IT MAY have been cel-ebrated in silence and then ended in defeat, but York City flung open the doors to a brand new era on Tuesday night when the club hosted their first match at their new LNER Community Stadium – and the last now until next season.
The Minstermen took to the pitch of their new 8,005-capacity multipurpose stadium for the first time for the visit of promotion rivals AFC Fylde.
It proved a longawaited milestone for the National League North club who vacated Bootham Crescent last month – their home for the last 88 years.
Fylde's Alex Whitmore made history by becoming the first player to score at the new stadium as the Coasters secured a 3-1 victory. A consolation penalty from captain Sean Newton ensured he wrote his name in folklore as the first York player to score.
The new stadium was built to solidify the long-term future of the football club, with additional commercial revenue streams and a state-of-the-art facility to help the team progress on and off the field.
Shared with the York City Knight Rugby League team, the complex will also house a new state-of-the-art leisure centre, swimming pools, gym, library and NHS Community hub.
Chairman Jason McGill – whose son Gabby played in Tuesday night's game having signed on loan from Dunfermline Athletic – has led the relocation since he became involved with the club, negotiating the grant with the Football Stadia Improvement Fund to help fund construction of the new stadium.
Proud McGill said: “We acknowledge this huge milestone with a mixture of excitement, pride and relief but also with disappointment that our amazing supporters can't share this important moment in person.
“This new stadium will be a home for the club and our supporters for years to come, providing fantastic matchday experiences and also giving us the opportunity to build the club in many ways.
“Thank you again to all the companies and organisations and stakeholders who have been involved in delivering this amazing stadium for York.”
York City, meanwhile, have reversed a decision to allow Hull City U23s to play four matches on the vacated Bootham a backlash from fans.
The Tigers played the first of four proposed matches there against Wigan Athletic on Thursday but that to be in bad taste given that fans were yet to give the stadium a final farewell.
A club statement was fronted: “You asked, we listened.”
For more information visit https://www.better.org.uk/stadium-york
