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Issue 071. March 9, 2019.
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The daily email newsletter serving York City fans since 1997

York City 0
Altrincham 1

York City 0 Altrincham 1

By Dave Flett

YORK City’s four-game winning streak ended with a 1-0 home defeat to promotion hopefuls Altrincham.

Josh Hancock scored the only goal of the game on 81 minutes to sink the Minstermen.

Earlier, Altrincham winger Yusifu Ceesay hit Adam Bartlett’s near post at the start of the second half after charging clear through the right channel with home pair Kallum Griffiths and David Mirfin having both misjudged the bounce of the ball in the wind.

Just before the hour, Scott Burgess then worked himself into some space in the away box and fired against Tony Thompson’s right-hand post from 12 yards.

But Hancock secured victory after John Johnston sent in a low cross from left.

Paddy McLaughlin then allowed the visitors’ number 10 space to flick the ball up and send a dipping shot into Adam Bartlett's top-right corner from 12 yards.

Winning sequence halted by 'Alty'

By Ian Appleyard

Josh Hancock's late goal ended City's bid for a fifth consecutive victory and gave Altrincham a league double.

Scott Burgess struck the woodwork for City and was denied in the first half by goalkeeper Tony Thompson.

Altrincham, who move up to sixth in Vanarama National League North, hit the woodwork just after the interval through Yusifu Ceesay.

The Minstermen had been seeking a fifth straight win to maintain their climb towards the play-off zone.

Defeat, however, leaves the club nine points adrift of seventh spot with eight games remaining.

Manager Steve Watson had recalled the fit-again David Mirfin after a facial injury with Hamza Bencherif dropping to the bench.

Goalscoring chances were thin on the ground in the first half although both sides missed gilt-edged opportunities to break the deadlock.

Burgess could have scored for City in the 18th minute after dispossessing defender Tom Hannigan 25 yards out.

The on-loan midfielder advanced into the penalty box only for his shot to strike the thigh of goalkeeper Thompson.

Neither Jordan Burrow nor Patrick McLaughlin were able to convert the loose ball in the subsequent scramble.

Hannigan should then have scored for Altrincham eleven minutes later but headed wide after arriving unmarked at the far post to meet a freekiock from Andy White.

City survived a second scare moments after the interval when Ceesay shot against the woodwork after the ball had bounced over Mirfin.

But City also hit the woodwork in the 59th minute when Burgess fired against the post with an angled drive from 12 yards.

The introduction of Jon Parkin for the final 30 minutes failed to bring about a goal although the veteran striker did have a decent effort ruled out for pushing his marker off the ball on the edge of the penalty area.

Altrincham midfielder Hancock settled the contest in the 81st minute with a spectacular strike past City goalkeeper Adam Bartlett.

Hancock, who also scored twice in November's 3-0 defeat Moss at Lane, collected a low cross from John Johnstone on the edge of the box and flicked the ball up before shooting into the top corner.

Team details

York City: Bartlett, Griffiths (Bencherif, 90), Mirfin, Newton, Ferguson, Moke, Burgess, McLaughlin, Moke (Harris, 57), York, Burrow, Kempster (Parkin, 62). Subs not used: Whitley, Law.

Altrincham: Thompson, White, Jones (Sass-Davies, 66), Hannigan, Hampson, Johnston, Moult, Williams, Hancock (Harrop, 90+2), Ceesay (Richman, 84), Hulme. Subs not used: Dolan, Densmore.

Goals: Hancock 81

Referee: John Matthews

Booked: McLaughlin (York), Moult, Harrop (Altrincham)

Attendance: 2,618 (including 249 away)

Weekend results

AFC Telford 1-3 FC United
Ashton United 0-2 Bradford PA
Brackley 1-0 Stockport County
Chester 1-1 Leamington 
Chorley 3-0 Kidderminster 
Curzon Ashton P-P Blyth Spartans 
Hereford 4-2 Darlington 
Nuneaton 1-2 Alfreton Town
Southport 2-3 Boston United
Spennymoor Town P-P Guiseley 
York City 0-1 Altrincham

League table

York City's latest result leaves the club in 12th position on the 22-team Vanarama National League (North) table. Clubs in positions 2-7 at the end of the regular season will qualify for the promotion play-offs while the first-placed club is automatically promoted. The bottom three clubs are automatically relegated. An updated table is available here.

Submit your views for publication by emailing the editor here.

York City legend Andy McMillan aims to save NHS thousands a day

By Dave Flett  

HE once tackled the likes of Ryan Giggs and Anders Limpar for the Minstermen, but Andy McMillan is now hoping to stop the city’s germs and bacteria in their tracks.

The York City legend is taking a break from football to concentrate on an exciting new business venture which it is estimated could save the NHS and UK tax-payers thousands of pounds a day.

As recently as the end of last month, a North Yorkshire Norovirus outbreak saw at least two wards closed at both York and Scarborough hospitals.

In January, meanwhile, restricted visiting was enforced for only the second time in York Hospital’s history because the safety of patients and staff was being endangered.

But, uniquely on these shores, McMillan’s BIODECOM company can have hospital wards reopened within 20 minutes of being decontaminated, rather than the minimum seven-day wait that is the norm.

Explaining the potentially revolutionary process, the former City full-back, who is placed second behind Barry Jackson on the club’s all-time appearance list, said: “We go into hospitals, nursing homes, care homes, nurseries and schools and kill off any germs, viruses and bugs.

“We can totally eradicate MRSA and the Norovirus in one visit, because the difference between our method and that of other companies operating in this country is that we can validate the work. We do this with Protak Scientific strips, which are put up in the corners of rooms and, after the machinery has been set up and doors sealed, you get a reading off them that proves nothing has survived in the room and patients can be moved back into the ward straight away.

“Nobody else is doing that in the UK. The existing method is to put down a biological plate for seven days to see whether there is any growth.

“That plate might not come back clean and the period of time that the ward is shut is then extended. There’s also another technique that’s known as “spray-and-pray” and I know what it’s like when you think you’ve cleaned your own kitchen surfaces and it’s incredible what’s still on them.

“But we can give customers complete satisfaction that rooms are sterile within 20 minutes of coming out of the room and the work can take from ten minutes to an hour depending on room size. In care homes, you sometimes get an odour too and we can eradicate that so it doesn’t come back, while other methods can just mask it for a while. Our method is being used by nearly every hospital and care home in America and it’s massive in the pharmaceutical industry.”

McMillan – City’s 1990s favourite who is now 50 – has already held discussions with the City of York Council and York Hospital regarding a possible future working partnership and also has a meeting with the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust lined up.

“We’re looking for different contracts with various different hospitals and care homes and I’m hoping we should soon be inundated with work,” McMillan added.

The South Africa-born, former Tottenham trialist has now left his most recent job in football, overseeing the i2i’s International Soccer Academy at York St John’s University – a role that he combined with being assistant manager to Chris Moyles at Alfreton Town for a short period before the pair left their positions at the end of last season.

When this chance then presented itself, McMillan felt the timing was right for a career switch.

“I wanted to do something different and a very close friend of mine asked me what I thought of this product,” he pointed out. “We had three or four meetings and decided to do it.

“There are three of us that have put money into the company and we’ve bought the machinery, trained the staff and have offices in London and Haxby. That’s all been expensive, but you have to invest to get it right.

“I’m the managing director and the other two guys have businesses of their own, so I’ve been busy getting it up and running over the last three months. I started by reading ‘Microbiology for Dummies’, and now I know all sorts.

“When I finished playing football, I did a business management degree and had my own aggregate business, whilst I was doing my coaching badges, so I know a bit about running companies and I enjoy challenges, so this is a fresh one. I’ll probably go back into football if this takes off and can work on its own but, if it takes a couple of years, I’ll stick at it.”

McMillan played 492 times for City between 1987 and 1999 before ending his professional career as a player during a brief spell in Scotland with Ayr United.

He went on to coach at academy level with City, Hull, Lincoln, Barnet, Notts County and Grimsby, prior to his stint with the seniors at Alfreton.

While not ruling out a return to the game, though, McMillan has admitted he has grown a little disillusioned with the politics and cut-throat nature of the industry, declaring: “I’m pleased to see players who I’ve worked with doing well like Ben Godfrey at Norwich, Jamal Lowe with Portsmouth and Elliott Johnson at Barnet, but the academy system has changed from when I went into it in 2002.

“There are politics involved and clubs hoard players because they’re scared of making mistakes. Football’s also a cut-throat industry and that’s getting worse and worse now.

“There’s no security. We went in at Alfreton and did a really good job but were then told they would be cutting the budget, so we left, only for them to quadruple it when the new manager went in!

“I’m glad to get out of it really and my wife says I’m a different man. I can also spend more time following my sons’ careers. I can visit Alex in Sweden, where he’s playing now, when I want and watch Max train and play for Leeds under-18s.”

SEAN Newton is the early leader of The Press Player of the Month contest for March.

The 30-year-old utility man won our man-of-the-match award for the 1-0 win at Leamington to collect three points towards the standings.

He also received the two bonus points available to the player who received the most man-of-the-match votes from our Twitter poll.

The other Press points went to Alex Kempster (two) and Hamza Bencherif (one) as out second and third-highest rated performers respectively.

The Press Player of the Year standings: Bartlett 27, Burrow 27, Griffiths 24, Wright 14, Newton 13, Moke 11, York 11, Ferguson 9, Heslop 9, Penn 9, Tait 9, Bray 8, Kempster 7, Parkin 6, Langstaff 5, Mirfin 5, Allan 4, Bencherif 4, Burgess 4, Davis 4, Agnew 3, Digie 3, Dyer 3, Harris 3, Law 3, McLaughlin 3, Hawkins 2, McAughtrie 1, Parslow 1.

The Press Player of the Month standings for March: Newton 5, Kempster 2, Bencherif 1.

Goals: Burrow 17, Langstaff 5, Wright 5, Kempster 4, Newton 4, Bencherif 3, Parkin 3, York 3, Ferguson 2, Harris 2, Moke 2, Tait 2, Bray 1, Burgess 1, Griffiths 1, Hawkins 1, Heslop 1.

Assists: Burrow 10, Harris 6, Ferguson 4, Langstaff 4, Law 4, Wright 4, Parkin 3, Bray 3, Griffiths 3, York 3, Bartlett 2, Allan 1, Agnew 1, Bencherif 1, Digie 1, Dyer 1, Hawkins 1, Heslop 1, Kempster 1, McLaughlin 1, Newton 1, Tait 1.

Discipline: Wright eight yellow cards; Heslop seven yellow; Moke, Newton both six yellow; Bencherif five yellow; Griffiths, four yellow; Tait one red, two yellow; Davis three yellow; Ferguson, Law both two yellow; Penn one red, one yellow; Bray one red; Allan, Burgess, Hawkins, Kempster, Langstaff, McAughtrie, York all one yellow.

Please check the club's official website before planning travel.
Pre-season fixtures:

July
Sat 7: Shildon 1, York City 2
Tue 10: York City 1, Barnsley 7
Sat 14: York City 1, Bradford City 0
Thu 19: York City 1, Leeds United 1 
Fri 27: Ilkeston Town 1, York City 6

Vanarama National League (North) fixtures unless otherwise stated:

August
Sat, Aug 4 Chorley 1, York City 0
Tue, Aug 7 York City 1, Stockport County 0
Sat, Aug 11 York City 1, Alfreton Town 2
Tue, Aug 14 Ashton United 0, York City 2
Sat, Aug 18 York City 1, Curzon Ashton 1
Sat, Aug 25 Brackley Town 0, York City 0
Mon, Aug 27 York City 2, Blyth Spartans 0

September
Sat, Sep 1 Hereford 1, York City 1
Sat, Sep 15 York City 0, Kidderminster Harriers 3
Sat, Sep 22 York City 5, Ashton Athletic 0 (Emirates FA Cup 2Q)
Sat, Sep 29 York City 4, Guiseley 2

October
Tue, Oct 2 Nuneaton Borough 2, York City 2
Sat, Oct 6 York City 3, St Ives Town 0 (Emirates FA Cup 3Q)
Sat, Oct 13 Southport 1, York City 2
Sat, Oct 20 Blyth Spartans 0, York City 1 (Emirates FA Cup 4Q)
Sat, Oct 27 AFC Telford United 2. York City 1
Tue, Oct 30 Spennymoor Town 3, York City 0

November
Sat, Nov 3 York City 1, Bradford Park Avenue 4
Sat Nov 10 Swindon Town 2, York City 1 (Emirates FA Cup 1)
Tue, Nov 13 York City 0, Chester 0
Sat, Nov 17 Altrincham 3, York City 0)
Sat, Nov 24 Kidderminster Harriers 1, York City 3 (Buildbase FA Trophy 3Q)

December
Sat, Dec 1 York City 2, FC United Of Manchester 0
Tue, Dec 4 York City 2, Leamington 2
Sat, Dec 8 Boston United 2, York City 0
Sat, Dec 15 Harrogate Town 2, York City 1 (Buildbase FA Trophy 1)
Sat Dec 22 York City 2, Brackley Town 1
Wed, Dec 26 Darlington 5, York City 1
Sat, Dec 29 Blyth Spartans 2, York City 1

January
Tue, Jan 1 York City 4, Darlington 0
Sat, Jan 5 Curzon Ashton 1, York City 0
Tue, Jan 15 York City 6, Redcar 1 (North Riding Cup)
Sat, Jan 19 Stockport County 3, York City 1
Sat, Jan 26 York City 1, Chorley 4

February
Sat, Feb 2 Alfreton Town 2, York City 3
Tue, Feb 5 York City 1, Hereford 2
Sat Feb 9 York City 2, Ashton United 0
Sat, Feb 16 Kidderminster Harriers 1, York City 2
Sat Feb 23 York City 2, Nuneaton Borough 0

March
Sat Mar 2 Leamington 0, York City 1
Tue Mar 5 Scarborough Athletic 3, York City 0 (on penalties) (semi-final North Riding Senior Cup)
Sat Mar 9 York City 0, Altrincham 1
Sat, Mar 16 FC United Of Manchester (A) 
Sat, Mar 23 Boston United (H) 
Sat Mar 30 Guiseley (A)

April
Sat, Apr 6 Southport (H) 
Sat Apr 13 Chester (A)
Fri, Apr 19 Spennymoor Town (H)
Mon, Apr 22 Bradford Park Avenue (A)
Sat, Apr 27 AFC Telford United (H)
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About TOOAB

There’s Only One Arthur Bottom was first published as an almost-daily email newsletter in July 1997 and has been distributed continuously since. Subscriber numbers peaked at more than 1,100 when the club’s future was threatened by potential closure in 2001 but more than 800 subscribers, living in more than 30 countries, will receive this edition. Editor Josh Easby started the newsletter from New Zealand (where he lives today) but has variously produced and distributed it from the United Kingdom, Australia and (briefly) Italy.
 
Over the years, TOOAB subscribers have variously supported the club in many different ways, using the newsletter at times to share ideas that have helped the club and to raise money which has been used to buy much-needed equipment (for the physio room), sponsor members of the youth team and to sponsor senior players’ kit. Subscribers (who often call themselves ‘Arthurites’) often meet up for pre-match/post-match drinks and have arranged functions together.

Editorial policy

The opinions expressed in There's Only One Arthur Bottom do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher, nor is this newsletter endorsed in any way by York City Football Club.  Wherever possible, the contributions by subscribers are published unaltered.  However submissions will be rejected or amended if they are potentially defamatory or contain language likely to offend other subscribers. Unless good reasons are given, anonymous submissions are rejected. The publisher reserves the right to reproduce contributions to this newsletter on any website associated with the newsletter.



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