Match Preview

When Saturday 9 December 2000, 3.00pm kick-off
Who and Where York City (Away, Bootham Crescent, FA CUP Round Two)
Ticket Info

There are no advance tickets available for this match - Reading fans can pay on the day for either terracing or seating within Bootham Crescent.
Terracing cost £8 for adults and £5 concessions.

If you're after a seat then admission will be available on the day for the following stands:
Main Stand: at £11 for adults and £7 for concessions.
Popular Stand: at £9 for adults and £6 for concessions.

Travel,
Food and Beer.
Probably the best way to get to Bootham Crescent is by train - assuming they're running to schedule. York train station is just a 15 walk away to the South of the ground and it's easy enough to take a small detour to take in a pub on the way. If you're going straight to the ground then a footpath runs alongside the railway line towards the ground.
By car you need to get onto the A64 and follow signposts to York. Stay on the A64 until you see signs for the A1237 (signposted North York). Eventually you'll end up on the A1237 and you can stay on there for a few miles until you cross the River Ouse. At the roundabout turn right onto the A19 towards York, stay on that road until the Burton Stone pub and turn off left for the ground.
There's a couple of car parks near the ground, and also some street parking.
Click here to get the latest travel information from the RAC

There's three or four pubs within close walking distance of the ground that'll let in away fans. The best bet might be the Burton Stone which you'll probably drive past if coming by car. It's on the corner of Burton Stone Lane. Further down this road you'll find the Corner House which welcomes away fans. For food it's probably worth the 20 minutes walk from the ground to The Maltings which is famous for it's beer and also does food on match days - it's back near the River Ouse. If you're coming by train then walk out of the station along Station Road and you'll find the pub on the right hand side of the road just before the river.

The ground is a "traditional" third Division ground. So you're not going to get the best food inside either - although it's not bad considering. Outside the ground there's a chippie close by, and also an Indian for a meal after the match.

Team news

York City signed Dundee United centre-back Darren Patterson on Monday on a three month contract. Last season's player of the year Christian Fox has resumed training for York but it's too early for him to feature in a first team game.
Meanwhile Reading fans will be interested to see if Darren Caskey starts on the pitch or on the bench after coming on as substitute last weekend. If Caskey starts then Igoe could well be on the bench. Ricky Newman will be available for selection which leaves Pardew with a choice of who to play as the two full backs. Robinson and Gurney both had good games on Saturday so Pardew may leave Newman on the bench.

Reading - from: Whitehead, Gurney, Viveash, Mackie, Robinson, Igoe, Smith, Jones, Caskey, Parkinson, Cureton, Butler, Hodges, Rougier, Hunter, Newman, Gray.

York City - from: Fettis, Edmondson, Potter, Hocking, Sertori, Bower; Bullock, Agnew, McNiven, Iwelumo, Mathie, Jordan, Alcide, Hulme, Tarrant, Patterson.

Form Guide

York City's mid-week game against Darlington in the LDV trophy first round was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. However the weather has improved since then and York are confident the game will be going ahead. The prediction for the weekend in York is cloudy with showers so we might well get away with playing the game.

Reading returned to winning ways last weekend with a decent enough 3-0 home victory over Cambridge United. The victory was enough to make the two consecutive league defeats before that seem distant enough. Away from home Reading were unlucky to lose 1-2 at Walsall on the 4th of November, but beat Bury away 2-0 at the end of October. York have had a mixed run of run in the league - improving slightly after an unimpressive start to the season. Last week they beat Shrewsbury 2-1 in the league, but before that they lost 1-3 at Kidderminster.

Reading won their first round tie 4-0 against Grays Athletic at the Madejski Stadium. York managed to do a similar thing - winning their FA Cup Round One tie with ease away at non-league Radcliffe Boro (played at Bury if I remember rightly). York took a 4-0 lead within 28 minutes and ended up 4-1 winners. York may have found that game easy enough but Reading will be a different matter - we're at least a division and a half above them:

The Royals are currently fifth in Division Two:
View Latest Second Division Table

York City are currently 18th in Division Three:
View Latest Third Division Table

Previous Meetings 

This is the first time the two sides have met in the FA Cup, but Reading have a good record against York City going back through history - The Royals winning 11 of our league meetings and York winning just the three.
Reading wins: 11
Draws: 6
York City wins: 3

Reading and York last met during the 1998/1999 season in Division Two before City were relegated to the third Division. Reading managing to take four points from the possible six during the two fixtures in that season:
23 January 1999: York City 1 Reading 1
4 November 1998: Reading 1 York City 0
Click on the result for match reports.

Match Odds

Available at William Hill, where you can get permanent tax free betting!
Reading are strong favourites for victory - the following are returns on a £1 bet:
Reading win: £1.72
Draw: £3.25
York win: £4.33

Predictions Reading to sneak through to round three by the odd goal.
What do you think?
You can enter your Prediction on-line within the Hob Nob Anyone? Prediction League - and also be in with the chance of winning up to £150 worth of Reading FC vouchers.
Opposition Site Red and Blue Net - Up-to-date unofficial website.
http://www.yorkcityfc.co.uk/

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