They looked too good to be true – and it turns out they were.
The Banksy-style street art that supposedly appeared in and around the club’s Bootham Crescent ground was actually some clever Photoshop work by Dan Simmonite, York City’s press officer.
And now he’s raised his hands to the prank – and put the prints up for sale to raise money for the York Teaching Hospital Charity.
While the media were in lockdown Dan posed as street photographer Christopher Etinomis – and sent us a series of ‘photographs’ showing stencilled artworks linked to York City in and around the Bootham Crescent ground.
We shared them and they got a lot of love and interest across the city,
But the art never actually appeared outside of his computer – and now he’s come clean about his prank.
And he’s auctioning the prints off on ebay here, with all funds raised going to York Teaching Hospital Charity.
The confession
Dan Simmonite writes:
As many people know everyone at York City FC have been furloughed since April 1st.
I’ve been bored out of my mind during this time so I decided to have a little fun and try to convince the people of York that we had Banksy murals appear at Bootham Crescent with help from Photoshop.
It was always my plan to add a charitable angle to this if it took off and I’ve ordered one of a kind canvases of the photographs to sell individually via an auction. 100% of the proceeds will go towards the York Teaching Hospital Charity.
At the moment it’s raised over £300 in just an hour.
Like actual Banksy, the photos have a bit of meaning to them and the NHS one is actually my girlfriend’s face Photoshopped onto Yorkie’s body. She is a nurse at the hospital and alongside her colleagues is doing a fantastic job during this pandemic.
I thought it was a nice gesture to make and I’d like to donate a canvas to the hospital to hang up as well.
I hope this gave some people a distraction from what is happening in the world at the moment with a bit of light-hearted humour. It’s important to stay positive during this time and I’m glad it wasn’t taken too seriously.
Bootham Crescent is still alive and kicking and I’m excited to get back to work soon and help give it the send off it deserves. Hopefully in the National League.