York City F.C.
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York City F.C. are an English football team based in York and currently playing in the Conference National.
Founded in 1922 to play in the Midland League, the club was elected to the national Football League in 1929. They played originally at Fulford Gate, before moving to their present home of Bootham Crescent in 1932.
The club have spent most of their existence in the lower divisions of the Football League, rising on occasion as far as the old Second Division.
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 Coca-Cola Cup, with a 3-0 away drubbing of Manchester United, who went on to win the FA Cup and Premiership double.
In recent years, York City have struggled both on and off the pitch. In 2001, financial difficulties placed the club under threat of liquidation. 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. Although the club's finances now seem more secure, they were relegated to the Football Conference at the end of the 2003/04 season. They are also facing eviction from Bootham Crescent, to make way for a housing development.
Good times at York City
York City have never been a particularly successful club, but they have enjoyed good fortunes on a few occasions. During the 1970's they spent several seasons in the Second Division and played against some of the country's most famous clubs, including Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
In January 1985, York City recorded a shock result in the Third Round of the F.A Cup by beating Arsenal at Bootham Crescent thanks to a penalty by Keith Houchen - who in May 1987 scored Coventry City's winning goal against Tottenham Hotspur in the F.A Cup final.
During the 1990's, York City achieved shock victories in the League Cup Second Round two seasons in a row - knocking out Manchester United (eventual Premiership/F.A Cup winners) in 1995-96 and Everton in 1996-97. They also won the Division Three playoffs in 1993 and qualified for the Division Two playoffs a year later, but blew the chance of a second successive promotion by losing to Stockport County in the semi finals. York also won the Auto Windscreens Shield in 1993, just before manager John Ward moved to Bristol Rovers and was succeeded by Alan Little - who completed the club's promotion campaign.
York City in recent years
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 was named 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, 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 (not counting 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; had Northwich Victoria not been deducted 10 points, they would have finished 18th.
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