York City F.C. facts for kids
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| Full name | York City Football Club | |||
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| Nickname(s) | The Minstermen | |||
| Founded | 1922 | |||
| Ground | York Community Stadium | |||
| Capacity | 8,500 | |||
| Coordinates | 53°59′05″N 1°03′10″W / 53.98472°N 1.05278°W | |||
| Owner |
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| Co-chairs |
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| Manager | Adam Hinshelwood | |||
| League | National League North | |||
| 2018–19 | National League North, 12th of 22 | |||
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York City Football Club is a professional association football team. They are based in the city of York, North Yorkshire, England. The team is currently in the National League. This is the fifth level of English football.
The club started in 1922. For seven years, they played in non-League football. Then, they joined the Football League. York played in the lower divisions until 1959. That year, they were promoted for the first time. Their best run in the FA Cup was in 1954–55. They reached the semi-final against Newcastle United.
York moved between the third and fourth divisions. In the 1970s, they spent two seasons in the Second Division. York first played at Wembley Stadium in 1993. They won the Third Division play-off final there. In 2004, they left the Football League. This happened after they were relegated from the Third Division.
In 2011–12, York won their first national knockout competition, the FA Trophy. They returned to the Football League that season. However, they were relegated back to non-League football in 2016.
York's nickname is the Minstermen. This comes from York Minster, a famous cathedral. The team usually wears red kits. They played at Fulfordgate from 1922 to 1932. Then, they moved to Bootham Crescent. This was their home for 88 years. In 2021, they moved to their current home, the York Community Stadium. York has rivalries with other clubs. Their main rivals are Hull City and Scarborough.
The player with the most games for York is Barry Jackson. He played 539 matches. The top goal scorer is Norman Wilkinson. He scored 143 goals.
Contents
Club History: How York City Started and Grew
Early Years: Joining the Football League (1922–1946)
York City Football Club was formed in May 1922. They joined the Midland League. In their first two seasons, they finished 19th. They also entered the FA Cup for the first time. York played in the Midland League for seven seasons. Their best finish was sixth place.
In 1927, the club tried to join the Football League. They were not successful that time. But two years later, in June 1929, they made it! They joined the Football League's Third Division North.
York won their first Football League match 2–0 against Wigan Borough. They finished sixth in their first season. In 1932–33, they almost had to leave the league. But they won their last match and stayed.
In the 1937–38 FA Cup, York did very well. They beat two top-division teams. They drew 0–0 with Huddersfield Town in the sixth round. They lost the replay 2–1. York was close to getting promoted in 1937–38. But their form dropped at the end. When World War II started in 1939, they played in special wartime competitions. In 1942, they won the Combined Counties Cup.
Post-War Era: Cup Runs and Promotions (1946–1981)
Regular football returned in 1946–47. York finished in the middle of the table for three seasons. But in 1949–50, they finished last. They had to ask to stay in the league.
In 1952–53, York aimed for promotion. They finished fourth, setting new club records. Their longest cup run was in the 1954–55 FA Cup. They reached the semi-final. Arthur Bottom scored eight goals in this run. York drew 1–1 with Newcastle United at Hillsborough. They lost the replay 2–0 at Roker Park. York was the first third-tier club to play in an FA Cup semi-final replay.
In 1957–58, York finished 13th. This made them one of the first teams in the new Fourth Division. In 1958–59, they almost finished second. But they were promoted for the first time, in third place. They were relegated after just one season in the Third Division.
York's best run in the League Cup was in 1961–62. They reached the fifth round. They lost 2–1 to Rochdale. York was promoted again in 1964–65. But they were relegated again after one season. They had to ask to stay in the league for three years in a row. In 1970–71, they were promoted for the fourth time.
In 1973–74, York had a great season. They were promoted to the Second Division for the first time! Their highest-ever league position was fifth in October 1974. They finished 1974–75 in 15th place. But the next season, they were relegated back to the Third Division. They dropped even further, to the Fourth Division, in 1976–77. They had to ask to stay in the league several more times.
Modern Era: Ups and Downs (1981–Present)
In 1981–82, York had a tough time at home. But in 1983–84, they won the Fourth Division championship! They were the first Football League team to get over 100 points in a season.
In January 1985, York beat Arsenal 1–0 in the FA Cup. This was a big win against a top team. They then drew 1–1 with European Cup winners Liverpool. But they lost the replay 7–0. This was York's biggest cup defeat. They met Liverpool again the next season. After another draw, Liverpool won 3–1.
York was promoted to the Second Division in 1992–93. They won the play-offs at Wembley. They beat Crewe Alexandra in a penalty shoot-out. The next season, they reached the Second Division play-offs. But they lost to Stockport County.
In 1995–96, York beat Premier League champions Manchester United in the League Cup. They won the first game 3–0 at Old Trafford. Even with a stronger team, United couldn't catch up. York then beat Everton in the League Cup the next season.
In 1998–99, York was relegated from the Second Division. In 2001, the club was put up for sale. In 2002, a new owner took over. But the club faced financial problems. The Supporters' Trust (ST) bought the club in 2003. In 2003–04, York finished last in the Third Division. They were relegated to the Football Conference. This ended their 75 years in the Football League.
York almost got relegated again in 2004–05. But they reached the play-off semi-final in 2006–07. They lost to Morecambe. In 2009, York played in the 2009 FA Trophy final at Wembley Stadium. They lost 2–0 to Stevenage Borough. They reached another play-off final in 2010 but lost to Oxford United.
Two years later, York won their first national cup. They beat Newport County 2–0 in the 2012 FA Trophy final at Wembley. A week later, they were promoted back to the Football League! They beat Luton Town 2–1 in the 2012 Conference Premier play-off final. This ended their eight-year absence.
York stayed in the Football League for four years. But in 2015–16, they finished last in League Two. They were relegated back to the National League. In 2016–17, they were relegated again to the National League North. However, they won the 2017 FA Trophy final at Wembley, beating Macclesfield Town 3–2.
The club was promoted back to the National League in 2021–22. They won the play-offs, beating Boston United 2–0. In July 2022, the Supporters' Trust took full ownership. Then, they transferred 51% of the shares to businessman Glen Henderson.
Club Identity: Nicknames, Kits, and Crests
York City is known as "the Minstermen." This name refers to York Minster, a famous cathedral in the city. It's thought a journalist came up with the name during a successful cup run. It became official in 1972. Before that, they were called "the Robins" because of their red shirts. During their 1954–55 FA Cup run, they were also called "the Happy Wanderers."
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| The original kit colours worn in the 1922–23 season |
For most of their history, York has worn red shirts. But in their first season (1922–23), their kit was maroon shirts, white shorts, and black socks. They wore maroon and white striped shirts for three years in the mid-1920s. Then, the maroon shirts returned. In 1933, York changed to chocolate and cream stripes. This was a nod to York's chocolate industry. After four years, they switched to "distinctive red shirts." This was because the striped jerseys often clashed with other teams' kits.
York kept wearing red shirts. But from 1967 to 1969, they wore all-white kits. In 1969, they went back to maroon shirts with white shorts. When they were promoted in 1974, a big white "Y" was added to the shirts. These were known as the "Y-fronts." Red shirts returned in 1978, with navy blue shorts. In 2004, they used plain red and white. In 2008, they introduced a mostly navy kit. For 2007–08, they had a light blue third kit. A purple kit was worn for one match in the 2009 FA Trophy final. Red shirts came back in 2010 and have been worn with different colored shorts.
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When the club started, York used the city's coat of arms as their crest. It only appeared on shirts from 1950 to 1951. In 1959, a new crest was made. It was a shield with York Minster, the White Rose of York, and a robin. This crest was never on the shirts. From 1969 to 1973, shirts had the letters "YCFC." From 1974 to 1978, the "Y-fronts" shirts had a special badge. It combined the "Y" and "C" letters. In 1978, a new crest appeared on the shirts. It showed Bootham Bar, two lions, and the club name. In 1983, this was updated with colors.
In 2002, when a new owner took over, the crest changed. It showed "York City Soccer Club" and a checkered flag. After one year, the club went back to "York City Football Club." A new logo was chosen by supporters. It has five lions. Four are navy blue on a white Y-shape. The background is red, with the fifth lion in white.
Tables of kit suppliers and shirt sponsors are below:
| Kit suppliers | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dates | Supplier | |
| 1975–1976 | Umbro | |
| 1976–1982 | Admiral | |
| 1982–1983 | Le Coq Sportif | |
| 1983–1987 | Hobott | |
| 1987–1988 | Rodsport | |
| 1989–1991 | ABC Sport | |
| 1991–1995 | Cavendish Sports | |
| 1995–2001 | Admiral | |
| 2001–2003 | Own brand | |
| 2003–2017 | Nike | |
| 2017–2018 | Avec | |
| 2018–2021 | Under Armour | |
| 2021–2024 | Puma | |
| 2024–present | Hummel | |
| Shirt sponsors | |
|---|---|
| Dates | Sponsor |
| 1981–1983 | Newitt's |
| 1984 | Hansa |
| 1984 | Cameron's |
| 1985–1990 | Hansa |
| 1990–1991 | Flamingo Land |
| 1991–2001 | Portakabin |
| 2001–2003 | York Evening Press |
| 2003–2005 | Phoenix Software |
| 2005–2009 | CLP Industries |
| 2009–2012 | Pryers Solicitors |
| 2012–2019 | Benenden Health |
| 2019–2023 | JM Packaging |
| 2023–present | Titan Wealth Holdings |
Club Grounds: Where York City Plays
Fulfordgate: York's First Home
York City's first home ground was Fulfordgate. It was in Fulford, south-east of York. The ground wasn't ready for their first two home games. So, they played those matches at Mille Crux. Their first game at Fulfordgate was a 4–1 win on September 20, 1922.
Fulfordgate slowly got better. New seating and covered areas were added. By 1929, when York joined the Football League, it could hold 17,000 fans. But fewer people came to games in later years. The club thought this was because of the ground's location. In 1932, York decided to move to Bootham Crescent. This new spot was closer to the city center.
Bootham Crescent: A Long-Time Home
Bootham Crescent was updated in the summer of 1932. New stands and terraces were built. The ground officially opened on August 31, 1932. York drew 2–2 with Stockport County in front of 8,106 fans. Tom Mitchell scored the first goal there.
In its early years, Bootham Crescent had some issues. Attendance wasn't always higher than at Fulfordgate. The pitch quality was also questioned. In March 1938, the ground set its record attendance. 28,123 people watched York play Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup. The ground was slightly damaged during World War II. Improvements were made after the war, like concreting terraces.
York bought Bootham Crescent for £4,075 in September 1948. More improvements were made in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Floodlights were added in 1959. They were turned on for a friendly game against Newcastle United. The floodlights were updated in 1980. A gym was built in 1981. New offices and a lounge were added in 1983.
In the early 1980s, part of the Grosvenor Road End was closed due to cracks. This area was later used for away fans. Many improvements were made in the mid-1980s. These included new turnstiles and updated changing rooms. The David Longhurst Stand was built in 1991. It was named after a York player who sadly died a year earlier. This stand gave covered seating for fans. New, stronger floodlights were installed in 1995.
In 1999, York no longer owned Bootham Crescent. It was transferred to a holding company. The club's lease was set to expire. In March 2003, York extended the lease. The Supporters' Trust planned to move to Huntington Stadium. But in February 2004, York bought Bootham Crescent back. They used a loan from the Football Stadia Improvement Fund.
The ground was renamed KitKat Crescent in 2005 due to a sponsorship deal. But most people still called it Bootham Crescent. The deal ended in 2010. The ground had not seen major updates since the 1990s. It had problems like holes in the roof and drainage issues.
York Community Stadium: The New Home
Because of the loan, York had to find a new stadium site by 2007. They also needed building permission by 2009. York couldn't meet these deadlines. In May 2008, the City of York Council announced plans. They would build a new community stadium. It would be for York City and the city's rugby league club.
In July 2010, they chose a site at Monks Cross. Construction started in December 2017. After some delays, it was finished in December 2020. The club moved into the stadium in January 2021. The first match was a 3–1 loss to AFC Fylde on February 16. This game was played without fans because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. The stadium has 8,500 seats.
Supporters and Rivalries
York City has several fan groups. These include the East Riding Minstermen and York City South. The Supporters' Trust is also a key group. A former group, Jorvik Reds, was known for their pre-match displays. The York Nomad Society is the club's hooligan firm.
For home matches, the club publishes a program called The Citizen. Fans have also created their own magazines, called fanzines. These include Terrace Talk and Y Front. The club's mascot is a lion named Yorkie the Lion. He performs funny acts before games. John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, became a club patron in 2007–08. He was a regular fan with a season ticket.
A 2003 survey showed that other teams didn't see York as a main rival. Traditionally, York's biggest rivals were Hull City and Scarborough. York fans saw Hull as their main rival. But Hull fans saw Leeds United as their biggest rival. York also had a rivalry with Halifax Town. A rivalry with Luton Town grew when both clubs were in the Conference. This included many important matches and some fan trouble.
Club Records and Statistics
Barry Jackson holds the record for most games played for York. He played 539 matches. He also played 428 league games. Norman Wilkinson is the club's top goalscorer. He scored 143 goals in total. Six other players have scored over 100 goals for the club.
The first York player to play for his country was Eamon Dunphy. He played for the Republic of Ireland in 1965. The player with the most international games for York is Peter Scott. He played seven times for Northern Ireland. Anthony Straker was the first York player to score in an international match. He scored for Grenada in 2015.
York's biggest win was 9–1 against Southport in 1957. Their heaviest loss was 12–0 to Chester City in 1936. In the FA Cup, their biggest win is by six goals. This happened five times. Their record FA Cup defeat was 7–0 to Liverpool in 1985.
The highest attendance at Fulfordgate was 12,721 in 1931. The lowest was 1,500 in 1925. At Bootham Crescent, the highest attendance was 28,123 in 1938. The lowest was 608 in 2008.
The highest fee York received for a player was £950,000 for Richard Cresswell in 1999. The most expensive player York bought was Adrian Randall for £140,000 in 1995. The youngest player to play for the club was Reg Stockill. He was 15 years and 281 days old in 1929. The oldest player was Paul Musselwhite. He played his last game at 43 years and 127 days old in 2012.
Players
First-team squad
Note: Flags show the national team as defined by FIFA eligibility rules. Players can have more than one non-FIFA nationality. Squad is correct as of November 19, 2024.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Nation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Harrison Male |  England |
| 2 | DF | Ryan Fallowfield (vice-captain) | England |
| 3 | DF | Adam Crookes | England |
| 4 | DF | Darragh O'Connor |  Ireland |
| 5 | DF | Callum Howe | England |
| 6 | MF | Paddy McLaughlin |  Northern Ireland |
| 7 | FW | Tyrese Sinclair | England |
| 8 | MF | Alex Hunt | England |
| 9 | FW | Dipo Akinyemi | England |
| 10 | FW | Ollie Pearce | England |
| 11 | FW | Ashley Nathaniel-George |  Antigua and Barbuda |
| 13 | GK | George Sykes-Kenworthy | England |
| 14 | FW | Lenell John-Lewis (club captain) | England |
| 15 | MF | Marvin Armstrong | England |
| 16 | GK | Rory Watson | England |
| 17 | FW | Callum Harriott |  Guyana |
| 18 | MF | Dan Batty | England |
| 20 | MF | Ricky Aguiar | England |
| 21 | DF | Cameron John | England |
| 23 | DF | Joe Felix | England |
| 25 | FW | Mo Fadera |  Gambia |
| 27 | FW | Alex Hernandez | England |
| 28 | DF | Malachi Fagan-Walcott (on loan from Cardiff City until end of 2024–25 season) | England |
| 29 | FW | Luca Thomas (on loan from Leeds United until 2 January 2025) | England |
| 30 | FW | David Ajiboye (on loan from Peterborough United until January 2025) | England |
| 31 | DF | Jeff King | England |
| — | MF | Zanda Siziba | England |
| No. | Pos. | Player | Nation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | FW | Leone Gravata (at Chippenham Town until January 2025) | England |
| 19 | FW | Billy Chadwick (at Boston United until December 2024) | England |
| 22 | DF | Levi Andoh (at Truro City until 2 January 2025) |  Netherlands |
| 24 | MF | Bill Marshall (at Morpeth Town until December 2024) | England |
| 26 | DF | Leon Gibson-Booth (at Morpeth Town until December 2024) | England |
| — | DF | Tyler Cordner (at Ebbsfleet United until end of 2024–25 season) | England |
| — | MF | Olly Dyson (at Spennymoor Town until 1 January 2025) | England |
| — | MF | Maziar Kouhyar (at Kidderminster Harriers until end of 2024–25 season) |  Afghanistan |
| — | DF | Thierry Latty-Fairweather (at Maidenhead United until January 2025) | England |
Former Players and Clubmen of the Year
Club Officials
Ownership
- 394 Sports (51%)
- York City Supporters' Society (25%)
- FB Sports (24%)
Board
- Co-chairs: Julie-Anne Uggla • Matthew Uggla
- Chief executive: Alastair Smith
- Director: James Daniels • Simon Young
Management and Backroom Staff
- Manager: Adam Hinshelwood
- Assistant manager: Gary Elphick
- First-team coaches: Tony McMahon • Cameron Morrison
- Sports scientist: Paul Harmston
- Goalkeeping coach: Joe Stead
- Kit & equipment manager: Andrew Turnbull
Former Managers
Club Honours: Trophies and Achievements
York City has won these awards:
League Titles
- Third Division (level 3)
- Promoted: 1973–74
- Fourth Division / Third Division (level 4)
- Champions: 1983–84
- Promoted: 1958–59, 1964–65, 1970–71
- Play-off winners: 1993
- Conference Premier (level 5)
- Play-off winners: 2012
- National League North (level 6)
- Play-off winners: 2022
Cup Wins
- FA Trophy
- Winners: 2011–12, 2016–17
- Runners-up: 2008–09
See also
In Spanish: York City Football Club para niños
