Fulfordgate
Encyclopedia
Fulfordgate was an association football stadium
used by York City F.C.
from 1922 to 1932. The ground was located in the Fulford
area of York
, North Yorkshire
, United Kingdom, next to Heslington Lane and was purchased by York for £2,000 following their formation in 1922.
The club's first two home games were played at another venue as Fulfordgate was not ready, but the ground hosted its first match against Mansfield Town
in September 1922. The highest attendance at the ground was 12,721, which came against Sheffield United
in an FA Cup
match. York decided to move to Bootham Crescent due to Fulfordgate being relatively inaccessible, which had been vacated by York Cricket Club in 1932, and Fulfordgate was sold and developed as a building site and Eastward Avenue currently lies at the ground's former location.
's formation in 1922, 8 acres (3.2 ha) of land were purchased for £2,000 in Heslington Lane, Fulford
, York
. This was in the south-east of the city in what was a rural setting, which was surrounded by hawthorn hedge
s and was well drained. The land was known as Gate Fulford, which was reversed to become known as Fulfordgate. As the ground was not yet ready, York played their first two home games at Mille Crux, Haxby Road, which was owned by Messrs Rowntree & Company Limited
. The first match to be played at Fulfordgate was against Mansfield Town
on 20 September 1922, which finished as a 4–1 victory for York, and only went ahead after director John Fisher paid the necessary requisite deposit of £180. When the club applied for admission to the Football League
in 1927, the league stated that Fulfordgate was "splendidly drained, well-equipped, spacious and capable of being extended to hold up to 40,000 spectators". By the time York had been elected to the Football League in 1929, the stadium was estimated to be able to hold 17,000 supporters
. An amateur international was also held at the ground when England
played Ireland
in November 1931.
Concern was expressed at York's poor support towards the end of their third season in the Football League and director
G.W. Halliday believed the only solution was a change of ground. A major problem for the club was the ground's relatively inaccessible location, and in 1932, York held preliminary discussions about moving to Bootham Crescent, which had been vacated by York Cricket Club. A special meeting of the shareholder
s was held, which saw chairman Arthur Brown draw attention to gate receipts
figures in Fulfordgate's three Football League seasons, which represented average crowds of 4,000 and a deficit on the balance sheet
. It was pointed out by Halliday that within a one mile (1.6 km) radius of Bootham Crescent the population was 30,000, whereas it was only 3,000 for a similar radius of Fulfordgate. The directors were satisfied that the new ground would fulfill all requirements, although there was some opposition to the move. Following much discussion, the decision was decided by a vote, which resulted in the approval of the move by 115 votes to 37. The site which held Fulfordgate was sold and developed as a building estate. Today, Eastward Avenue occupies the area where the ground once stood.
s consisted of an old army hut, but open stands were later bought from York Race Committee. The ground was gradually built up, with improved and covered accommodation being available after two years. By 1927, new turnstile
s were fitted and stronger fencing was built around the pitch
, which reportedly made it more difficult for a spectator to surmount it and access the pitch. Nine-tier terracing
replaced the old banking behind one of the goals, the covered 'popular' stand was extended to hold 1,000 supporters and there was also a small seated stand.
play York in an FA Cup
third round replay
. The highest attendance in the Football League is 10,120 for a 2–0 defeat by Port Vale
. The record lowest attendance is 1,735 against New Brighton
.
The highest seasonal average attendance at Fulfordgate whilst York were in the Football League was 5,279 in the 1929–30 season. The lowest seasonal average at the ground was 3,906 in the 1930–31 season.
Fulfordgate was located in the south-east of York
; away from the city centre
. It was a large distance from York railway station
, while the tram
service to Fulford
had only a single track, meaning fans found it hard to reach the ground. During the ground's existence, bus
routes had not been fully developed and car ownership had yet to become common; it was not easy for the majority of supporters to reach.
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
used by York City F.C.
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
from 1922 to 1932. The ground was located in the Fulford
Fulford
Fulford is a historic village and civil parish on the outskirts of York, England. Situated to the south of the city, on the east bank of the River Ouse, it was the site of the 11th century Battle of Fulford...
area of York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, United Kingdom, next to Heslington Lane and was purchased by York for £2,000 following their formation in 1922.
The club's first two home games were played at another venue as Fulfordgate was not ready, but the ground hosted its first match against Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
in September 1922. The highest attendance at the ground was 12,721, which came against Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
in an FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
match. York decided to move to Bootham Crescent due to Fulfordgate being relatively inaccessible, which had been vacated by York Cricket Club in 1932, and Fulfordgate was sold and developed as a building site and Eastward Avenue currently lies at the ground's former location.
History
Following York CityYork City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
's formation in 1922, 8 acres (3.2 ha) of land were purchased for £2,000 in Heslington Lane, Fulford
Fulford
Fulford is a historic village and civil parish on the outskirts of York, England. Situated to the south of the city, on the east bank of the River Ouse, it was the site of the 11th century Battle of Fulford...
, York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
. This was in the south-east of the city in what was a rural setting, which was surrounded by hawthorn hedge
Hedge
Hedge may refer to:* Hedge or hedgerow, line of closely spaced shrubs planted to act as a barrier* Hedge , investment made to limit loss* Hedge , intentionally non-committal or ambiguous sentence fragments-See also:...
s and was well drained. The land was known as Gate Fulford, which was reversed to become known as Fulfordgate. As the ground was not yet ready, York played their first two home games at Mille Crux, Haxby Road, which was owned by Messrs Rowntree & Company Limited
Rowntree's
Rowntree's was a confectionery business based in York, England. It is now a historic brand owned by Nestlé, used to market a range of fruit gums and pastilles formerly owned by Rowntree's. Following a merger with John Mackintosh & Co., the Company became known as Rowntree Mackintosh, was listed on...
. The first match to be played at Fulfordgate was against Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
on 20 September 1922, which finished as a 4–1 victory for York, and only went ahead after director John Fisher paid the necessary requisite deposit of £180. When the club applied for admission to the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
in 1927, the league stated that Fulfordgate was "splendidly drained, well-equipped, spacious and capable of being extended to hold up to 40,000 spectators". By the time York had been elected to the Football League in 1929, the stadium was estimated to be able to hold 17,000 supporters
Fan (person)
A Fan, sometimes also called aficionado or supporter, is a person with a liking and enthusiasm for something, such as a band or a sports team. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom...
. An amateur international was also held at the ground when England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
played Ireland
Ireland national football team
-Association football :* Ireland national football team , the Irish Football Association's original all-island team; first played in 1882...
in November 1931.
Concern was expressed at York's poor support towards the end of their third season in the Football League and director
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
G.W. Halliday believed the only solution was a change of ground. A major problem for the club was the ground's relatively inaccessible location, and in 1932, York held preliminary discussions about moving to Bootham Crescent, which had been vacated by York Cricket Club. A special meeting of the shareholder
Shareholder
A shareholder or stockholder is an individual or institution that legally owns one or more shares of stock in a public or private corporation. Shareholders own the stock, but not the corporation itself ....
s was held, which saw chairman Arthur Brown draw attention to gate receipts
Gate receipts
Gate receipts is the sum of money taken at a sporting venue for the sale of tickets.Traditionally, gate receipts were largely or entirely taken in cash. Today, many sporting venues will operate a season ticket scheme, which will mean they allocate a proportion of season ticket moneys when...
figures in Fulfordgate's three Football League seasons, which represented average crowds of 4,000 and a deficit on the balance sheet
Balance sheet
In financial accounting, a balance sheet or statement of financial position is a summary of the financial balances of a sole proprietorship, a business partnership or a company. Assets, liabilities and ownership equity are listed as of a specific date, such as the end of its financial year. A...
. It was pointed out by Halliday that within a one mile (1.6 km) radius of Bootham Crescent the population was 30,000, whereas it was only 3,000 for a similar radius of Fulfordgate. The directors were satisfied that the new ground would fulfill all requirements, although there was some opposition to the move. Following much discussion, the decision was decided by a vote, which resulted in the approval of the move by 115 votes to 37. The site which held Fulfordgate was sold and developed as a building estate. Today, Eastward Avenue occupies the area where the ground once stood.
Structure and facilities
The stadium initially had no covered stands and the dressing roomChangeroom
A changing room, locker room, dressing room or changeroom is a room or area designated for changing one's clothes...
s consisted of an old army hut, but open stands were later bought from York Race Committee. The ground was gradually built up, with improved and covered accommodation being available after two years. By 1927, new turnstile
Turnstile
A turnstile, also called a baffle gate, is a form of gate which allows one person to pass at a time. It can also be made so as to enforce one-way traffic of people, and in addition, it can restrict passage only to people who insert a coin, a ticket, a pass, or similar...
s were fitted and stronger fencing was built around the pitch
Association football pitch
An association football pitch is the playing surface for the game of association football made of turf. Its dimensions and markings are defined by Law 1 of the Laws of the Game, "The Field of Play".All line markings on the pitch form part of the area which they define...
, which reportedly made it more difficult for a spectator to surmount it and access the pitch. Nine-tier terracing
Terrace (stadium)
A terrace or terracing in sporting terms refers to the traditional standing area of a sports stadium, particularly in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
replaced the old banking behind one of the goals, the covered 'popular' stand was extended to hold 1,000 supporters and there was also a small seated stand.
Records
The highest attendance at the stadium before York's election to the Football League was 8,318 for a match between York Boys and Brighton Boys in an English Schools' Trophy semi-final on 12 May 1928. The stadium's record highest attendance was set on 14 January 1931 when 12,721 saw Sheffield UnitedSheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
play York in an FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
third round replay
Replay (sports)
In sports, a replay refers to a second game between two teams after the first game's results were either nullified or ended in a draw. A game may be nullified if the game's result is protested and the organizers ruled to replay the game...
. The highest attendance in the Football League is 10,120 for a 2–0 defeat by Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
. The record lowest attendance is 1,735 against New Brighton
New Brighton A.F.C.
-Revived club:New Brighton A.F.C. were reborn in 1993, and joined the Birkenhead and Wirral League, which they won in their first season. In 1995 the club switched to the South Wirral League. After upgrading their new ground, the club were admitted to the Second Division of the West Cheshire League...
.
The highest seasonal average attendance at Fulfordgate whilst York were in the Football League was 5,279 in the 1929–30 season. The lowest seasonal average at the ground was 3,906 in the 1930–31 season.
Transport
Fulfordgate was located in the south-east of York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
; away from the city centre
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
. It was a large distance from York railway station
York railway station
York railway station is a main-line railway station in the city of York, England. It lies on the East Coast Main Line north of London's King's Cross station towards Edinburgh's Waverley Station...
, while the tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
service to Fulford
Fulford
Fulford is a historic village and civil parish on the outskirts of York, England. Situated to the south of the city, on the east bank of the River Ouse, it was the site of the 11th century Battle of Fulford...
had only a single track, meaning fans found it hard to reach the ground. During the ground's existence, bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
routes had not been fully developed and car ownership had yet to become common; it was not easy for the majority of supporters to reach.