2026/7

HEADLINE

Season - Preview (wip)
The Squad (wip)
Season - Review (wip)
Season - Game By Game (wip)
For The Record (wip)
The Players - Mid Season Report (wip)
Away On Loan (wip)
Retained List (wip)
Agents' Fees (wip)
YCFC Academy (wip)
North Riding Senior Cup (wip)
Pre Season Friendlies

TO UPDATE

*** THIS PAGE IS WORK IN PROGRESS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. THE FINAL ISSUE WILL BE SUMMER 2027. UNTIL THEN, SOME CONTENT / SECTIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR WILL REFERENCE PREVIOUS SEASONS ***

Season - Preview (wip)

x

Season Tickets Season Tickets On March 30, 2026/7 season ticket prices were announced, all showed an increase with an earlier early bird cut off (May 1). On April 2, City announced details of 2026/7 season ticket prices. On April 30, the early bird discount was extended to May 4

  • On March 30, 2026, "3,600+" 2025/6 season ticket sales were confirmed, a club record
  • On 10/Apr/2026, it was reported that 1,800 had already sold for the new season, well up on a year earlier
  • On 14/Apr/2026, City reported over 2,200 sold
  • On 28/Apr/2026, City reported over 4,300 sold
  • On 30/Apr/2026, City reported over 4,500 sold
  • On 08/May/2026, City reported over 5,200 sold and that they would go "off sale" a day later to allow the remaining seats to be sold on a match day basis. "off line" at 5pm a day later and a waiting list would be opened, a first for City season ticket sales

TO DO TO DO

Kit: Pre-season, City announced 3 new kits for the season, in red, yellow and Inter Milan blue / black stripes. The Inter Milan kit received more support than the main 2 kits. Released on 3 separate days, the 3rd coincided with am executive circle kit launch event.

Open Day No open day was held, although there was an open training session during City's week in Benidorm.

Geography A return to the EFL saw City's fixture list lose its strong south eastern bias in favour of a wider geographc spread with a predominance of teams in the north west whilst the southern teams were spread more westwards, including Exeter, Bristol Rovers and Newport. The most "local" derbies were Rotherham, Chesterield and Grimsby.

Matt Uggla's "annual statement" Speaking on York Hospital Ball. (May 2026), Matt Uggla indicated a more measured approach to City's progression and having learned lessons from his early days.

  • Constantly wants to improve in certain areas
  • Taking a more measured approach to recruitment where he noted how City already have a list of players he believes will add value and he noted how Morgan Williams had already been identified before Malachi Fagan-Walcott's injury. Ditto the next manager with 5 names in the frame
  • One particular area he noted at length was on the physicality side of things which gave some clues about summer 2026 recruitment
  • Matt does a lot of the footballing stuff, think of him more like Technical Director / Director of Football and Julie-Anne keeps us running as a business.
  • Said Hinshelwood wanted a load of 5’ 6’’ tall technical players. “Imagine if we’d signed them” and wasn't at all impressed his opinion of Ollie Banks. He muttered a few negatives about Hinsh throughout the chat
  • Hinsh wasn't happy with the summer 2025 signings. Equally interesting that Matt thinks that the model of the manager doing everything (including player recruitment) is dead in the Football League
  • Went to Stuart Maynard before the Barnsley game and said if he didn't play Josh Stones that he'd loan him to Hartlepool because his market value was plummeting. Maynard might dispute this request
  • Mentioned Dipo Akinyemi a couple of times and said he wanted regular first team football
  • Confident if they were sold, City would get 3 times what was paid for Josh Stones and 4 times what was paid for Malachi Fagan-Walcott
  • Named Boateng as his best 2025 summer signing and felt Kitch had exceeded all his expectations
  • Was unhappy with our defensive and offensive set pieces over the season
  • The ground situation was also at the forefront of his mind.

Form Guide A new division brings new teams and new challenges, however as with every league, there are a few real contenders and a lot of dross with many teams able to beat any other team on their day. League 2 brings squad cost management protocol (aka PSR and FFP) and much more central funding. In League 2, TV money is worth about £1.2m (£12m in the Championship and £1.8m in League 1) plus other central funding making approaching £2m a year distributed to every League 2 club. In the scheme of things, TV apearance money (big cup games excluded) is minimal and prize money is non existent. On the pitch success will drive bigeer gates and maybe more TV opportunities. The higher up the pyramid, the easier it is for a club to find its own sponsorship. Conversely, the higher up the pyramid, the bigger the outgoings.

Well, this is a difficult one after previewing National League seasons for several years. Whilst familiar names, it is many years since we played many of them.

In League 2, each club comes with plenty of central funding and “proper” professional set ups, some more so than others. Like in many leagues, a far few clubs will start the season with a new manager, others will start the season with virtually a whole new team. Anecdotally, League 2 sides are bigger and the football more physical than National League. It all adds to the complexity of predicting the outcome.

Even the bookmakers struggled to agree on a favourite. Initially, aAcross the different odds provider, you could get at around 9/1 (or more) on any team, slightly more on most if you looked across the markets, whilst the shortest odds were 17/2 offered by one bookie on Chesterfield. The shorter odds were available on last season’s play off sides, teams with good late season form and a couple of last season’s relegated clubs. City were generally priced just off the pace at 11/1 or 12/1. As the summer progressed, Salford shortened to about 6/1 favourites with Bristol Rovers, Barnet, Chesterfield, Port Vale and at around 11/1 City.

Going up with City, Rochdale, might struggle around lower mid table, more so since Jim McNulty left, despite their funding, it could be said they were punching above their weight last season and might be in a for a long season.

Last season, about one third of the division circled around the drop zone. Expect them (Accrington Stanley, Gillingham, Cheltenham, Shrewsbury, Newport (not helped by manager Christian Fuchs resigning on the eve of pre season training), Tranmere and Crawley) to be down there again. Fleetwood, another non traditional Football League side may well join them in the dogfight to avoid the trap door. Of those, Shrewsbury might do best, expect to see a second season back in League 2 improvement from them whilst Gillingham always threaten big things but generally fail to deliver. Cheltenham and Newport might be in the biggest danger and joining them in the drop zone might be relegated Exeter, fan owned, the club seems to be in a desperate ongoing financial battle and struggling to finance new signings. Losing established manager Gary Caldwell in March, if anyone is to follow Carlisle and Morecambe as experiencing successive relegations to find themselves in the National League, it is Exeter.

None of the other 3 relegated clubs (Port Vale, Rotherham and Northampton) will find it easier under new management teams, top half is the best they can hope for. Given their late appointment (and wider financial considerations), Rotherham may struggle the most. From the teams who hoped to replace them in League 1, Chesterfield and Grimsby seem best placed to have a good season whilst at one stage, Salford’s star appeared to be on the wane until they spent decent money on strengthening under a new manager, Australian Peter Cklamovski in his first spell in European football.

Grimsby after a couple of good seasons always seem to get their recruitment spot on so might be best placed to top the table come the end of the season. Whisper it quietly, but Barnet seem to be a steady club might improve considerably on last season’s finish just outside the play off spots (as long as they don't lose too many more of last season's side).

I’ll group Oldham, Walsall, Bristol Rovers and Swindon together. All are “proper FL sides” who will want to improve on last season’s finish. A year ago, on the basis of a strong finish to the 2024/5 season, Swindon, under Ian Holloway were a top tip for promotion, but never really challenged, I can only see them regressing this time and Bristol Rovers under Steve Evans, share a similar profile (and suffer the same fate). Walsall and Oldham might be in for more mid season mediocrity.

Crewe are another mid table side whilst who knows what might happen at Colchester. Talk of a takeover seems to have gone quiet but with the Cowley brothers in charge they might be contenders.

As I write this in the first week in June, it is still over 2 months before the start of the league season. That leaves plenty of time for new signings and outgoings to make a difference. Any side that losses a star player might struggle whilst any side that recruits well, especially in the loan market, might get a boost.

The Squad (wip)

City returned for pre-season training on June 29 when the core of the 2026/7 squad was in place. City's preparations were disrupted when they returned to find the training ground had "sunk" following summer remedial drainage works to address waterlogging issues. Ground staff tweeted taking receipt of 30 tons of sand to help to addres the issues. Expected to be out of action until September, training was re-located to York University's 3G pitches and Queen Ethelburga's School (Great Ouseburn), an independent school in Thorpe Underwood, near Little Ouseburn. On July 12, Julie-Anne and Matt Uggla tweeted to say they hope to have the training ground ready by the end of September and they have “an excellent backup plan in place”

City returned from Spain on July 25 and the following morning, rumours of Stuart Maynard's demise surfaced, later reports suggested they had started to circulate about 10 days earlier, even later reports suggested that Scott Lindsey had been first contacted in early June. They were confirmed by a City tweet that afternoon. The official club statement of his dismissal and that of Scott Lindsey's arrival came the following day, for Lindsey a "Head Coach" designation. YCST noted that neither Trust board member knew of the decision before it was made public, indeed, others suggested none of the other YCFC board members were consulted of the departure in advance. Within hours, some fans were requesting (and receiving) season ticket refunds. Finally, Talksport's take. The optimism balloon built up from last season's success, record season ticket sales, record shirt sales and the Spain trip popped with a single action.

2026/7 will see City‘s squad restricted by size and transfer windows, there will be no opportunities for reinforcements outside the 2 transfers windows, no chance for loans to cover for injuries, so summer recruitment needs to be spot on.

From last season, City lost 2 regulars, Malachi Fagan-Walcott for a club record fee to Hearts and Harrison Male who was released.

Matt Uggla indicated that a number of deals had been tied up early. Mark Shelton (Barnet) was an early signing and was described by Sameoldcity as "Forrest Gump with added goals". He was followed by Frankie Maguire (Boston) and Dipo Akinyemi, returning from Derry, it seems that each of his 3 transfers involving City were, whilst officially “undisclosed”, for progressively lower fees amid some sort of falling out / internal club explosion at Derry. Matt Uggla had indicated Akinyemi had “unfinished business” with City during his May YHB interview.

On June 26, the Friday before pre-season training started, 6 signings were announced. Scholars Ben Farrar and Ethan Stiver signed their first professional contracts and were followed by Zech Medley, Arthur Read, Charlie McArthur, and Zak Johnson.

Johnson return for a fee after Sunderland triggered an extension whilst Read turned down a contract extension from Colchester to join City as did Maguire at Boston, being under 24, it is expected that City will need to agree a compensation fee with Boston.

Read was included in last season’s League 2 team of the season whilst Shelton’s departure from Barnet surprised many locals. Medley finished last season on loan at League 2 champions Bromley and Maguire is a player who always impressed against City when playing for Bradford PA and latterly Boston.

Read, Medley and Shelton have strong data to support their recruitment whilst most, if not all of the signings, had strong support amongst the fans of the clubs they played for previously.

In his joining interview McArthur suggested that he’d first heard of interest about a week before he signed which might suggest he is viewed as Callum Howe’s replacement in the squad.

Given the signings, we appear well stocked in central defence and midfield, with a keeper to come we’re possibly slow in strengthening in the wing back and goal scoring roles.

Final thoughts

  • As pre-season training starts, not much sign of a real influx of “development team” / under 21 players
  • Unlike some previous times, details of signings were barely leaked
  • 3 players (Akinyemi, Medley and McArthur) have had a series of niggling injuries or a long term injury in their career, so it remains to be seen how City’s medical department ensures there is no repeat
  • An outside view of our summer recruitment seemed way out .

xx, xxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

  1. Pre season injuries - Boateng and Stones
  2. Late McNally arrival
  3. x
  4. x
  5. x

By August xxth, the eve of the season, City had xx contracted professionals, including x out on loan, either for a full or half season.

It is believed that City got most of their summer targets .... Detail them ....

Key dates:

  • Thur 25th June: Fixtures released 12pm (expect EFL Cup draw on the same day)
  • Mon 29th June: Pre-season training starts
  • Mon 3rd August (19:30): EFL Cup Preliminary Round: City v Crawley
  • Sat 8th August: EFL Cup Round 1 (All other (68) EFL teams enter followed by 11 PL teams in Round 2 and the final 9 PL (UEFA competition qualifers in R3))
  • Sat 15th August: First league fixtures (unless any are moved forward for TV)
  • x
  • x
  • x
  • x
  • x

Work In:

  • 260625: Stones 5 year deal - believed longest ever
  • x
  • London: Sat Aug 8 (TBC) Watford Tues Sept 1 - Chelteham S 3/10 Barnet S 17/10 Newport S 28/11 Colchester NEW GROUND S 9/1 Crawley (FAC3) S 6/2 Exeter S 27/2 Swindon S 6/3 Bristol R S 24/4 Gillingham NEW? Walsall Noton Rotherham Crawley
  • Ollie Belleh -
  • York City South @YCFCSouth · Jun 24 Now Malachi's Gone. A look back at some big money City transfers. http://yorkcitysouth.co.uk/xdb-fees.htm Os(C)ar YCFC @TheStig1997825 Great article. Might just be the mobile version but if you were able to indent the text and images on the website it would be a little more readable - the start of each line is a little bit cut off on the left hand side!

    Season - Review (WIP, plus everything else from here)

    x

    x

    XXXX FROM HERE

    The season, so far, so good:

    • x
    • x

    Words:

    • xxxxx
    • xxxx City started the season in a sluggish manner, conceding a late equaliser on the opening day against Sutton who surprisingly remained in the lower reaches of the league for most of the season.
    • xxxx Hinsh was sacked after 4 games, apart from a strong performance at Southend, Hinsh’s City side never really got going this season. The fallout continued in November.
    • xxxx Under Maynard, in a 3421 formation, the width and crosses came from wing backs Joe Felix (and increasingly Joe Grey) and Tyrese Sinclair / Alex Newby. Hinsh’s 2 out and out wingers for an hour and 2 more for the last 30 minutes were a thing of the past. Rather than 2 wingers and over lapping full backs, with on the hour replacements, City migrated to wing backs.
    • XXXX FROM HERE
    • YCFC match report
    • Players
    • Players
    • Players
    • Players
    • Players
    • Players
    • Tactics
    • Tactics
    • Tactics
    • Tactics
    • Rochdale: They're relentless. But they're vulnerable against teams who give it a go. It just hasn't happened often.
    • There's little real pace in the team meaning that our wingers / wing backs rarely take on the opposing full backs unlike last seaosn when we'd rotate wingers on the hour and have overlapping full backs in operation throughout the game.
    • Sometimes little movement when we have possession, hardly any overlapping or runs into space by the strikers to stretch the defence, meaning lots of side to side or backwards passing.
    • We're a small team, we were regularly out jumped or outmuscled against Southend in particular.
    • Lack a stand out playmaker, note the regular rotation and that no one is a nailed on starting play maker. No one to make telling passes from midfield or to run at defences.
  • Also:
    • Hinsh was named xxxxx
  • Away from the pitch, some events have occurred suggesting that City are taking a more structured approach, whisper it quietly, even a Football League approach, including:
    • x
    • x.

    Sadly as ever, during the season, City lost a number of well known personalities, including former managers xxx (xx/xx/2026) and xxxt (dd/mmm/2026), former players xxxxxx xxxx (30/Jul/2026), xxx xxxx (17/Oct/2026), xxxx x (31/Oct/2026)), yyyyy (dd/mm/20yy) and player (dd/mmm/yyyy) and supporters (xxxx xxxx (05/Jul/2026), xxx xxxxxxxx (23/Oct/26), xxxxxxxx xxxxxx (19/Sep/26), xxx xxxxxxxx (23/Oct/26), xxxxx xxxxxxx (14/Nov/26), xxxxxx xxx (2026, VP), xxxx xxx (05/Jan/27), xxx xxxx (11/Jan/27), xxxx xxs (21/Feb/27)) and and xxxxxx xxxx (dd/mmm/yy)). and xxxxxx xxxx (dd/mmm/yy)). and xxxxxx xxxx (dd/mmm/yy)).

    On the club and commercial front:

    • TO DO Read the York-City-FC-Advertising-Brochure-2024-25. At the time of writing (22/07/2025), it is believed that no 2025/6 season update had been issued
    • 27/Jun/2026: Chris Hames appointed as the new City Women’s Head Coach
    • 03/Jul/2026: City extend Britcab partnership
    • 17/Jul/2026: City launch a dog waste bag holder
    • 21/Jul/2026: City announce Speed Quizzing as new back of shirt sponsor for both away and third kits
    • 21/Jul/2026: City announce Nuffield Health York Hospital as North Stand sponsor
    • 23/Jul/2026: The Archbishop Of York visits City's Foundation at the LNER
    • 10/Mar/2026:
    • 10/Mar/2026:
    • 22/Jan/2026: x
    • 02/Feb/2026: x
    • 10/Mar/2026:
    • 31/Mar/2026:
    • dd/mmm/2025:
    • dd/mmm/2025:
    • dd/mmm/2025:
    • dd/mmm/2025:
    • dd/mmm/2025:
    • dd/mmm/2025: New colour per month
    • dd/mmm/2025:
    • dd/mmm/2025:
    • dd/mmm/2025:
    • dd/mmm/2025:
    • dd/mmm/2025:
    • dd/mmm/2025:
    • dd/mmm/2025:
    • dd/mmm/2025:
    • dd/mmm/2025:
    • dd/mmm/2025:
    • dd/mmm/2025:
    • dd/mmm/2025:
    • dd/mmm/2025:

    Elsewhere:

    • In September, x
    • September 19: Tx

  • 2026/7 Cup prize money
    • FA Cup:
      • Qualifying Round 1: winners - £x / losers - £x
      • x
    • Isuzu FA Trophy:
      • Preliminary round: Winners receive £x, losers receive £x
      • x

    • Season - Game By Game (WIP)

    1. 260803 CRAWLEY (H) - Carabao Cup (Preliminary Round) WDL n-n: Summary
    2. 260808 (Date TBC) TBC (HA) - Carabao Cup (Round 1) (H) WDL n-n: Summary
    3. 260815 BRISTOL ROVERS (H) WDL n-n: Summary
    4. 260822 ROTHERHAM (A) WDL n-n: Summary
    5. 2608290 EXETER (H) WDL n-n: Summary
    6. 260901 CHELTENHAM (A) WDL n-n: Summary
    7. 260730: Announced away games at Grimsby and Tranmere now 12.30 Saturday kick-offs on Sky

    UPDATE TO UPDATE Some useful links to the season (and beyond):

    UPDATE League Attendances

    TO UPDATE

    Date

    Opponents

    Competition

    City Home Highest

    7,918

    OLDHAM 21/04/25

    City Home Lowest

    4,494

    BRAINTREE 10/09/24

    City Home Aggregate

    139,167

    6.2% away team fans

    City Home Average

    6,050

    -

    Best LNER away following

    1,453

    OLDHAM 21/04/25

    Lowest LNER away following

    41

    BRAINTREE 10/09/24

    City Away Highest

    8,234

    Oldham 21/01/25

    City Away Lowest

    1,075

    Maidenhead 25/02/25

    City Away Aggregate

    67,511

    23.1% City fans

    City Away Average

    702

    -

    Best City away following

    2,225

    FC Halifax 26/10/24

    Lowest City away following

    272

    Maidenhead 25/02/25

    Awards and cards

    City players missed x games through suspension:

    • x (Straight red v xxxxx (h))

    For The Record (WIP)

    After breaking a number of records last season, the 2025/6 season got off to a record breaking start ....

    • 09/08/25: x
    • 09/08/25: x

    2026/7 - The Players (Mid Season Report (To Complete At End Season) (WIP))

    1. Xxxx Xxxxx x
    2. Xxxxx Xxx x

    Away On Loan (wip)

    • Xxxxx Xxxxx Club (League (Tier n) (dd/mm/26 - duration)). Comment
    • Xxxxz Xxxxz Club (League (Tier n) (dd/mm/26 - duration)). Comment

    TO DO YCFC Loan Watch:

    UPDATE Retained List (wip)

    It is believed that all the loanee professionals will be out of contract at the end of the 2026/7 season.

    UPDATE Agents' Fees (wip, 2025/6 below)

    TO UPDATE February (and the closure of the transfer window) has traditionally seen clubs' spending on agents' fees over the past 12 months published. In 2026, they were published on April 2. See The FA website for full details, including total spend by every club and players involved (although not fees by individual player).

    The non league clubs who spent the most in agent fees in the year to February 2nd 2026 were:

    1. Carlisle United £187,960
    2. York City £169,089
    3. Forest Green Rovers £164,373
    4. Southend United £80,815
    5. Rochdale £42,524

    In total, 45 non league clubs spent £1,174,550 on agents’ fees.

    City’s spend is up on the £109,596 from a year earlier.

    For City, 13 separate player transactions are noted, they are all 8 summer signings, 3 autumn contract extensions, an updated contract (Jeff King) and January signing Morgan Williams.

    Across non league, Forest Green (20), Hartlepool (20) and Morecambe (19) made the most agent payments, in total, 11 clubs made more transactions than City. That is possibly down to City’s relative lack of signings when compared to some others who built a whole new squad. Of those other clubs, City’s average transaction fee was over £13,000, the most of this group. Lee Philpott (3) and Scott James Dutton (2) were the only agents who represented more than one City player.

    Wealdstone (as a season earlier) and Brackley were the only National League clubs to spend no money on agent fees.

    For comparative purposes:

    • In League 2, only Milton Keynes Dons (£341k) and Bristol Rovers (£180k) spent more than City whilst Harrogate spent £82k with Accrington Stanley bottom of the table with just £28k spent, across the division the average spend was £108k.
    • In League 1, only 4 clubs (Doncaster, Exeter, Mansfield and Northampton) spent less than City with an average of spend of £585k across the division
    • In the Championship, the average club spent over £2.9m on agent fees
    • That was dwarfed by Premier clubs who each spent a total of over £460m at an average of over £23m each with Chelsea, Villa (yes, Aston Villa) and Manchester City filling the top 3 spots
    • In Women’s Super League, the average spend was £316k per club.

    UPDATE YCFC Academy (wip - 2026/7 - complete update required)

    Promotion to the English Football League saw City’s academy side elevated to the EFL Under 19 Alliance League’s northern section where they are a part of 17 team league containing mainly other EFL teams in League 1 and 2 who hold EPPP Cat 3 /4 status. They are joined by Wrexham and 2 teams (Carlisle and Morecambe) recently relegated from the EFL. Read More.

    It is a big step up from the 12 team National League Youth Alliance League and will see Saturday, rather than midweek games.

    It is believed that City’s skewed fixture schedule is reflective of the drainage issues at the training ground which are not expected to be remediated before the end of September.

    Being an under 19 league, on that basis, City’s 2 young professionals, Ben Farrar and Ethan Stiver are eligible to play in the league, but not the FA Youth Cup which is an under 18 competition.

    TBC City's EFL status means that the Under 18 side is until Round 1 of the FA Youth Cup. exempt from 2 rounds (Preliminary and 1st Qualifying) of the FA Youth Cup. They'll join the competition in early October. Beyond the Under 19 / 18 side, City run a whole series of age group teams.

    TO DO: City's 2026/7 academy players' profiles TO DO .

    TO DO: TBC: Home league fixtures were scheduled for City's Wiggington Road training ground (YO32 2RB), usually on a Saturday. Kick off time was variable, but without floodlights, games ended in daylight. Any home Alliance Cup game and league games were played at the training ground (or York College if unavailable). Home FA Youth Cup ties were not played on the training ground.

    TBXC CCCC TBC XXXX Further Reading: National League Under-19 Alliance website.

    Watch all the season's highlights.

    Date

    Competition

    Opponents

    Venue

    Result

    Scorers (and notes)

    08/08/26

    EFLYAN

    Preston North End

    A (TBC)

    WDL n-n

    -

    15/08/26

    EFLYAN

    MORECAMBE

    H (Training Ground) (TBC)

    WDL n-n

    -

    18/08/26

    EFLYANR1

    Lincoln City

    A (TBC)

    WDL n-n

    -

    22/08/26

    EFLYAN

    Lincoln City

    A (TBC)

    WDL n-n

    -

    05/09/26

    EFLYAN

    Shrewsbury Town

    A (TBC)

    WDL n-n

    -

    12/09/26

    EFLYAN

    Crewe Alexandra

    A (TBC)

    WDL n-n

    -

    19/09/26

    EFLYAN

    Burton Albion

    A (TBC)

    WDL n-n

    -

    26/09/26

    EFLYANR2

    TBC

    A (TBC)

    WDL n-n

    -

    03/10/26

    EFLYAN

    PORT VALE

    H (Training Ground)

    WDL n-n

    -

    10/10/26

    EFLYAN

    Stockport County

    A (TBC)

    WDL n-n

    -

    17/10/26

    EFLYAN

    Oldham Athletic

    A (TBC)

    WDL n-n

    -

    24/10/26

    EFLYAN

    WREXHAM

    H (Training Ground)

    WDL n-n

    -

    31/10/26

    EFLYAN

    ROTHERHAM UNITED

    H (Training Ground)

    WDL n-n

    -

    07/11/26

    EFLYAN

    Notts County

    A (TBC)

    WDL n-n

    -

    14/11/26

    EFLYAN

    Carlisle United

    A (TBC)

    WDL n-n

    -

    21/11/26

    EFLYAN

    CHESTERFIELD

    H (Training Ground)

    WDL n-n

    -

    28/11/26

    EFLYAN

    BRADFORD CITY

    H (Training Ground)

    WDL n-n

    -

    05/12/26

    EFLYAN

    ROCHDALE

    H (Training Ground)

    WDL n-n

    -

    12/12/26

    EFLYAN

    Grimsby Town

    A (TBC)

    WDL n-n

    -

    19/12/26

    EFLYAN

    MANSFIELD TOWN

    H (Training Ground)

    WDL n-n

    -

    09/01/27

    EFLYAN

    DONCASTER ROVERS

    H (Training Ground)

    WDL n-n

    -

    16/01/27

    EFLYAN

    BLACKPOOL

    H (Training Ground)

    WDL n-n

    -

    23/01/27

    EFLYAN

    WALSALL

    H (Training Ground)

    WDL n-n

    -

    30/01/27

    EFLYAN

    Rotherham United

    A (TBC)

    WDL n-n

    -

    06/02/27

    EFLYAN

    Salford City

    A (TBC)

    WDL n-n

    -

    13/02/27

    EFLYAN

    OLDHAM ATHLETIC

    H (Training Ground)

    WDL n-n

    -

    20/02/27

    EFLYAN

    Chesterfield

    A (TBC)

    WDL n-n

    -

    27/02/27

    EFLYAN

    NOTTS COUNTY

    H (Training Ground)

    WDL n-n

    -

    06/03/27

    EFLYAN

    LINCOLN CITY

    H (Training Ground)

    WDL n-n

    -

    13/03/27

    EFLYAN

    Mansfield Town

    A (TBC)

    WDL n-n

    -

    03/04/27

    EFLYAN

    Doncaster Rovers

    A (TBC)

    WDL n-n

    -

    10/04/27

    EFLYAN

    BURTON ALBION

    H (Training Ground)

    WDL n-n

    -

    17/04/27

    EFLYAN

    Bradford City

    A (TBC)

    WDL n-n

    -

    24/04/27

    EFLYAN

    GRIMSBY TOWN

    H (Training Ground)

    WDL n-n

    -

    1. BOSTON (H) (dd/mmm/26) (National League Youth Alliance League (North)) W 3-2
      2 late goals saw City come from behind to win after Donny Day had given City a half time lead in their opening game of the season
      From a dangerous position, Sutton Greening equalised with a free kick into the bottom corner before Donny Day got on the end of a cross in the final minute to win it
      YCFC match report
      CITY (1-11): White; Newall (Clarke 65'), Binns (Campbell 86), Belleh ( c ), Baker, Beadle, Tweed (Kydd 75), Shaw (Roberts 75), Hewson (Russell 29), Greening, Day. Subs (Unused): -
    2. XXX - TO COMPLETE - AFTER dd/mm
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    14. XXX - TO DO BELOW
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    16. XXX - END GAME REVIEW SECTION
    17. XXX - END GAME REVIEW SECTION

    UPDATE: It was a largely disappointing season for the academy team. In terms of performance, overall 2024/5 was, once again, possibly less successful when compared to the previous season's successes. In both the FA Youth Cup and National League Youth Alliance Cup, City failed by one round to go as far as last season. The team exited the FA Youth Cup in their first game and lost in the Alliance League Cup northern semi final. In the league, City's 5th place finish was a place below last season’s finish ending with just one point from the last 6 games. Both of the 2024 scholars who were awarded their first professional contracts last summer, Bill Marshall and Leon Gibson-Booth were released by the end of the year.

    First year scholars Ben Farrar and Eddie Kettlewell both scored well without being prolific across the whole season. Captain George Grumley moved between centre back and defensive midfield and made a brief cameo first team debut at Oldham in January, making his mark with a fine crunching, but fair, tackle.

    Beyond Grumley, it is difficult to see which second year scholars might warrant a professional contract. That is disappointing in light of City introducing a development squad for next season. XXXX

    Throughout the season, Benji Tate, a year 2 right back scholar was the only player to have a loan spell in "mens' football", 2 months at Bishop Auckland (NPL Division 1 East (Step 8)) in the autumn, unfortunately, his game time was extremely limited.

    The age old question remains. When will we see our youth products in our first team?

    North Riding Senior Cup (TO DO 25/6 below)

    1. YARM & EAGLESCLIFFE (A) (26/Nov/25) L 3-3 (0-3 penalties)
      Despite summer reports that City had paid a fee not to enter the 2025/6 North Riding (CLS Sports) Senior County Cup, City entered the competition at the Round 2 (Last 16) stage and were drawn away to Yarm & Eaglescliffe. Formed in 2017, they play in the Ebac Northern League Division Two (Level 10, Step 6, 5 steps below City) and sat second in the table, six points behind leaders Redcar Town, at the time of the fixture. They play their home games at Billingham Town's Bedford Terrace ground. Given the wet night and heavy usage, the pitch wasn't in the best condition
      City, consisting entirely of academy players, lost 3-0 on penalties after the game ended 3-3 after 90 minutes, a repeat of a season earlier when City exited on penalties away to TIBS. Once again, the men outwitted the boys
      2 down, goals from Ben Farrar and an excellent finish into the top corner from Sutton Greening saw City draw level on 69 minutes. Yarm re-took the lead after they'd been reduced to 10 players, a second sending off saw them down to 9 men before before Greening equalised from the spot in injury time after Ben Farrar had been brought down
      The card happy referee seemed to think he was the man of the match
      Post match, Dan Wilson felt City "controlled the first half hour, (but were) bad in both boxes, (something which is) happening over and over again" and attributed the 2 opening goals to defensive lapses. He added that Sutton Greening changed the game when he came on and Eddie Kettlewell was a class apart throughout the game
      Yarm scored all their 3 penalties whilst for City, Greening and Tom Hewson's were saved before Farrar skied over the bar
      York City: White, Shaw, Beadle (Hewson 78), Belleh ( C ), Newall (Kydd 78), Russell, Kettlewell, Stiver (Binns 78), Farrar, Day (Greening 60), Roberts (Baker 53). Subs Not Used: -.
      Yarm & Eaglescliffe: Lee Roberts, Jack Dalton, Conway (Hillerby 90+5), Joe Dalton (Bulmer 57), Wild ( C ), Dougall, Marshall, Stewart-Titchiner, Williams (Scaife-Wheatle 89), Larkin, Steven Roberts (Cheesebrough 71, (Atkinson 90+3)). Subs Not Used: -.
      Att: TBC
      YCFC match report

    Pre Season Friendlies

    1. BARNSLEY (H) (11/Jul/26) W 2-1
      City fielded 2 entirely different sides in the 2 halves. After Greg Olley limped out after about 43 minutes, young Ethan Stiver made a debut appearance and was subbed off at half time. Injured duo Josh Stones and Hiram Boateng plus Craig Hewitt were the only unused senior professionals
      The second half saw triallist Marcus Dewhurst in goal
      Generally the new signings looked assured. Arthur Read was possibly the stand out with a clever left foot and we already know what Dipo Akinyemi can give. In goal, GSK looked fairly solid
      Olley and Pearce scored for City
      Post match, Maynard suggested that he’d split his 2 sides and was working on specific combinations. One saw Mark Kitching shuffled to left wing back.
      York City (First Half): Sykes-Kenworthy, Williams, Johnson, McArthur; King, Felix, Shelton, Brookes; Newby, Olley (Stiver 44); Akinyemi.
      York City (Second Half): Sykes-Kenworthy (Trialist 60 (Dewhurst), Fallowfield, Palmer, Medley; Grey, Read, Maguire, Kitching; Hunt, Banks; Pearce.
      Barnsley: Ravenhill, O’Keeffe (de Gevigney 59), Lopata (Hudson 59), Earl (Kay 59), Gent (Woodcock 59), Bland (Nwakali 59), McGeehan (Middleton 59), Kelly (Lennon 59), Taylor (Gould 59), Yoganathan (Farrell 52), Clearly (Alker 59).
      Att: 2,632 (872)
      YCFC match report
    2. PICKERING (A) (14/Jul/26) L 2-4
      After the Barnsley game, Maynard indicated that City would field a young side due to the state of the pitch
      City fielded a young City side, essentially Year 2 scholars and set up in a similar way to the first team. They showed a willingness to play and were confident on the ball. There were 2 good finishes and one that got chalked off by Tom Hewson
      Michael Kydd, Ollie Belleh and Lucas Russell also impressed but whole team stood up well to a reasonably full strength Pickering side of grown men and weren’t intimidated by some meaty challenges and experienced gamesmanship from the home side
      Going 2 down in the first half, at times, City played themselves into trouble and were done by pace for the last 2 goals
      Earlier in the day, City beat Middlesbrough by 6-0 in a behind closed doors friendly on the same day at the LNER
      York City: White, Kydd (Trialist 60), Beadle, Belleh ( C ), Hall, Stiver, Woolford (Turner 74), Russell, Hewson (Webster 77), Greening (Ozisik 68), Binns (Penrose 77). Subs (Unused): -
      Pickering Town: Jackson, Brooksby, Weston, Leyland, Thorton, Mani, McGinty, Coulibaly, Thompson, Trialist A, Avison ( C ). Subs (Usage Unknown): Beard, Nock, Dyer, Thewlis, Dawes, Blackburn, Drury, Heslop, Coulson.
      Att: 928
      YCFC match report
    3. SUNDERLAND (H) (18/Jul/26) L 1-5
      Before the game, Marco Gabbiadini got a rousing reception from City's fans and then an even biger one from Sunderland's supporters. Their supporters filled most of the north and west stands
      In their first game of the season, Sunderland fielded a relatively strong side, including a number of internationals, in the first half. Their class told as they romped into a 4-0 half time lead. They fielded a completely different side in the second half, including Tom Proctor, son of Michael, who seemed to lead the pre kick off team talk and added the 5th goal
      For a second successive Saturday, Josh Stones (hairline fracture in the lower spine) missed out through injury. Mark Shelton and Ash Palmer also missed the game through injury
      In goal, GSK didn't do himself any favours and on a Sunderland forum, someone asked "has this keeper won a raffle for a game"
      Post match, Stuart Maynard was seen delivering a long on field coaching master class to Sunderland's Luke O'Nien, they knew each other from their Watford / Wealdstone days
      York City (First Half): Sykes-Kenworthy; Fallowfield, Johnson, Medley; Grey, Felix, Hunt (A), Brookes; Banks, Olley; Akinyemi.
      York City (60 Minutes): Sykes-Kenworthy; Hunt (J), Williams, Kitching; King, Read, Stiver, Newby; Maguire, Pearce; Hewitt. Sub (Unused): Trialist GK
      Sunderland (First Half): Ellborg, Hume, O’Nien, Mukiele, Reinildo, Le Fee, Browne, Ogunsuyi, Rigg, Ta Bi, Tutierov.
      Sunderland (Second Half): Moore, Seelt, Hjelde (Kindon, 67), Dinsdale, Whittaker, Alese, Je. Jones, Scott, Ja. Jones, Proctor, Geragusian. Subs (Unused): Metcalf, Lightfoot.
      York: Olley (55)
      Sunderland: Le Fee (6, 44), Rigg (36), Tutierov (42), Proctor (56)
      Att: 7,891 (3,238)
      YCFC match report
    4. GOOLE (A) (21/Jul/26) W 2-1
      Kick off at the Victoria Pleasure Grounds was delayed by 15 minutes
      Early on Tom Hewson was to the fore when Oscar Woolford played the ball across for him, his shot was well blocked before Josh Binns fired over. After a couple of attempts by NCEL1E side Goole, on 7 minutes, Hewson won a corner when his strike from an angle was palmed away for a corner, he tapped home from a short corner routine but was flagged offside. Undeterred, Hewson was twice denied by the keeper in the next 5 minutes
      Against the run off play, Goole took the lead on the quarter hour with an acrobatic effort from Cameron Hough into the top right corner
      Within about 5 minutes, 2 goals put City ahead. First Binns whipped in a perfect ball for Hewson at the back post to strike. Then Binns added a goal to his assist when Woolford slid the ball in from the right for the unmarked winger to smash home
      Hewson (twice) and Woolford went close before half time as City ended the half 2-1 up
      Chances were limited and there were no more goals in the second half. It was a well deserved win for City’s academy side against a men’s team
      City's stand out players included Ollie Belleh and Lucas Russell in midfield and centre back Elvis Hall. Right wing Oscar Woolford was speedy whilst Tom Hewson had enough chances to have got a hat trick
      Against a men's side, the win must be considered an excellent result, especially in light of recent NRSC cup defeats against lower league sides
      York City: White, Kydd (Swansbury 60), Beadle, Belleh ( C ), Hall, Russell, Woolford (Harris 86), Ozisik (McGregor 86), Hewson (Webster 78), Greening (Turner 60), Binns (Penrose 72). Sub (Unused): Appleyard.
      Goole: Not Recorded.
      Att: 307
      YCFC match report
    5. AL ETTIFAQ U21 (Benidorm) (22/Jul/26) W 6-0
      City had a comfortable 6-0 win with goals from Maguire, Farrar, Akinyemi, Banks, Olley and Grey against the reigning Saudi Pro League U21 Elite champions in a game that kicked off at 7pm local time with the temperature touching 30 degrees and a strict no alcohol policy in place
      Stuart Maynard’s side were based at the La Nucia training camp in Alicante (Spain) for a hot weather training week which included 2 games
      City went close early on with Mark Kitching seeing a header heroically cleared off of the line. The breakthrough came just before the half an hour mark, as Frankie Maguire scored a first goal in a York shirt when heading home the opener. 2 minutes later, youngster Ben Farrar fired in City’s second with a header of his own, his first goal for the senior Minstermen. It stayed 2-0 heading into the second-half, and Farrar almost grabbed his brace early on, only to be denied by a strong stop.
      A full 11 change came on the hour mark, and just five minutes later, Dipo Akinyemi slotted home York’s third from inside the area. Like City had done in the second half, their next goal came two minutes after their first of the half, as Ben Brookes’ teasing corner was glanced home by the head of Ollie Banks. The Minstermen got their fifth with ten minutes left to play as Greg Olley bagged a third goal in as many games, intelligently chipping over the advancing Al-Ettifaq goalkeeper. Joe Grey added the sixth and final goal of the game in the 87th minute, with York storming to a second win of pre-season, and making the most of the Spanish sun.
      Alfie McNally made his debut in goal, given the score, he wasn't called into action to often, but looked calm and assured when called upon
      York City (First Half): McNally; Hunt (J), Palmer, McArthur; King, Stiver, Read, Kitching; Maguire, Pearce; Farrar.
      York City (60 Minutes): Sykes-Kenworthy; Fallowfield, Johnson, Medley; Grey, Felix, Hunt (A), Brookes; Banks, Olley; Akinyemi.
      Al Ettifaq U21: Not Recorded.
      Att: TBC
    6. AL ETTIFAQ (Benidorm) (24/Jul/26) D 2-2
      Another 7pm kick off, but it was warmer than 2 days earlier as City fought out a 2-2 draw with Al Ettifaq's first team
      On 4 minutes, Ryan Fallowfield with a bullet header gave City the lead, but Moussa Dembele (ex Fulham, Celtic and Lyon) equalised 3 minutes before the break from the penalty spot. 5 minutes after the break, Al-Ettifaq took the lead with a shot from inside the box. 8 minutes from time, Joe Felix, with a lovely finish levelled the scores. 2 minutes from time, Ollie Banks received a straight red
      As well as Dembele, Al Ettifaq fielded Jack Hendry, the 41 times capped Scottish defender just back from his World Cup duties.
      York City: McNally; Fallowfield, Johnson, Medley; Grey, Felix, Hunt, Brookes; Banks, Olley; Akinyemi. Subs (Usage Not Known): Sykes-Kenworthy, Hewitt, Shelton, Williams, Farrar, Stiver, Newby.
      Al Ettifaq: Not Recorded.
      Att: TBC
    7. PETERBOROUGH (H) (28/Jul/26) L 1-2
      On July 10, the game was designated as Paddy McLauglin's testimonial
      Paddy McLaughlin made his final appearance in City colours, starting the game, he was substituted after 6 minutes to a warm round of applause
      The players wore special Paddy McLaughlin shirts that were auctioned off after the game. Post match, the shirts were made available for auction
      With the departure of Stuart Maynard and the rumoured departure of Joao Alves, Gary Elphick was alone in the dug out. Scott Lindsey was in the Main Stand with Marvin Armstrong. It is believed that none of the Uggla family were present
      City's starting line up appeared slightly strange, possibly far removed from the expected starting line up against Crawley but based on those who didn't play in the last friendly in Spain
      It was a largely lack lustre game with City going down 1-2 to the League 1 side, Alex Newby scored a smart equaliser early in the second ahalf
      In his post match interview, Gary Elphick indicated that Scott Lindsey had watched all City's pre-season games
      York City: McNally; Williams, Palmer, McArthur; Hunt (J) (Felix 65), Read, McLaughlin (Shelton 6 (Brookes 62)), Newby; Maguire (Stiver 62), Pearce; Hewitt (Farrar HT). Subs (Unused): Sykes-Kenworthy.
      Peterborough: Bass, Johnston (Woods 61), Okagbue, Dornelly, Mills, Khela (Conn-Clark 61), Jones, Mendonca (Weir 61), Shofowoke (Trialist 61), Edwards (Abbey 78), Leonard. Subs: (Unused): Ndi, Fox, Freeman, Kamara.
      City: Newby 52
      Peterborough: Khela 25, Dornelly 80
      Att: 2324 (304)
      YCFC match report
    8. Main pre-season injuries
      • Hiram Boateng: Torn thigh - 8 - 12 weeks – missed Barnsley
      • Josh Stones: Slight hip strain - missed Barnsley / hairline fracture of lower spine by the Sunderland game, in Benidorm it was suggested he was still 3 weeks away from being
      • Greg Olley: Limped out of the Barnsley game on 43 minutes after a crunching tackle
      • Mark Shelton: Picked up a calf niggle against Barnsley. Played in Spain
      • Ash Palmer: Missed Sunderland with slight knee niggle (opposite knee to what he did last season, a little bit of fluid on it)
      • Charlie McArthur: Missed Sunderland (rolled ankle on eve of game)
      • In general game time was managed, with players building up from 45 minutes to 60 and then to 90