AB Knight

Spot on, he’s been the best forward I’ve seen for York since I started watching them in 2016. The only thing I’ll never understand is why no one backs him up - most games he makes a break or two but there’s rarely anyone with him.

On the subject of goading I hope we aren’t going the way of football whereby players get abuse all match and then criticised when they react. I remember Ginola back in the day getting all kinds of insults then he scored, did a shush motion and fans reported him to the police for incitement or something ridiculous. In my opinion, you either accept there’s going to be a bit of back and forwards - Squirrel Nutkins (George Flanagan) got a lot of stick from York fans a few years ago and then was gesturing at full time when Bradford won. You have to accept you’ll get that. Or the alternative is you have a ‘quiet please’ Wimbledon policy with no booing, no trying to put players off during conversion attempts or when catching a high ball. One of my favourite ‘banter’ memories is Barrie McDermott getting a lot of insults from Castleford fans, Leeds then scored and as he lined up for the kick off he stuck two fingers behind his back and turned around with a huge grin. A nice bit of back and forth.

According to a few comments on social media the stadium management company charge the club a fee to release that information to them. I believe the crowds will be released at the end of the year as they have been done in previous seasons.

I hope not. York Wasps only existed for 6 years, average finishing position was 10th before going out of business. Even the name - wasps - isn’t ideal, a wasp is often labelled as a pest. It’s not exactly great from a marketing perspective (which IMO needs an overhaul). Now, if the rumoured academy was to be called York Wasps that wouldn’t be too bad I guess.

He’s one of those fans where you might not know their name but you see them a lot, either at matches or when the game is televised live. I encountered him a few times when I handled tickets for York Knights in League 1, a lot of fans can be abrupt and rude (after all they just want to get in the ground) but he was always friendly. RIP Kev.

Obviously a lot of this would need fact checking but someone posted this last week on the general forum: The RFL bought the lease in 2012 for about £1.2m. They were spending about 190k on maintenance annually. Bradford bought it back for £260,000 in 2024. In entirely unrelated trivia in 2012 Nigel Wood was chief executive of the rfl, leaving in 2018. In 2019 he became an owner of Bradford and in 2021 their chairman. He's now returned as rfl senior executive director (definitely not chief executive) but remains a part owner of the Bradford.

Re: Odsal pitch, apparently measures 55 metres wide and 88 metres long which is the absolute minimum sizes allowed by the RFL. Previously after leaving Dewsbury they were given a dispensation. LNER has no such problems, 68 x 100 metres.

Ah I see. York don’t actually play Oldham for some time: Widnes (a) Featherstone (h) Sheffield (a) Bradford (h) Barrow (h) Halifax (a) Oldham (h) - 3rd August

I followed most of it but I don’t understand the Oldham part: a lot of time and think it could be with York the hangover is the game after that’s a well rested Oldham that you owe for the opening game battering but it will also most likely be your trophy on the pitch game to the fans to lift the team one more time makings for a good game.

Apparently he started midweek as assistant coach. Can’t say I’ve seen an official announcement.

Now up to 14

It’s a witch-hunt!

They have a gingerbread house? I’ve been a few times but never seen it. Is it to get more IMG points….

And we won’t mention Bradford’s average home crowd this season is only approximately 500 more than York’s Anyway, all home wins: Barrow Raiders by 24 Batley Bulldogs by 8 Bradford Bulls by 12 Featherstone Rovers by 42 Toulouse Olympique by 24 Widnes Vikings by 10

‘While taking a pleasant stroll along the promenade of Rooley Avenue, I slipped on a discarded 2003 Bullmania flag. In a matter of panic, and unable to stop my forward motion, I somehow tumbled into the boardroom at Odsal stadium. In the apparent confusion, I put my hand out to grab anything to stop my fall, this happened to be a pen and I accidentally signed a contract buying back the lease for £940,000 less than it was sold for. As far as I am concerned that is the end of the matter, thank you.’