Fulfordgate

Infobox Stadium
stadium_name = Fulfordgate
nickname =


caption =
fullname = Fulfordgate
location = York, North Yorkshire
coordinates =
broke_ground =
built =
opened = 1922
renovated =
expanded =
closed =
demolished = 1932
owner = York City F.C.
operator = York City F.C.
surface = Grass
construction_cost =
architect =
project_manager =
main_contractors =
former_names =
tenants =
York City F.C. (1922–1932)

seating_capacity =
dimensions =

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, 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.

History

Following York City's formation in 1922, eight acres of land were purchased for £2,000 in Heslington Lane, Fulfordgate, York.cite book
last = Batters
title = York City: A Complete Record 1922-1990
pages = p114 ] This was in the south-east of the city in what was a rural setting, which was surrounded by hawthorn hedges and was well drained, on land known as Gate Fulford, which was reversed to be 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.cite book
last = Batters
title = York City The Complete Record
pages = p16 ] 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.cite book
last = Batters
title = York City: A Complete Record 1922-1990
pages = p15 ] When the club applied for admission to the Football League in 1927, they said 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 spectators. 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 Mr. G.W. Halliday was convinced that 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.cite book
last = Batters
title = York City: A Complete Record 1922-1990
pages = p114–116 ] A special meeting of the shareholders 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.cite book
last = Batters
title = York City: A Complete Record 1922-1990
pages = p116 ] cite book
last = Batters
title = York City: A Complete Record 1922-1990
pages = p117 ] It was pointed out by Mr. Halliday that within a one-mile radius of Bootham Crescent the population was 30,000, whereas it was only 3,000 for a similar radius. The directors were satisfied that the new ground would fulfill all requirements, although there was some oppostion to the move. Following much discussion, the decision was decided by a vote, which resulted in a majority of over three to one in favour of the move to Bootham Crescent.cite book
last = Batters
title = York City: A Complete Record 1922-1990
pages = p118 ] The site which held Fulfordgate was sold and developed as a building estate. Today, Eastward Avenue occupies the area where the ground once stood. [cite book
last=Inglis
title=The Football Grounds of England and Wales
pages=p108]

tructure and facilities

The stadium initially had no covered stands and the dressing-rooms consisted of an old army hut, but open stands were later bought from York Race Committee.cite web
title = City Database
url = http://www.yorkcitysouth.co.uk/xdb-bc011.htm
publisher = York City South
accessdate = 2008-02-29] The ground was gradually built up, improved and covered accommodation was available after two years. By 1927, new turnstiles were fitted and stronger fencing was built around the pitch, which reportedly made it more difficulat 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.

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 United play York in an FA Cup third round replay.cite book
last = Batters
title = York City: A Complete Record 1922-1990
pages = p300 ] The highest attendance in the Football League is 10,120 for a 2–0 defeat by Port Vale.cite book
last = Batters
title = York City The Complete Record
pages = p110 ] The record lowest attendance is 1,735 against New Brighton.cite book
last = Batters
title = York City: A Complete Record 1922-1990
pages = p298–302 ]

The highest seasonal average attendance at Fulfordgate whilst York were in the Football League was 5,279 in the 1929–30 season.cite book
last = Batters
title = York City: A Complete Record 1922-1990
pages = p298 ] ref label|Highest seasonal average attendance|A| The lowest seasonal average at the ground was 3,906 in the 1930–31 season.ref label|Lowest seasonal average attendance|B|

Transport

Fulfordgate was located in the south-east of York; away from the city centre. It was a good distance from the railway station, but the tram service to Fulford had only a single track, meaning fans found it hard to reach the ground.cite news
title = York City FC: history
url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/northyorkshire/content/articles/2005/09/15/york_city_history_sport_feature.shtml
publisher = BBC North Yorkshire
date = 2007-07-02
accessdate = 2008-02-29] During the ground's existence, bus routes had not been fully developed and car ownership was still a long way from becoming common; it was not easy for the majority of supporters to reach.

Footnotes

:A. note label|Highest seasonal average attendance|A| Calculated by adding the total home attendances (110,862), then dividing by the number of home games played (21).:B. note label|Lowest seasonal average attendance|B| Calculated by adding the total home attendances (82,029), then dividing by the number of home games played (21).

References

;General
*Cite book
title = York City: A Complete Record 1922-1990
first = Dave
last = Batters
publisher = The Breedon Books Publishing Company Limited
year = 1990
isbn= 0907969690
*Cite book
title = York City The Complete Record
first = David
last = Batters
publisher = The Breedon Books Publishing Company Limited
year = 2008
isbn= 9781859836330
*Cite book
title = The Football Grounds of England and Wales
first = Simon
last = Inglis
authorlink=Simon Inglis
publisher = Collins Willow
year = 1983
isbn= 0-0021-8024-3

;Specific