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 League 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 Rowntree's, is one of the city's largest employers.

History

For a statistical breakdown by season, see York City F.C. seasons.

York City Football Club was first founded in 1908 as an amateur side, 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. 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.{{cite web | title = YORK CITY{1} | url = http://www.fchd.info/YORKC-1.HTM | publisher = Football Club History Database | accessdate = 2007-07-04}}

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. York were elected to the Football League in 1929, 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.

The club fared better in cup competitions and built a reputation for "giant killing", 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 the quarter-finals which was drawn 0–0, before losing the replay 2–1 at Leeds Road. 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. In the semi-final, York drew 1–1 with Newcastle United, taking the tie to a replay, in which City were defeated 2–0.