York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined The Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions. The club briefly rose as high as the second tier of English football, spending two seasons in the Second Division in the 1970s. At the end of the 2003–04 season the club lost their League status when they were relegated from the Third Division, and have since remained in the Conference.York have enjoyed more success in cup competitions than in the league, with highlights including an FA Cup semi-final appearance in 1955. In the 1995–96 Coca-Cola Cup, York beat Manchester United 3–0 at Old Trafford; Manchester United went on to win the FA Cup and Premiership double that season.
York play their home games at KitKat Crescent in York. This stadium was formerly known as Bootham Crescent, but was renamed KitKat Crescent as part of a sponsorship deal with Nestlé, whose confectionery factory, formerly known as Rowntrees, is one of the city's largest employers.
History
York City Football Club was first founded in 1903,[1] although some sources state the roots of the club can be traced as far back as 1897 when the York and District League was formed.[4] The club joined the Northern League in 1908, but left after two seasons to form the Yorkshire Combination (a proto-Yorkshire League). The club turned professional in 1912 and joined the Midland League, where they played for three seasons, rising as high as tenth position. They played their final season in 1914–15 before folding in 1917 during the First World War.[5]
The club was re-founded in 1922 by members of the former club. These members founded a limited company and gained admission to the Midland League where they played in for seven seasons, achieving a highest finish of sixth, in both 1924–25 and 1926–27.[1][6] York were elected to the Football League in 1929,[7] and spent the following 22 seasons in Division Three North, from 1929–30 to 1957–58. The club ended the majority of seasons in the bottom half of the table until the 1950s, when they reached fourth in both the 1952–53 and 1954–55 seasons.[7]
The club fared better in cup competitions and built a reputation for "giant killing",[8] the earliest example being in the 1937–38 season FA Cup tournament, when the club, then playing in the Third Division managed to knock out First Division West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough. They met Huddersfield Town in a quarter-final which was drawn 0–0, before losing the replay 2–1 at Leeds Road.[7] The club's longest cup run came when they reached the FA Cup semi-final in the 1954–55 season, a campaign in which Arthur Bottom scored eight goals for the club, and the team eliminated a Blackpool side featuring Stanley Matthews.[4] In the semi-final, York drew 1–1 with Newcastle United, taking the tie to a replay, in which City were defeated 2–0.[7]
In 1958, York became founding members of the Fourth Division, as the Third Divisions North and South were restructured into new Third and Fourth divisions, based on league positions at the end of the 1957–58 season. They missed out on the runner-up spot in the inaugural season only on goal average, and were promoted to the Third Division in third place,[9] but were relegated back after just one season.[10] A second promotion in 1964–65, again in third place in the Fourth Division,[11] saw a similar instant relegation back from the Third Division the next season.[12] York's record of promotion every six years was maintained by a team sporting the future England forward Phil Boyer in 1970–71,[13][14] and this time the team managed to stay in the Third Division, albeit only on goal average in both the next two seasons.[15][16]
After these two seasons the team hit form in the 1973–74 season, when "three up, three down" promotion and relegation was introduced to the Football League. After being among the leaders all season York City were eventually promoted to Division Two in third place. Their first season in the Second Division saw York finish in their highest ever league position, 15th place.[7] On March 29, 1975, they played in front of the highest ever League crowd to see them – 46,802 at Old Trafford in a 2–1 defeat to Manchester United. The following season York finished in 21st place in the Second Division and were relegated back to the Third Division.[7] Under former Manchester United manager Wilf McGuinness, the club dropped further still, into Division Four in the 1976–77 season after finishing bottom of the Third Division. In the 1981–82 season, York failed to win in 12 home games, a club record, and lost to non-league side Altrincham in the FA Cup. In the 1983–84 season York won the Fourth Division with a record 101 points,[7] the first team to do so in the Football League.[17] 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, courtesy of a penalty from Keith Houchen.[18] York proceeded to draw 1–1 with Liverpool at Bootham Crescent on 16 February 1985, but lost 7–0 in the replay at Anfield, York's record cup defeat.[7]
The club fared better in cup competitions and built a reputation for "giant killing",[8] the earliest example being in the 1937–38 season FA Cup tournament, when the club, then playing in the Third Division managed to knock out First Division West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough. They met Huddersfield Town in a quarter-final which was drawn 0–0, before losing the replay 2–1 at Leeds Road.[7] The club's longest cup run came when they reached the FA Cup semi-final in the 1954–55 season, a campaign in which Arthur Bottom scored eight goals for the club, and the team eliminated a Blackpool side featuring Stanley Matthews.[4] In the semi-final, York drew 1–1 with Newcastle United, taking the tie to a replay, in which City were defeated 2–0.[7]
In 1958, York became founding members of the Fourth Division, as the Third Divisions North and South were restructured into new Third and Fourth divisions, based on league positions at the end of the 1957–58 season. They missed out on the runner-up spot in the inaugural season only on goal average, and were promoted to the Third Division in third place,[9] but were relegated back after just one season.[10] A second promotion in 1964–65, again in third place in the Fourth Division,[11] saw a similar instant relegation back from the Third Division the next season.[12] York's record of promotion every six years was maintained by a team sporting the future England forward Phil Boyer in 1970–71,[13][14] and this time the team managed to stay in the Third Division, albeit only on goal average in both the next two seasons.[15][16]
After these two seasons the team hit form in the 1973–74 season, when "three up, three down" promotion and relegation was introduced to the Football League. After being among the leaders all season York City were eventually promoted to Division Two in third place. Their first season in the Second Division saw York finish in their highest ever league position, 15th place.[7] On March 29, 1975, they played in front of the highest ever League crowd to see them – 46,802 at Old Trafford in a 2–1 defeat to Manchester United. The following season York finished in 21st place in the Second Division and were relegated back to the Third Division.[7] Under former Manchester United manager Wilf McGuinness, the club dropped further still, into Division Four in the 1976–77 season after finishing bottom of the Third Division. In the 1981–82 season, York failed to win in 12 home games, a club record, and lost to non-league side Altrincham in the FA Cup. In the 1983–84 season York won the Fourth Division with a record 101 points,[7] the first team to do so in the Football League.[17] 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, courtesy of a penalty from Keith Houchen.[18] York proceeded to draw 1–1 with Liverpool at Bootham Crescent on 16 February 1985, but lost 7–0 in the replay at Anfield, York's record cup defeat.[7]
In 1993 York ended a five year spell in the Third Division by gaining promotion to the Second Division via the playoffs, beating Crewe Alexandra on penalties in the final at Wembley Stadium.[19] York stayed in the Second Division for six seasons, during which they reached the playoffs in their first season, but lost to Stockport County in the semi-finals.[7]
York recorded a shock victory in the 1995–96 League Cup Second Round, when they beat Manchester United 3–0 at Old Trafford.[20] York then went on to beat Everton in the Second Round of the League Cup the following season in 1996.[7] They drew the first leg 1–1 at Goodison Park, but won the second leg 3–2 at Bootham Crescent.[21] In December 2001, long-serving chairman Douglas Craig put the club and its ground up for sale for £4.5 million, announcing that unless a new owner was found before April 1, 2002, York City would be withdrawn from the Football League.[22] Team B&Q racing driver and team owner John Batchelor took over as chairman in March 2002.[23] Batchelor promised the club he would buy the ground, give the trust 24% of the shares and would invite two supporters onto the board, but after these promises all went undelivered,[24] a group of York supporters formed the Supporters’ Trust who took control of the club in 2003.[25]
York failed to win any of their final 20 league fixtures in the 2003–04 season and were relegated to the Conference after 75 years of league membership.[7] This was followed by the sacking of manager Chris Brass in November 2004.[26] Billy McEwan eventually succeeded Brass,[27] and led the team to 17th place during their first season in the Conference.[28] York finished in 8th place in the 2005–06 season,[29] missing out on the playoffs. The following season, York reached the play-off semi-finals, where they were beaten by Morecambe.[30]
York recorded a shock victory in the 1995–96 League Cup Second Round, when they beat Manchester United 3–0 at Old Trafford.[20] York then went on to beat Everton in the Second Round of the League Cup the following season in 1996.[7] They drew the first leg 1–1 at Goodison Park, but won the second leg 3–2 at Bootham Crescent.[21] In December 2001, long-serving chairman Douglas Craig put the club and its ground up for sale for £4.5 million, announcing that unless a new owner was found before April 1, 2002, York City would be withdrawn from the Football League.[22] Team B&Q racing driver and team owner John Batchelor took over as chairman in March 2002.[23] Batchelor promised the club he would buy the ground, give the trust 24% of the shares and would invite two supporters onto the board, but after these promises all went undelivered,[24] a group of York supporters formed the Supporters’ Trust who took control of the club in 2003.[25]
York failed to win any of their final 20 league fixtures in the 2003–04 season and were relegated to the Conference after 75 years of league membership.[7] This was followed by the sacking of manager Chris Brass in November 2004.[26] Billy McEwan eventually succeeded Brass,[27] and led the team to 17th place during their first season in the Conference.[28] York finished in 8th place in the 2005–06 season,[29] missing out on the playoffs. The following season, York reached the play-off semi-finals, where they were beaten by Morecambe.[30]
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