York City F.C.
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| Full name | York City Football Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | The Minstermen, Yorkies | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Founded | 1922 (or 1903)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | KitKat Crescent York |
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| Capacity | 9,600 (3,571 seated) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman |  Jason McGill |
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| Manager |  Billy McEwan |
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| League | Conference National | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005-06 | Conference National, 8th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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York City Football Club are an English football club founded in 1922 and are based in York, North Yorkshire. The club has spent much of its history in The Football League, rising on occasion as far as the old Second Division. However, since 2004 they have been playing in the Conference National.
They have enjoyed more success in cup competitions, with highlights including an FA Cup semi-final appearance in 1955. Without doubt, City's most unlikely and most celebrated result came in the second round of the 1995/96 Coca-Cola Cup, with a 3-0 away drubbing of Manchester United, who went on to win the FA Cup and Premiership double that season.
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[edit] History
Some sources state the roots of York City Football Club can be traced back as far back as 1897 when the York and District League was formed as association football was beginning to gather popularity.[2]
In the City of York, there was a team named York City Football Club who were founded in 1903.[3] They first joined the Northern League in 1908 and played there for two seasons, before leaving to form the Yorkshire Combination (a proto-Yorkshire League). The club turned professional in 1912 and joined the Midland League. The team played in the Midland League for three seasons, rising as high as tenth position. They played their final season in 1914-15 as World War I was upon the nation, the club was folded in 1917 during the war.[4].
For reasons unknown, this part of York City's history is rarely acknowledged, the club themselves state the founding date as 1922, even though the men who re-founded the club in 1922 were involved with the original York City.
[edit] Refounding: FA Cup semi-finalists
The club was re-founded in 1922 by members of the former club who founded a limited company and gained admission to the Midland League. They played in the Midland League for seven seasons, finishing as high as sixth, during both 1924-25 and 1926-27.[5]
The club was elected to the national Football League in 1929. They played originally at Fulfordgate, before moving to their present home of Bootham Crescent, in 1932. This ground would be later re-branded "KitKat Crescent", in late 2004.
City spent 29 years of their history in Division Three North, from 1929-30 to 1957-58 including the years in which World War II took place where the league was postponed. The club didn't begin to end their seasons very high up the table until the 1950s, they reached fourth in both 1952-53 and 1954-55 seasons.
In the cup competitions the club fared better, and built a reputation for "giant killing". This can be traced back to the 1937/38 season FA Cup tournament, the club were playing in the Football League Third Division at the time, but managed to knock out first division West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough, before meeting Huddersfield Town in the quarter-final, City drew the quarter-final 0-0 but went out after losing the replay 2-1 at Leeds Road.[6]
Perhaps the club's biggest achievement came when they reached the FA Cup semi-final in the 1954/55 season. A campaign in which Arthur Bottom scored 8 goals for the club, and the team disposed of a Blackpool side which featured Stanley Matthews.[7] After drawing 1-1 against Newcastle United in the semi-final, York took Newcastle to a replay; a match in which City were eventually defeated 2-0.
York City became founding members of Football League Fourth Division as Division Three North and South were merged. During the leagues formative season City missed out on the runner-up due to goal average, they were however promoted to Division Three.
[edit] Division Yo-Yoing: 1960s, 1970s
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After their first season in Division Three they were relegated straight back down. They spent the next four seasons in Division Four, before being promoted in the mid-1960s but they were relegated straight back down again after only one season.
This time they stayed in Division Four for five seasons before being promoted in the early-1970s. This time City stayed up, and were promoted in the 1973-74 season to Division Two. This was the highest the club had ever been, they spent two seasons in that league and were matched up against some of the country's most famous clubs, including Manchester United and Aston Villa.
Unfortunately for City and their fans, this was followed up with three of their worst consecutive league finishes in their entire history under ex-Manchester United manager Wilf McGuinness, who fulfilled his promise to take City out of the second division. The following season they finished bottom of Division Three and narrowly avoided relegation from Division Four after ending the season 22nd.
[edit] Return of the Giant Killers: Arsenal fall
They managed to stabilize themselves slightly, spending nearly a decade in Division Four. The early to mid 1980s were a positive time for York. They were crowned fourth division champions in 1983-84, becoming the first ever team to score 100 points in the English football league in the process, and followed it up with two top half finishes in Division Three.
But their biggest success came, when their giant killing reputation that they earned in the 1930s returned. In January 1985, York City recorded a shock result in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup by beating Arsenal 1-0 at Bootham Crescent thanks to a penalty by Keith Houchen - who in May 1987 scored one of Coventry City's goals against Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup final.[8]
[edit] City rising up the League: Manchester United beaten
During the 1992-93 season the English football league system was reorganised as the Premier League was introduced. City had spent 5 years at the same league level, but pulled themselves up to the Football League Second Division after winning the Division Three playoffs in 1993, beating Crewe Alexandra in the final. Here they would stay for six seasons, during their first of which they were very nearly promoted to Division One but they lost to Stockport County in the semi finals.
However, they did record one of the great shock victories of the 1990s in the League Cup Second Round. York City beat Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford during the 1995/96 season. The United team included the likes of David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Phil Neville and others, this was the Manchester United team which went on to win the Premiership and FA Cup double the same season.[9]
York City followed it up the following season, with another shock result. This time Everton were the victims in the Second Round. They drew the first leg 1-1 at Goodison Park; Neil Tolson took the lead for City but Andrei Kanchelskis pulled one back.[10] The second leg was a more intense affair at Bootham Crescent. Everton fielded a strong team, including the aforementioned Kanchelskis as well as Gary Speed and David Unsworth; City won the game 3-2 with Graeme Murty scoring the goal which separated the two sides.[11]
[edit] Relegations and Financial difficulties
During the early 2000s York City struggled both on and off the pitch. By 2001, they had dropped to Division Three and financial difficulties had placed the club under threat of liquidation. Long-time chairman Douglas Craig announced in December of that year, that unless a new owner was found before April 1, 2002, City would be resign from the football league.
A huge campaign was launched to save the club, which found support not only from City fans and York residents, but also from football fans across the country. Honda Integrity Racing Team owner, John Batchelor took over from Craig as the new chairman. Batchelor promised the club much, but after more financial controversy regarding funds promised to City which went undelivered, a loyal group of York City supporters formed the “Supporters’ Trust” stepped in to save the club and took over in 2003.
Although the club's finances now seem more secure, they were relegated to the Football Conference at the end of the 2003/04 season. At the time they were also facing eviction from Bootham Crescent, to make way for a housing development. This situation has now been averted due to the Supporters’ Trust taking ownership of the club, and the club re-gaining ownership of the ground.
[edit] Recent times
York City's six-year stay in Division Two ended when they were relegated in 1999, and manager Alan Little was sacked after nearly seven years in charge. His successor Neil Thompson lasted just one season, in which York struggled near the foot of Division Three, and Thompson's successor Terry Dolan had little success in his three-year reign.
Chris Brass, a 27-year-old defender, became the youngest-ever manager in league football when he became player-manager of York City in May 2003. An impressive start to the 2003/04 Division Three campaign gave fans hope for a promotion challenge, and come Christmas a playoff place still looked a real possibility. But York failed to win any of their final 20 league fixtures and were relegated to the Conference after 75 years of league membership.
Things got worse the next season, as the side got through three managers (Brass was sacked in November, despite being still at the bottom of his learning curve, Viv Busby spent four months in charge and was then replaced by Billy McEwan) and underwent the worst season of any team immediately after relegation from the Football League (excluding Newport County, who went out of business in 1989 before they could complete their first Conference season). The team eventually finished in the lowly position of 17th.
The 2005/06 season looked more promising for York, as Scottish manager; Billy McEwan, started to see the rewards of an intelligent transfer policy and adventurous tactics. Eventually, York City finished in 8th place in the Conference in the 2005/06 season, narrowly missing out on the playoffs. In October 2005 Nick Bassett became Club Secretary.
[edit] Current season
Several of the first team squad members were released at the end of the 2005/06 season. Top goalscorer Andy Bishop left the club in May 2006 to join Bury on a free transfer. Since the end of the season McEwan has rebuilt singing new players; Darren Craddock, Steve Bowey, Craig Farrell, David McGurk, a defender who had been on loan at York three times in the last two years, Anthony Lloyd and Ross Greenwood.
City had mixed fortunes in their pre-season friendlies, losing their first few matches, until they beat Yorkshire rivals Leeds United 2-0.[12] York had an impressive start to the 2006/07 season remaining unbeaten for 5 games, before losing away to Crawley Town 3-0 on September 9, 2006, after goalkeeper Evans was dismissed early on. City continue to be one of the best supported sides in the Conference National, averaging around 2,800 fans at home and 4-500 loyal away fans and with the signing and immediate impact of Martyn Woolford from Frickley Athletic of the Unibond Premier Division these loyal fans can be hopeful of regaining their rightful place in the English Football League so that they can renew their rivalry with Hull City, who are in the process of making their way back down the Football League ladder.
[edit] Current squad
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[edit] Current staff
[edit] Management
- Manager: Billy McEwan
- Reserve Team coach:
Colin Walker
[edit] Officials
- Managing Director: Jason McGill
- Director: Steve Beck
- Finance Director: Terry Doyle
- Stadium Development Director: Ian McAndrew
- Director: Sophie McGill
[edit] Staff
- Club Secretary: Nick Bassett
- Commercial General Manager: Elliot Stroud
- Shop Management & Commercial Assistant: Louise Jackson
- Physio: Jeff Miller
- Lottery Manager: Sue Chappell
- Head Groundsman: Jez Milner
- Assistant Groundsman: Kevin Russell
[edit] Notable former players
See Also: List of York City F.C. players and Category:York City F.C. players
[edit] Managerial History
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[edit] Honours
- FA Cup
- Semi-finalists - 1954-55
- Quarter-finalists - 1937-38
- League Cup
- Quarter-finalists - 1961-62
- Football League Second Division
- Play-off Semi-finalists - 1993-94
- Football League Third Division
- Promoted - 1973-74
- Play-off Winners - 1992-93
- Football League Fourth Division
- Champions - 1983-84 first club to score over 100 points (3 for a win)
- Promoted - 1958-59, 1964-65, 1970-71
[edit] Records
- Record League Victory: 9-1 v Southport, Division Three, 2 February 1957
- Record Defeat: 0-12 v Chester City, Third Division North, 1 February 1936
- Most Appearances: 481 Barry Jackson
- Most League Goals: 125 Norman Wilkinson
- Most League Goals in a Season: 31 Arthur Bottom Third Division North, 1955-56
- Record Transfer Fee Paid: £140,000 Adrian Randall from Burnley F.C. 1995
- Record Transfer Fee Received: £1,000,000 for Jonathan Greening to Manchester United 1998
- Record League Attendance: 28,123 v Huddersfield Town 1938
- Most Capped Player: 7 Peter Scott - Northern Ireland
[edit] Stadium Information
- Name - KitKat Crescent
- City - York
- Capacity - 9,496
- Inauguration - 1929
- Pitch Size - 105 x 67.5 metres[13]
[edit] References
- ^ Football Club History Datbase
- ^ BBC.co.uk
- ^ HistoricKits.co.uk
- ^ Football Club History Database
- ^ Football Club History Database
- ^ Red and blue net (English)
- ^ BBC (English)
- ^ Find Articles (English)
- ^ When City Rocked The World
- ^ ToffeeWeb.com - 1st Leg
- ^ - 2nd Leg
- ^ BBC Sport (English)
- ^ Red and blue net (English)
[edit] External links
[edit] General
[edit] Supporters' organisations
| York City Football Club |
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