York City fans brought today’s game to a halt for several minutes – by throwing dozens of tennis balls onto the pitch.
The fans in the South Stand waited till there was a break in play at the other end then pelted the penalty area with the balls.
One fan then ran onto the pitch before being chased back into the crowd by a steward.
It was a protest calling on the board – and club chairman Jason McGill – to resign. Chants rang out including “We want Jason out” and “We want our club back”.
The referee stopped the match and took the players off the pitch while the protest took place. Stewards then cleared the tennis balls from the pitch and the game continued.
It happened on the day which set a new record attendance for the LNER Community Stadium – 4,512 – after the club reduced all adult tickets to £5 and let children in free.
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Jason McGill was also seen at the match – a rarity in recent matches.
There was some anger earlier when it became clear there would not be a minute’s silence or applause for Rob McGill, a fan for more than 60 years and a former director of the club.
He was Jason’s father and, with his sister Sophie, stepped down from the board in 2016 amid reports of a rift within the family.
City drew the game with Chorley 1-1 – a gutsy display as they played most of the match with ten men after Matty Brown was sent off on 33 minutes.