List of York City F.C. seasons

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York City Football Club, a professional association football club based in York, North Yorkshire, England, was founded in 1922. They were elected to play in the Midland League for the 1922–23 season.[1] After seven seasons in the Midland League, York were elected to play in the Football League in 1929 and were placed in the Third Division North.[2] The team reached the semi-final of the 1954–55 FA Cup, and were defeated by eventual winners Newcastle United in a replay, which is the furthest the club have reached in the competition.[3] York played in the Third Division North until the 1958–59 season, when they were placed in the Fourth Division on league reorganisation.[4] They won the first promotion in their history this season, after finishing third in the Fourth Division.[5]

York City captain Chris Smith (far left) lifting the FA Trophy after the 2–0 win over Newport County at Wembley Stadium in the 2012 FA Trophy final

York were promoted to the Second Division in 1974 and the 1974–75 season saw them achieve their highest league placing after finishing in 15th place.[3] Two successive relegations and a finish of 22nd in the Fourth Division saw the club apply for re-election to the Football League at the end of the 1977–78 season.[3] York won their first and only title after finishing first in the Fourth Division in the 1983–84 season with 101 points,[3] becoming the first team to reach a three-figure points total in a Football League season.[6] The club's first play-off success came in the 1992–93 season, against Crewe Alexandra in the final.[7] After a 1–1 extra-time draw, York won 5–3 in a penalty shoot-out at Wembley Stadium to earn promotion to the Second Division.[8] The following season saw York compete in the Second Division play-off semi-final, where they were beaten 1–0 on aggregate by Stockport County.[9]

York were relegated to the Conference National after finishing bottom of the Third Division in the 2003–04 season, ending 75 years of Football League membership.[10] The team reached the 2009 FA Trophy final in 2008–09, which was played at the new Wembley Stadium, where York were beaten 2–0 by Stevenage Borough.[11] The 2011–12 season concluded with two victories at Wembley; after Newport County were defeated 2–0 in the 2012 FA Trophy final,[12] York's Football League status was restored with a 2–1 victory over Luton Town in the 2012 Conference Premier play-off final.[13] The club endured successive relegations from League Two to the National League North in the 2015–16 and 2016–17 seasons,[14][15] but finished the latter with a 3–2 win over Macclesfield Town at Wembley in the 2017 FA Trophy final.[16] York spent five years in the National League North, being promoted to the National League via the play-offs in the 2021–22 season.[17] York returned to the Football League after a ten-year absence by winning the 2025–26 National League with 108 points—the highest seasonal points tally in the club's history.[18]

As at the end of 2025–26, the club's first team had spent 2 seasons in the second tier of English football, 38 in the third, 32 in the fourth, and 24 in non-League football.[3] The table details their achievements in first-team competitions, and records their top goalscorer and average home league attendance, for each completed season since their first in 1922–23.

Key

Details of abandoned competitions are shown in italics and appropriately footnoted.

Seasons

More information Season, League ...
List of seasons, including league division and statistics, cup results, top scorer and average league attendance
Season League[19] FA Cup[20] League Cup[3][a] Other[21] Top scorer(s)[b] Average[c] attendance
Division[d] P W D L F A Pts Pos Competition Result Player(s) Goals
1922–23 NLMidland[e]4211121956703419th DNE[f]——— Charles Elliott16 —
1923–24 NLMidland4210131948713319th QR1——— Arthur Charlesworth12 —
1924–25 NLMidland[g]28101083936306th QR1——— James Miller20 —
1925–26 NLMidland401471974943516th QR3——— R. Holland17 —
1926–27 NLMidland38161399668456th R2——— Charlie Flood19 —
1927–28 NLMidland44227159773517th QR4——— John Hammerton21 —
1928–29 NLMidland5022131510699579th R1——— Jimmy Cowie56 —
1929–30 Division 3N[h]421516117764466th R3——— Billy Bottrill
Tom Fenoughty		20 5,279
1930–31 Division 3N421861885824212th R3——— Tom Fenoughty17 3,906
1931–32 Division 3N40187157681439th R1——— Reg Baines29 4,330
1932–33 Division 3N421362372923220th R1——— Reg Baines29 4,370
1933–34 Division 3N421581971743812th R1—Football League Third Division North CupR3 Maurice Dando29 4,361
1934–35 Division 3N421562176823615th R3—Football League Third Division North CupR2 Maurice Dando23 3,902
1935–36 Division 3N4213121762953816th R1—Football League Third Division North CupR1 Fred Speed14 3,721
1936–37 Division 3N4216111579704312th R4—Football League Third Division North CupR3 Albert Thompson29 5,257
1937–38 Division 3N4216101670684211th QF—Football League Third Division North CupR1 Reg Baines28 5,957
1938–39 Division 3N421282264923220th R3——— Bob Mortimer22 5,544
1939–40 Division 3N301235120th[i] ———— Billy Allen2 6,000[j]
1939–45
The Football League and FA Cup were suspended until after the Second World War.[k]
1945–46 ———————— — R4[l]——— Ian Winters4 —
1946–47 Division 3N421491967813715th R1——— Alf Patrick17 6,900
1947–48 Division 3N4213141565604013th R1——— Alf Patrick19 9,006
1948–49 Division 3N421591874743914th R2——— Alf Patrick27 10,412
1949–50 Division 3N429132052703122nd R1——— Alf Patrick14 8,016
1950–51 Division 3N4612151966773917th R3——— Matt Patrick14 7,478
1951–52 Division 3N4618131573524910th R1——— Billy Fenton31 7,968
1952–53 Division 3N462013136045534th R1——— Billy Fenton25 8,654
1953–54 Division 3N4612132164863722nd R1——— Dave Dunmore21 5,636
1954–55 Division 3N462410129263584th SF——— Arthur Bottom[m]39 ♦ 9,630
1955–56 Division 3N461991885724711th R4——— Arthur Bottom33 10,291
1956–57 Division 3N462110157561527th R2——— Arthur Bottom22 9,414
1957–58 Division 3N4617121768764613th R4——— Terry Farmer
Norman Wilkinson
Peter Wragg		12 7,270
1958–59 Division 4[n] ↑46211877352603rd R1——— Peter Wragg14 8,124
1959–60 Division 3 ↓4613122157733821st R3——— Johnny Edgar17 7,507
1960–61 Division 446219168060515th R3R1—— Peter Wragg22 6,900
1961–62 Division 4442010148453506th R1QF—— Jimmy Weir29 6,890
1962–63 Division 44616111967624314th R3R1—— Norman Wilkinson17 4,515
1963–64 Division 4461472552663522nd R1R2—— Norman Wilkinson12 3,937
1964–65 Division 4 ↑46286129156623rd R2R1—— Paul Aimson30 7,185
1965–66 Division 3 ↓ 469928531062724th R1R2—— Paul Aimson21 5,921
1966–67 Division 44612112365693522nd R2R3—— Tommy Spencer23 3,776
1967–68 Division 44611142165683621st R1R1—— Ted MacDougall15 4,578
1968–69 Division 44614112153753921st R3R1—— Ted MacDougall25 3,883
1969–70 Division 4 4616141655624613th R4R1—— Phil Boyer12 3,951
1970–71 Division 4 ↑462310137854564th R4R2—— Paul Aimson31 4,962
1971–72 Division 34612122257663619th R2R3—— Paul Aimson16 5,597
1972–73 Division 34613151842464118th R3R1—— Eddie Rowles9 3,792
1973–74 Division 3 ↑46211966738613rd R1R4—— Chris Jones20 6,600
1974–75 Division 24214101851553815th R3R1—— Jimmy Seal18 8,828
1975–76 Division 2 ↓421082439712821st R4R2—— Micky Cave
Jimmy Seal		8 5,189
1976–77 Division 3 ↓4610122450893224th R2R1—— Brian Pollard13 2,986
1977–78 Division 44612122250693622nd R1R1—— Gordon Staniforth13 2,139
1978–79 Division 44618111751554710th R4R1—— Gordon Staniforth19 2,935
1979–80 Division 44614112165823917th R2R1—— Terry Eccles10 2,703
1980–81 Division 4461292547663324th R1R2—— Ian McDonald12 2,162
1981–82 Division 44614824699150[o]17th R2R1—— Keith Walwyn25 2,362
1982–83 Division 4462213118858797th R3R1—— Keith Walwyn24 3,243
1983–84 Division 4 ↑46318796391011st R2R1Associate Members' CupR1(N) John Byrne28 5,008
1984–85 Division 346209177057698th R5R2Associate Members' CupQF(N) Keith Houchen18 5,550
1985–86 Division 3462011157758717th R5R2Associate Members' CupGroup(N) Keith Walwyn29 4,111
1986–87 Division 34612132155794920th R2R2Associate Members' CupR1(N) Keith Walwyn25 3,432
1987–88 Division 3 ↓46892948913323rd R2R2Associate Members' CupGroup(N) Dale Banton18 2,754
1988–89 Division 44617131662636411th R1R1Associate Members' CupR1(N) Ian Helliwell11 2,613
1989–90 Division 44616161455536413th R1R2Associate Members' CupR1(N) Ian Helliwell19 2,615
1990–91 Division 44611132245574621st R2R1Associate Members' CupR1(N) Ian Helliwell10 2,511
1991–92 Division 4428161842584019th R2R1Associate Members' CupGroup(N) Ian Blackstone11 2,506
1992–93 Division 3[p] ↑42211297245754th[q] R1R1Football League TrophyGroup(N) Paul Barnes21 3,946
1993–94 Division 2422112136440755th[r] R1R1Football League TrophyR1(N) Paul Barnes25 4,633
1994–95 Division 246219166751729th R1R1Football League TrophyGroup(N) Paul Barnes17 3,685
1995–96 Division 24613132058735220th R1R3Football League TrophySF(N) Paul Barnes22 3,538
1996–97 Division 24613132047685220th R3R3Football League TrophyQF(N) Neil Tolson17 3,359
1997–98 Division 24614171552585916th R2R2Football League TrophyR2(N) Rodney Rowe16 3,850
1998–99 Division 2 ↓4613112256805021st R2R1Football League TrophyR2(N) Richard Cresswell19 3,645
1999–2000 Division 34612161839535220th R1R1Football League TrophyR1(N) Barry Conlon11 3,048
2000–01 Division 34613132042635217th R3R1Football League TrophyR1(N) David McNiven10 3,026
2001–02 Division 3461692154675714th R4R1Football League TrophyR1(N) Michael Proctor14 3,144
2002–03 Division 34617151452536610th R2R1Football League TrophyR1(N) Peter Duffield15 4,176
2003–04 Division 3 ↓4610142235664424th R1R1Football League TrophyR1(N) Lee Nogan9 3,963
2004–05 Conference4211102139664317th QR4—
Andy Bishop12 2,333
2005–06 Conference421712136348638th R1—FA TrophyR1 Andy Bishop[s]25 ♦ 2,871
2006–07 Conference462311126545804th[t] R1—FA TrophyR1 Clayton Donaldson26 2,859
2007–08 Conference4617111871746214th R1—
Onome Sodje
Martyn Woolford		17 2,258
2008–09 Conference4611191647515217th QR4—
Richard Brodie19 2,295
2009–10 Conference44[v]2212106235785th[w] R3—FA TrophyQF Richard Brodie[x]34 ♦ 2,664
2010–11 Conference461914135550718th R3—FA TrophyR1 Michael Rankine14 2,485
2011–12 Conference ↑46231498145834th[y] QR4—FA TrophyW[z] Matty Blair20 3,117
2012–13 League 24612191550605517th R1R1Football League TrophyR2(N) Ashley Chambers10 3,879
2013–14 League 2461817115241717th[aa] R1R1Football League TrophyR2(N) Wes Fletcher13 3,773
2014–15 League 24611191646515218th R1R1Football League TrophyR1(N) Jake Hyde10 3,555
2015–16 League 2 ↓467132651873424th R1R2Football League TrophyQF(N) Vadaine Oliver10 3,218
2016–17 National ↓4611171855705021st QR4—FA TrophyW Jon Parkin16 2,570
2017–18 National N4216101665625811th QR3—FA TrophyR1 Jon Parkin25 2,755
2018–19 National N4216101658635812th R1—FA TrophyR1 Jordan Burrow19 2,501
2019–20 National N3419965228662nd[ab] R1—FA TrophyQR3 Jordan Burrow15 2,705
2020–21 National N136432217228th[ac] QR3—FA TrophyR2 Sean Newton8 514[ad]
2021–22 National N ↑42199145850665th[ae] R1—FA TrophySF Clayton Donaldson14 3,116
2022–23 National4613122155635119th R1—FA TrophyQF Lenell John-Lewis17 4,827
2023–24 National4612171755695320th R2—FA TrophyR3 Dipo Akinyemi15 4,854
2024–25 National4629989542962nd[af] R1—FA TrophyR4 Ollie Pearce[ag]33 ♦ 6,051
2025–26 National ↑463394114411081st R1—FA TrophyR3 Ollie Pearce[ah]35 ♦ 6,657
Close

Notes

  1. [a]
    The Football League Cup competition started in the 1960–61 season.[3]
  2. [b]
    Includes goals scored in the Midland League, the Football League (including play-offs), Football Conference/National League (including play-offs), FA Cup, Football League Third Division North Cup, Football League Cup, Associate Members' Cup/Football League Trophy, FA Trophy and Conference Cup/Conference League Cup. Sources: 1922–23 to 2007–08,[22] 2008–09,[23] 2009–10,[24] 2010–11,[25] 2011–12,[26] 2012–13 to 2015–16,[27] 2016–17,[28] 2017–18,[29] 2018–19,[30] 2019–20,[31] 2020–21,[32] 2021–22,[33] 2022–23,[34] 2023–24,[35] 2024–25,[36] and 2025–26.[37]
  3. [c]
    League matches only (including Football League and Football Conference/National League, but excluding play-offs). Sources: 1929–30 to 2007–08,[38] 2008–09,[39] 2009–10,[24] 2010–11 to 2015–16,[39] 2016–17,[40] 2017–18 to 2019–20,[39] 2020–21,[41] 2021–22 to 2022–23,[39] 2023–24,[42] 2024–25,[39] and 2025–26.[43]
  4. [d]
    Divisions are sorted according to their level within the English football league system at the time.
  5. [e]
    York were elected to the Midland League for the 1922–23 season.[44]
  6. [f]
    York did not enter the FA Cup in the 1922–23 season as the club was formed too late to apply.[44]
  7. [g]
    After eight reserve teams withdrew from the Midland League in the summer of 1924 to form the Midland Combination, two competitions were formed to ensure a full set of fixtures.[45] The first competition concluded in February 1925 with 28 fixtures having been played, and the second was organised into subsidiary North and South sections.[45] York competed in the North section, finishing with the following record: P 14 W 7 D 3 L 4 F 21 A 18 Pts 17 Pos 2nd.[45]
  8. [h]
    York were elected to the Football League Third Division North for the 1929–30 season.[46]
  9. [i]
    When the Second World War began, the 1939–40 Football League season was abandoned with three matches played.[47]
  10. [j]
    York played one league match at home before the 1939–40 season was abandoned, which was played in front of a crowd of 6,000.[48]
  11. [k]
    The club played 239 competitive matches in regional league and cup football between 1939 and 1946. Guest players were permitted, and results and records from this period are not included in official statistics.[49]
  12. [l]
    From the first round to the sixth round of the 1945–46 FA Cup, matches were played over two legs.[50]
  13. [m]
    Scored 31 goals in the Third Division North.[51][52]
  14. [n]
    York were placed in the Football League Fourth Division on League reorganisation.[4]
  15. [o]
    The 1981–82 season saw the introduction of three points for a win instead of two.[53]
  16. [p]
    The Fourth Division was renamed Division Three after the Premier League broke away from the Football League.[53]
  17. [q]
    Promoted to the Football League Second Division via the play-offs, beating Bury 1–0 on aggregate in the semi-final and Crewe Alexandra 5–3 in a penalty shoot-out in the final after the match had finished 1–1 after extra time.[54]
  18. [r]
    Lost 1–0 on aggregate to Stockport County in the play-off semi-final.[9]
  19. [s]
    Scored 22 goals in the Conference National.[55][56]
  20. [t]
    Lost 2–1 on aggregate to Morecambe in the play-off semi-final.[57]
  21. [u]
    York's first appearance in the final of a knockout cup competition, which was a 2–0 defeat to Stevenage Borough.[11]
  22. [v]
    Following Chester City's expulsion from the Football Conference, their results were expunged, meaning the league season was reduced from 46 matches to 44.[58]
  23. [w]
    Beat Luton Town 2–0 on aggregate in the semi-final before losing 3–1 to Oxford United in the final.[59][60]
  24. [x]
    Scored 26 goals in the Conference Premier.[24][61]
  25. [y]
    Promoted to Football League Two via the play-offs, beating Mansfield Town 2–1 on aggregate in the semi-final and Luton Town 2–1 in the final.[13][62]
  26. [z]
    Beat Newport County 2–0 in the 2012 FA Trophy final to win the club's first major trophy.[12]
  27. [aa]
    Lost 1–0 on aggregate to Fleetwood Town in the play-off semi-final.[63]
  28. [ab]
    The 2019–20 season was disrupted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The National League was suspended in mid-March 2020 and the clubs voted six weeks later to end the regular season programme.[64] Teams had not all played the same number of matches, so it was agreed to construct final league tables on an unweighted points per game basis.[65] York's 81.529 points per game placed them second and meant they qualified for the play-offs, in which they were beaten 2–0 by Altrincham in the semi-final.[66]
  29. [ac]
    After the 2020–21 season was disrupted by COVID-19 pandemic-related issues, including matches being played behind closed doors, testing requirements, and a perceived lack of adequate government support, the National League clubs voted on whether to continue their season. As a result, the National Leagues North and South were declared null and void in February 2021, at which point the northern clubs had played between 11 and 18 matches.[67]
  30. [ad]
    Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the first five of York's seven home league matches in the 2020–21 season were played behind closed doors. The last two were played in front of COVID-restricted capacity crowds of 400 and 627.[68]
  31. [ae]
    Promoted to the National League via the play-offs, beating Chorley 2–1 in the eliminator, Brackley Town 1–0 in the semi-final, and Boston United 2–0 in the final.[69]
  32. [af]
    Lost 3–0 to Oldham Athletic in the play-off semi-final.[70]
  33. [ag]
    Scored 31 goals in the National League.[71]
  34. [ah]
    Scored 34 goals in the National League.[72]

References

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