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Thursday 18 February 2021

History at York Road and York City

Tuesday night was a historic one for both Maidenhead United and York City as they both celebrated landmark occasions.

The York Road ground in Maidenhead welcomed its first visitors on February 16, 1871, which meant the visit of Stockport County this week marked exactly 150 years of football in the heart of the town.

An excellent piece in the Maidenhead Advertiser earlier in the week highlighted both the historic nature of the game but also of the challenge facing Maidenhead and so many other clubs at this time, a live stream of Tuesday's night match would, it was hoped, bring in much-needed funds.

Last weekend's The Non-League Paper also ran a feature on York Road and the thoughts of club chairman Peter Griffin as plans are stepped up for a new stadium, that town-centre location making it increasingly difficult to make any further improvements while the land it sits on becomes increasingly valuable.

As Peter says, "It sets the club up long-term and means we would be not only debt free but self-sufficient."

The same evening, amidst the chaotic National League North season, York City played their first ever fixture at their new Community Stadium with a live stream on a 'pay what you can' basis hopefully bringing supporters a taste of what they can expect when they are able to watch matches in person again.

A chance to say a proper farewell to Bootham Crescent may have been lost amidst the pandemic but I hope the future is bright for the Minstermen.

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