‘Tears and memories’ as homes earmarked for football club’s ground

IT HAS been home to York City for 87 years and officials admit leaving Bootham Crescent will provoke tears and long-held memories.

But plans have been drawn up for housing to be built on the site of the football stadium, the club’s home since 1932 when the site was leased from York Cricket Club. The football club is planning to move to a new community stadium at Monks Cross while Persimmon Homes has drawn up the proposed housing development at Bootham Crescent.

Stadium development director Ian McAndrew said leaving the ground would be “undoubtedly emotional”. The planning application, which will be submitted jointly by the developer and the football club, features proposals for 80 houses and apartments including affordable homes.

Mr McAndrew said: “Leaving Bootham Crescent is, to some people, controversial and will, undoubtedly, be emotional to all those involved with York City Football Club. We are conscious of the importance of the stadium to our supporters and, in particular, those families who have scattered the ashes of their relatives there.

“I can assure everybody that this issue is at the forefront of our the discussions with both the developer and Historic England.”

He said an area within the public open space will be allocated as a place for remembrance.

Simon Usher, from Persimmon, said: “We are aware of the sensitive nature of this development and have carefully considered the views expressed at our public consultation meeting and those of Historic England, which have helped form our recently submitted planning application.”