Old York photos of York City’s old Bootham Crescent home

That was, of course, in the days when York City still called Bootham Crescent home.

The turnstiles clicked shut in 2021 to the dismay of generations of fans for whom the ground had been like a second home.

Aerial view of Bootham Crescent when York City played Colchester United in Division. (Image: The Press)

Licensee Dave Beavers told The Press that Burton Lane Club could soon be forced to shut its doors because of a continued drop in footfall over recent years.

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He said it had lost about £25,000 annually since York City moved to the LNER Community Stadium – the fall in match-day trade had come amid a drop in footfall and interest generally, meaning the club was no longer viable.

January 1985 York City apprentices. (Image: The Press)

If that sad day comes, it will be the final chapter for a club which has been in the city for more than 100 years.

It seems fitting to look back and share some old photos from Bootham Crescent before the final whistle signalled the end.

York City fans clear snow at Bootham Crescent in readiness for the FA Cup. (Image: The Press)

Both Burton Lane Club and Bootham Crescent live on for many in their memories of great games, and past-match drinks – not least that incredible 1-0 victory over mighty Arsenal in the fourth round of the 1985 FA Cup.

Police keep fans off the pitch at York City’s FA Cup tie against Huddersfield Town on (Image: The Press)

Others still treasure items of memorabilia, sold off from what had been York City’s home since 1932 as housebuilder Persimmon looked to redevelop the site.

Football fans watching York City play Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup in 1938. (Image: The Press)

These Press archive photos focus on the ground itself, the grainy terraces pressed tight against terraced streets, the scarves lifted under winter skies, boots churning mud.

Straw being used at Bootham Crescent to protect the pitch from frost in 1985. (Image: The Press)

They may be a happy reminder for older readers of the massive crowd that turned out for the 1938 FA Cup tie against Huddersfield – 28,123 people which was a record attendance at Bootham Crescent.

A more unusual sight is our photo of straw laid out to protect the pitch from frost before City’s February 1985 FA cup tie against Liverpool – a game that ended in a 1-1 draw, before Liverpool went on to win the return leg 7-0 a few days later. Remember that?

York City fans in the car park at the Shipton Street end of Bootham Crescent in 1984. (Image: The Press)

Or perhaps you were one of the devoted fans pictured who helped clear snow from the pitch ahead of that famous Arsenal game?

We hope these photos bring back some happy memories…

WE hope you like our collection of historic photos of York.

If you love delving into York’s past and seeing photos and reading stories from yesteryear then make sure you check The Press every day for its regular nostalgia stories. And don’t miss our eight-page nostalgia supplement every Wednesday in the paper.

We also have more than 3,000 members in our online nostalgia group on Facebook, Why We Love York – Memories.