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1950's |
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This decade marked the memorable FA Cup exploits when in 1954/55
the club reached the semi-finals of the competition. In contrast
to the run of 17 years earlier, City were only drawn twice at
home. In round one Scarborough were defeated 3-2 after a hard
fought tussle and then at the fifth hurdle London giants Tottenham
Hotspur were the visitors. In what was arguably City's finest
every display, Spurs were outplayed and in front of an all ticket
21,000 the club progressed to the quarter finals with a 3-1
victory. Norman Wilkinson (2) and Billy
Fenton were the marksmen and the line up that day (19th
February 1955) was:
Forgan, Phillips, Howe, Brown, Stewart, Spence, Hughes, Bottom,
Wilkinson, Storey, Fenton
The following season Sunderland visited York in a fourth round
tie and 22,000 saw the goalless draw with the First Division
side winning the replay 2-1 at Roker park.
In 1957/58 Bootham Crescent staged two more big FA Cup ties.
In the third round First Division Birmingham City were soundly
beaten 3-0 with goals from Arthur
Bottom, Norman Wilkinson and Peter Wragg. The crowd was
19,750 and in the next round Bootham Crescent's biggest post-war
crowd of 23,600 saw Bolton Wanderers held to a goal less draw.
The Trotters won the replay 3-0 at Burnden Park and the Lancashire
Club went on to win the trophy that season, beating Manchester
United 2-0 in the final.
In May 1952, England met Ireland in the first Schoolboy International
to be played at Bootham Crescent. The attendance was 16,000
and England won 5-0 were captained by Wilf McGuinness, who was
to become manager of York City some 23 years later. In the late
1940s and early 1950s, concreting was completed to the terracing
in the Popular Stand - thanks to the efforts of the Supporters'
club - and the Shipton Street end. The next major work was carried
out in the summer of 1955 when the Main Stand was extended towards
Shipton Street. Profits from the FA Cup run, together with a
Stand Extension Fund, helped this project.
The following year a concrete wall was built at the St Olave's
Road (Bootham Crescent) end. The project, which cost more than
£3,000 had a two-fold purpose - a safety precaution and
a support for additional banking and terracing. The FA Cup tie
in 1955 against Tottenham Hotspur had been restricted to a 21,000
capacity by the police, but with the improvements made, the
limit had risen to 23,600 when Bolton Wanderers provided the
opposition in January 1958.
In the summer of 1959 floodlights were installed at the ground,
at the cost of £14,500, a substantial sum of which was
raised by the Auxiliary Club. The installation was based on
the system of lighting developed by the General Electric Group
Ltd, who designed and supervised the project. Messrs Shepherds
of York were responsible for the concrete bases and erection
of the four 100ft towers.
The electrical sub-contractors were Messrs FH Wheeler of Scunthorpe.
The lights were officially switched on in a match against Newcastle
United on 28th October 1959. In an entertaining exhibition game,
United won 8-2 in front a of 9,414 crowd.
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Years At Bootham Crescent |
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