Sports Comment: Nouse article for York Sport’s democracy hangs over Lacy

His piece in Nouse this week, however, seems to show that Lacy has learnt few lessons from his prior dressing down, and his ruthless pursual of the Lacy Leviathan continuous unabashed; whether Sports clubs like it or not.

President Lacy makes clear his vision for York's sport clubs

Upon casting my eye over this week’s Nouse I was reminded of Hubert Humphrey’s assertion that “The right to be heard does not automatically include the right to be taken seriously”. The motions of a universal logo and coloured kits were ferociously opposed by club presidents a fortnight ago yet this appears to have been ignored by Lacy. I am sure the final two paragraphs of his piece drew collective gasps across campus.

In an impetuous tone Lacy describes the forum as “pretty unpleasant” and “the open discussion pretty grim”, which is far from my own experience. There is nothing sinister about presidents passionately protecting the interests of their clubs and Lacy had better get used to such criticism. The animation of discussion was triggered by the shock of presidents that a vote was tabled before they had been consulted.

He asserts that the outcome of the forum was that “All the clubs are moving to black and gold playing kit” and secondly “All clubs will have the same logo”, the complete opposite of the consensus actually reached. Whether deliberate or accidental this is a misrepresentation of clubs’ opinion, which Nouse readers who were not at the meeting will take as truth. Statements like these give another worrying example of the authoritarianism at the top of York Sport.

Club presidents have been left bemused by the contradiction of Lacy’s dictatorial tone in his Nouse piece as opposed to the more conciliatory tone of the aforementioned forum. York’s rowing club would be hit hard by Lacy’s proposals and President Hugh Pryce was condemnatory of Lacy’s words. Pryce claims “He (Lacy) needs to pay a lot more attention to clubs. I was happy after the forum as I believed he was doing just that, but he was all too happy to mention that he doesn't actually have to consult the clubs at all and just do what he likes”.

The surprise at Lacy’s abrasive change of tact was shared by Cricket President Andrew Emmerson who commented that “behind a computer screen he is willing to put his neck on the line”, clearly displaying the growing desire for direct consultation with clubs over such important changes.

The issue of collectivity under the York Sport banner appears integral to Lacy who demanded that “it’s high time clubs expressed some pride in that.” Expressing pride in York Sport would be similar to England’s footballers being proud to represent the FA, or their cricketers proudly playing for the ECB. No matter how much he wishes it, clubs will not pledge allegiance to the Lacy Leviathan over their team mates and their University.

For me the article sets up an impending clash between Lacy’s desire for a legacy and the democratic nature of York Sport. In the debate over these contentious motions, Lacy is relying on the votes of smaller clubs who won’t be affected by the kit and logo changes to force them through, as in the one club one vote system the wishes of Rugby and Football have as much say as Kendo or Octopush. This continued feud has become more important than kits and logos. It has begun to jeopardise the democratic functions that bind York’s sports clubs together in letting them have a say in their own future.

I for one hope the clubs, and democracy, win out and stop the Lacy Leviathan in its tracks.

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