good side. But then so are York. Ties like this are usually settled by one player. Come on Richard! … York 3 Luton 1.
Next Fixtures:
Bank Holiday Monday – Luton v York (3pm)
