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On Friday (January 23) the first of four apartment buildings on the new housing development on the former Bootham Crescent football ground was officially named Mitchell House after the scorer of York City’s first ever goal at the old ground, Tom Mitchell.
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The Press has previously reported, that following submissions put forward by fans of the club, York based housebuilder Persimmon had the proposal formally approved by City of York Council and Royal Mail.
There are about 93 new homes being built on the site which includes four, three-storey apartment buildings.
As scorer of the club’s first ever goal at Bootham Crescent, Tom Mitchell has a special place in the hearts of York City supporters.
His granddaughter Carol Birdsall, who lives in Cliffe near Selby, was there on the day with three generations of Tom’s family including great and great great grandchildren.
“This means such a lot to us,” she said. “I’m just so overwhelmed that people voted for him. He was such a lovely person, a real gentleman and may be people have memories of him and that he loved York.”
Jan Suchecki, Carol’s son and Tom’s great grandson, who was there on the day with his family and used to be a referee said: “When I was a kid I used to tell people my great granddad scored City’s first ever goal – it’s something really special.”
Former York City Stadium Development Director Ian McAndrew and David Craven from York City Supporters’ Trust were among invited guests also there on the day.
Ian said: “Tom Mitchell was Mr Sport in York. I think naming some of the buildings after City legends is an important issue.”
“It’s important that the history of the site is held and that even though the stadium is gone the names live on,” said David.
The ground which opened in 1932, was the home of the Minstermen until the club’s final competitive match there in December 2020.
Born in County Durham, Mitchell played for Newcastle and Leeds United before joining York City in 1931.
Not long after in August 1932, he scored the inaugural City goal at Bootham Crescent in a match against Stockport County.
He retired from football in 1933, but returned in March 1937 as team manager, a role he would retain for a club-record 13 years. He oversaw the thrilling run to the FA Cup quarter finals in 1937/38, and after serving in the RAF during the war he returned to manage the club in the early years of peacetime. He resigned in 1950 to concentrate on his family business, sports shop Mitchell’s.
The club was never far from his thoughts, however, and he joined the board of directors in 1961, serving for eight years.
