York Knights agree to share York City's community stadium

York Knights will share the ground with York City, it has been announced

York's rugby league club will share a ground with the city's football team at its new £37m home.

York City Knights said the move to York City FC's new 8,000 capacity stadium at Huntington was a "significant milestone" for the club.

The news marks the end of fraught negotiations between York Council and the rugby side over the new venue.

The authority said signing the new agreement was a "major step forward" for the project.

'Positive'

Club coach James Ford said the new training ground would help the players improve.

He said: "It can't be anything but positive to get those facilities and it won't take long before the evidence is in the performance."

Last month it was announced the new site would not be finished until part way through the 2016-17 football season.

Work on the Jockey Lane site was expected to start in June but the council said it was still finalising contracts.

Following the announcement earlier, Councillor Nigel Ayre said: "We're sure sporting fans will join us in marking this significant moment, which will ensure the long-term viability of the club and enhance the success of their current community coaching and engagement programmes here in York."

Both teams will play at York City's ground at Bootham Crescent until the new stadium is complete.