THROWN IN THE TOWEL

 

Seen in Walthamstow Market, an attractive Christmas present, a York City bath towel, the latest in stock. 206 miles between the two clubs, but there will be someone in the capital who is a Minstermen supporter???

York City FC is nicknamed the Minstermen, after the famed Minster in the city and the team traditionally play in red kits. They played at Fulfordgate from 1922 until 1932, when they moved to Bootham Cresent, their home for 88 years. This ground had been subject to numerous improvements over the years, but the club lost ownership of it when it was transferred to a holding company in 1999. York bought it back five years later, but the terms of the loan used to do so necessitated a move to a new ground. They moved into their current ground, the York Community Stadium, in 2021. York have had rivalries with numerous clubs, but their traditional rivals are Hull City and Scarborough.

Founded in 1908, the club played seven seasons Non-League football, before folding in 1917. A new club was formed in 1922, and played in the Midland League for seven years before joining the Football League.. They played in the third tier until 1959, when they were promoted for the first time. York achieved their best run in the FA CUP in 1954-5 when they met Newcastle Utd in the semi-final. They fluctuated between the 3rd/4th Divisions before spending two seasons in the Second Division in the 1970s. York first played at Wembley in 1993, when they won the Third Division Play-off. At the end of 2003, they lost their Football League status after being relegated from the Third Division. The 2011-12, the FA Trophy was the first national knockout competition won by York, and they returned to the Football League that season.

Michael Johnson, goalkeeper for St Albans City, said his team has been on a 15-game unbeaten streak since he first used his "lucky towel" (see below). He left the towel on the pitch as the whistle blew on his team's FA Cup Second Round tie 3-2 victory over Forest Green Rovers last Sunday. A pitch invasion followed and the keeper thinks a fan could have "understandably" taken it as a momento.

IMAGE SOURCE,MICHAEL JOHNSON

Image caption,

A reward has been offered for the safe return of the Inter Milan towel, which is similar to the one pictured

Johnson has offered a pair of signed boots and gloves as a reward for the towel's safe return. "It's become a bit of a lucky charm for me and a couple of other players as well," the 28-year-old said. "I'm quite superstitious with pre-game rituals and stuff like that and it seems to be doing the trick. "So we're in a bit of a panic now as we don't know where it is." After the sixth-tier side's victory over League Two leaders Forest Green Rovers, the team are due to play at neighbours Boreham Wood in the second round on 6 December. 

Johnson said he "would like it back for that big game especially", but also for an important National League South game on Tuesday at home to Dulwich Hamlet. "If someone does have it then feel free to trade it in and upgrade the souvenir you've got from the game," he said.