Paul Outhwaite /
The Union Hotel

This domain name is owned and registered by Paul Outhwaite. For information on Harrogate Minstermen please e-mail harrogateminstermen@hotmail.com

Current Business Activity :      

The Union Hotel, Thistle Hill, Calcutt, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, HG5 8JL (01423 862084)

A traditional village inn offering delicious home cooked food, superb real ales and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

Visit our website at www.theunionknaresborough.co.uk

As a founder member of Harrogate Minstermen it was extremely disappointing to be described as disinterested and falling out of love with York City following a recent fixture by a new committee member. Despite resigning from the committee of Harrogate Minstermen a year ago to allow the branch to be maintained by people with the time to help the branch continue to flourish it is disappointing that disparaging remarks are being made so long after the event and following 7 years hard work, dedication, fundraising and fund providing from personal sources. However, personal opinions cannot be altered and I remain proud of my work for the branch. I sustained and supported the branch over an extended time period while inviting a new committee to form. Despite complaints being raised now by new members about the lack of a committee in the past, we always worked with a three person party operating the branch. At no time was anybody willing to join a committee despite numerous open invitations. Ultimately, I am disappointed at the directions that they now have chosen to follow and the comments that have been made.

It has been heartening to receive so many messages of goodwill and support from both current and past members of Harrogate Minstermen thanking me for the efforts to sustain a branch in the area and enquiring as to whether it would be possible to offer an unnofficial travel service to York City fixtures or in fact launch a new branch for a new era.

At this stage, my stance remains the same. Due to my work dedication I cannot become fully involved with operating a new branch either official or unnofficial. This is the same as my reasoning for handing over the running of Harrogate Minstermen.

Unofficial Travel

Currently, unofficial travel is unavailable as the minibus is being serviced and repaired following damage caused during the loan of the vehicle to Harrogate Minstermen. Parts replaced on the vehicle by Harrogate Minstermen due to wear and tear and depreciation during the miles covered through the season so far have since been stripped from the vehicle during the intermittent 15 hours where the vehicle was missing following the trip to Histon. This has left the vehicle unroadworthy.

Following the repairs if there is enough demand for a particular fixture the vehicle will be available. If you are interested in using the vehicle or travelling on unofficial transport please contact me - this applies to other groups of York City supporters (subject to availability)

Contact me for any further updates on the situation and whether the minibus will be running to certain fixtures this season. This will be operated on a not for profit basis as this would be on a match by match operation with no group to support in the long term.

Meanwhile, I believe travel is still being operated to most fixtures by Harrogate Minstermen who will be hiring vehicles match by match. Contact the group directly at harrogateminstermen@hotmail.com for information.