The former Lowfields school playing fields were the location for a football gala today organised by the Woodthorpe Wanderers FC.

Teams had travelled from all over the region including one from Middlesbrough.

The same playing fields are under threat after the York Council’s Housing department made a bid to include them in the redevelopment plans for the site.

Previously the intention had been to develop only the “footprint” of the former school buildings.

The attempt to develop the whole of the site is being resisted by officials working on the Councils new “Local Plan”.

The older persons village –which was scheduled to be completed on the site last year – has not even got planning permission yet so it will be 2016 before any buildings are occupied.

That will be at least 3 years behind the original schedule.