2010–11 York City F.C. season

Background and pre-season

The 2009–10 season was Martin Foyle's first full season as manager of York City and the team reached the play-offs after finishing fifth in the Conference Premier table. After defeating Luton Town 2–0 on aggregate in the semi-final, York were beaten 3–1 by Oxford United in the 2010 Conference Premier play-off Final at Wembley Stadium. Jamie Clarke, Kevin Gall, Josh Mimms, Craig Nelthorpe, Alan O'Hare, Richard Pacquette and Simon Russell were released by York following the play-off defeat, with Luke Graham, Ben Purkiss and Adam Smith leaving for Kettering Town, Oxford and Mansfield Town respectively. Andy McWilliams was loaned out to Stalybridge Celtic. Levi Mackin and Djoumin Sangaré signed new contracts with the club.

Goalkeeper David Knight was brought in on a season-long loan from Histon before the start of the season, while two defenders, Duane Courtney and Greg Young, signed from Kidderminster Harriers and Altrincham respectively. Midfielder Jonathan Smith was signed from Forest Green Rovers, with wingers David McDermott and Peter Till joining from Kidderminster and Walsall respectively. Striker George Purcell was signed from Braintree Town for an undisclosed fee. Defender Dean Lisles and winger Jamie Hopcutt entered the first-team squad from the youth team after agreeing professional contracts.

The team adopted a new home kit, which featured red shirts with white collars, white trims on the shoulders and white sleeves that included red trims. York started the season wearing red shorts with white trims, but these were replaced later in the season with navy blue shorts with white trims. The home kit also included red shorts with white trims. The away kit, retained from the previous season, comprised light blue shirts with white horizontal stripes, light blue shorts and light blue socks. Pryers Solicitors continued as shirt sponsors for the second successive season.

August

York started the season with a 2–1 defeat at home to Kidderminster Harriers, who opened the scoring with a goal direct from a corner kick. After Michael Rankine equalised on 68 minutes with a penalty, Kidderminster won the match with a penalty three minutes later. Hopcutt was loaned out to Northern Premier League Premier Division club Whitby Town for a month. The team's first away match of the season was against Grimsby Town, with the match finishing a 0–0 draw. This was followed by another away draw, with Michael Gash and Till scoring against Bath City as the match finished 2–2. York then drew 0–0 at home to Barrow and the team's first victory of the season came after Rankine and Richard Brodie scored to beat Altrincham 3–0 at home. The team were defeated 2–1 away by Fleetwood Town, where Young made his debut and scored York's only goal. Brodie joined fellow Conference Premier club Crawley Town for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £300,000, with the transfer being completed three minutes before the transfer deadline.

September

Following Brodie's departure, two strikers were signed; Leon Constantine joined on a contract until the end of the season after leaving Hereford United and youth team coach Steve Torpey was registered as a player. Till and debutant Constantine scored in the space of two minutes in a 2–0 home win over Rushden & Diamonds. Striker David Dowson, defender Jamal Fyfield and midfielder Danny Racchi joined the club on trial and played for the reserve team against Chesterfield. Having fallen a goal behind, York earned a 1–1 draw away to Wrexham after Till scored the equalising goal. Ahead of York's home match against Hayes & Yeading United, the club signed Fyfield from Maidenhead United for a nominal fee and Racchi from Wrexham, where he had been on non-contract terms. The same day, York beat Hayes & Yeading 2–0 with goals from Rankine and Constantine, the latter making his first start for the club. York were defeated 5–0 away by Mansfield Town, with Jonathan Smith being sent off on 34 tminutes after receiving a second yellow card. Hopcutt and Lisles were loaned out to Stokesley of the Northern League Division One. Manager Foyle resigned 10 matches into the season, with the team 15th in the table, and assistant manager Andy Porter was appointed caretaker manager. Porter's first match in charge was a 3–1 away victory over Tamworth, York's first away win of the season, with goals scored from Rankine, Alex Lawless and debutant Fyfield. Ahead of this match, Dowson was signed and made his debut as an 85th-minute substitute. The first home match of Porter's tenure was a 0–0 draw with Darlington, which was York's first televised appearance on sports channel Premier Sports.

October

A 2–1 defeat Priory Lane|away]] by Eastbourne Borough followed, with Lawless scoring York's only goal. McDermott was released after his month-to-month contract was not extended, having made four appearances. Striker Mark Beesley was signed on a one-month loan from Fleetwood before the match against Kettering Town. York lost this match 1–0 at home and the following day Porter left the club after four matches in charge, with Torpey being appointed caretaker manager. He led the team for a 4–0 away loss to Newport County before Tamworth manager Gary Mills was appointed as manager, with Darron Gee following as assistant manager. Mills' first match in charge was a 1–1 draw at home to Bath, with York taking the lead through a first-half penalty scored by Rankine before Bath equalised in the second half. McDermott rejoined the club on another month-to-month contract to become Mills' first signing. Former York defender Chris Smith, who played under Mills at Tamworth, was signed from Mansfield on a three-month loan, with a view to a permanent transfer. With Mills stating his desire to reduce the size of a squad that was "too big", Dowson, Hopcutt and Lisles were released by the club. The first victory under Mills' management was a 2–0 win away to Kidderminster in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup, with Racchi and Jonathan Smith scoring their first goals for the club. Courtney was made available for loan having made seven appearances for the club. Mills' first defeat came in a 2–1 away loss against Forest Green Rovers, with former Forest Green player Lawless scoring York's only goal.

November

Beesley returned to Fleetwood after Mills decided to terminate his loan. York drew 0–0 away to League Two team Rotherham United in the first round of the FA Cup, which resulted in a replay at home. Lawless joined York's divisional rivals Luton on loan until January 2011, when a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee would take place. Two loan signings were subsequently made; Leicester City striker Ashley Chambers joined until January 2011 and Sunderland midfielder Robbie Weir joined for one month. Rankine scored York's equaliser in a 1–1 home draw against Wrexham with a second-half penalty. York beat Rotherham 3–0 at home in their FA Cup first round replay, with Chris Smith opening the scoring before Rankine scored twice. David McGurk handed in a transfer request having expressed his desire to join Luton, after they had a number of bids for him rejected and he had turned down a contract extension with York. York recorded their first league win under Mills with a 4–0 victory away to Rushden with Racchi, Rankine, Chambers and Neil Barrett scoring. Purcell was loaned out to Conference South team Dartford until January 2011 to regain match fitness following his return from injury. The Rushden win was followed by the season's first successive league victory, after York beat Southport 2–0 at home with late goals from Constantine and McDermott. Midfielder Andre Boucaud was signed from Kettering on loan until January 2011, with a view to a permanent transfer. York progressed to the third round of the FA Cup for the second season running after beating Darlington 2–0 away in the second round. The team's run of three straight wins came to an end after a 0–0 away draw against Kidderminster.

December

Weir's loan from Sunderland was extended until January 2011, with Mills commenting: "He's a fit lad who's totally committed in what he does and I've been impressed with him". Mills was named the Conference Premier Manager of the Month for November 2010 after leading York to a seven-match unbeaten run, while Michael Ingham picked up the Player of the Month award after keeping six clean sheets and conceding one goal in this period. York were knocked out of the FA Trophy in the first round after being beaten 1–0 by Conference North team Boston United, which was the team's first home defeat under Mills. Racchi's contract with York expired, although Mills stated his intention to re-sign him once the January 2011 transfer window opened. York's away match with Luton was abandoned after 55 minutes due to heavy snow, with the score at the time being 0–0. Sangaré agreed to sign for Moroccan Botola champions Wydad Casablanca pending the expiry of his York contract at the end of December 2010, although after the transfer fell through he signed for Oxford. McDermott and Racchi agreed to sign new contracts with York once the January 2011 transfer window opened, which would keep them at the club until the end of the season. Having failed to establish a place in the team under Mills, Gash agreed to join Rushden in January 2011 on loan for the rest of the season.

January

York started the New Year with a 3–0 victory away to Gateshead, with Jonathan Smith, Barrett and Constantine scoring in the second half. Chambers' loan at the club was extended until the end of the season. Boucaud signed a two-and-a-half-year contract for a £20,000 fee and Chris Smith signed a one-and-a-half-year contract to join the club permanently, while Lawless departed for Luton permanently. Jamie Reed was signed from Welsh Premier League club Bangor City for an undisclosed fee, on a two-and-a-half-year contract, after York had a bid for him rejected in November 2010. York were defeated 2–0 away by Premier League team Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup third round, with Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander scoring late in the match. Weir returned to Sunderland after his loan expired, although Mills wanted to re-sign the player. Constantine scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory at home to Grimsby with a lob over goalkeeper Kenny Arthur. York came from behind to beat Histon 2–1 away after Constantine and Till scored in the last 15 minutes. A 5–0 defeat away to Luton followed after Ingham was sent off in the 15th minute, with Chris Smith subsequently playing in goal until half-time when Young took over.

Following a trial with League Two club Cheltenham Town, Courtney was released by the club after having his contract cancelled. Mackin scored the winning goal in the 85th minute of a 2–1 home victory over Forest Green, in which Reed scored his first goal for the club. Leeds United midfielder Will Hatfield was signed on a one-month loan following a trial. York were beaten 4–0 away by Southport, with McGurk being sent off in the second minute. On transfer deadline day, former Leeds defender Liam Darville signed a contract until the end of the season and former Lincoln City midfielder Scott Kerr signed a one-and-a-half-year contract, following their release by their respective clubs. Fyfield joined former club Maidenhead on a one-month loan and Purcell joined Eastbourne on loan until the end of the season.

February

Danny Parslow, James Meredith, Rankine and Chambers scored as York beat league leaders AFC Wimbledon 4–1 at home. Young returned to Altrincham on an emergency loan for the rest of the season. York played a second consecutive match against AFC Wimbledon, being beaten 1–0 away. This was followed by a 1–0 victory at home to Fleetwood, with Reed scoring the only goal of the match in the second half. York drew 0–0 away to Altrincham, which was the team's first draw since November 2010, before Jonathan Smith and Rankine scored as York won 2–1 away to Hayes & Yeading.

March

Jonathan Smith scored in a second successive match to give York the lead at home to Gateshead, although the winning goal of a 2–1 victory was scored by Constantine with a penalty. Hatfield's loan from Leeds was extended until the end of the season, after he made two appearances during his first month at the club. McGurk signed a new contract with York, which contracted him to the club until the summer of 2013. York drew 0–0 away to Barrow. Fyfield opted not to extend his loan at Maidenhead, to fight for a place in the team. Rankine scored the only goal to give York a 1–0 victory at home to Eastbourne, with a header from a Till cross during the first half. Reed came off the bench to score both goals as York came from behind to beat Mansfield 2–1 at home. He scored for a second successive match away to Cambridge United, although York lost 2–1. Winger Aidan Chippendale was signed on loan from Huddersfield Town for the rest of the season. Reed scored his fourth goal in three matches as York beat Histon 1–0 at home.

April and May

Rankine missed an 87th-minute penalty for York away to Kettering, with Reed scoring the team's goal in a 1–1 draw. Jonathan Smith scored in the first half for York at home to league-leaders Crawley, who equalised in the second half, with the match finishing a 1–1 draw. Racchi was released from his contract with immediate effect after requesting a transfer, having failed to establish himself in the team. York beat Newport 2–1 at home, with Rankine opening the scoring before assisting Reed for the second goal. McGurk picked up an ankle ligament injury in this match, which ruled him out for the rest of the season. York suffered their first defeat at home since December 2010 after losing 2–1 to Tamworth, in which Constantine scored a consolation goal in the 89th minute. Having not made any appearances for the club, Chippendale was recalled by Huddersfield. Reed scored the only goal to give York a 1–0 victory at home to Luton. Young was recalled from his loan at Altrincham after Parslow suffered a head injury during the match against Luton.

York were beaten 2–1 away to Darlington, in which Chris Carruthers scored a consolation goal in the 87th minute. York's hopes of making the play-offs were ended after drawing 0–0 with Cambridge in the last home match of the season. The last match of the season was a 1–1 draw away to champions-elect Crawley. York took the lead in the fifth minute through an own goal scored by David Hunt, before the home team equalised with a Matt Tubbs penalty in the 68th minute. York finished the season in eighth place in the Conference Premier table, seven points adrift of a play-off place. The Clubman of the Year award, voted for by the club's supporters, was won by Parslow for the second time in three seasons. He was presented with the trophy at an awards' ceremony held at Bootham Crescent.

Summary and aftermath

York spent most of the season in mid-table, and having been as low as 19th in the table in November went on to reach sixth place during the last month of the season. The team's goals scored tally of 55 was the lowest of any team in the top half of the table, and the sixth lowest of any team in the division. Ingham and Meredith made the highest number of appearances during the season, each appearing in 51 of York's 52 matches. Rankine was York's top scorer in the league and in all competitions, with 12 league goals and 14 in total. He was the only player to reach double figures, and was followed by Reed with nine goals.

Before the start of the new season York released Barrett, Carruthers, Constantine, Darville, Gash, Mackin and McWilliams, with Purcell, Rankine, Jonathan Smith, Till and Young leaving for Dover Athletic, Aldershot Town, Swindon Town, Fleetwood and Alfreton Town respectively. Fyfield, Ingham and Meredith signed new contracts with York, and McDermott was retained on non-contract terms. The club's new arrivals were goalkeeper Paul Musselwhite from Lincoln, defender Lanre Oyebanjo from Histon, midfielders Patrick McLaughlin from Newcastle United, Adriano Moké from Jerez Industrial and Michael Potts from Blackburn Rovers, winger Matty Blair from Kidderminster and strikers Chambers from Leicester, Liam Henderson from Watford and Jason Walker from Luton.

Match details

League positions are sourced by Statto, while the remaining information is referenced individually.

In

Brackets around club names denote the player's contract with that club had expired before he joined York.

Out

Brackets around club names denote the player joined that club after his York contract expired.

Appearances and goals

Source: Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute. Players with names struck through and marked left the club during the playing season. Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with York. Players listed with no appearances have been in the matchday squad but only as unused substitutes. Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward