York Football League
York Football League |
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Founded |
1897 |
Nation |
England |
Feeder To |
Northern Counties East League |
Divisions |
Premier Division Division One Division Two Division Three Division Four Reserve A Reserve B Reserve C |
Number of Teams |
53 (15 in Premier Division) &
31 Reserve teams |
Level on Pyramid |
Level 11 (Premier Division) |
Cups |
York Senior League Cup
York Junior League Cup York Reserve League Cup |
Current Champions (2017–18) |
Wigginton Grasshoppers (Premier Division) Thorpe United (Division One) Haxby Town (Division Two) Malt Shovel (Division Three) Clifford (Division Four) |
Website |
Official Website |
Official Twitter feed |
The York Football League is a football competition based in North Yorkshire, England, founded in 1897.[1] Currently it is known under the terms of a sponsorship agreement as the York Minster Engineering Football League. It is a member of the North Riding County Football Association, and the Premier Division sits at level 11 in the English football pyramid. The most successful York clubs in history in terms of championships won are Dringhouses, York Railway Institute, Osbaldwick and Rowntrees. Three teams which now compete at higher levels in the English football system once competed in the York Football League, these are; Pickering Town, Tadcaster Albion and Knaresborough Town.
History
When the league was formed in the late 1800s, association football was just beginning to gather popularity in England. The Football League itself had only begun nine years before the York League, it was also founded prior to the city's now primary team York City. Upon the league's formation, nine teams entered into the league, the founding clubs were:
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Throughout the league's history, the only club from the first ever season to continue in an unbroken existence are Rowntrees (now known as Nestlé Rowntree) until their demise at the start of the 2013–14 season.
However, Bishopthorpe United, Easingwold Town and St. Clements are at present still playing in the York League system, after refounding at various points.
Acomb and Rowntrees (along with fellow league team, York YMCA) also went on to become founding members of the Yorkshire League for the 1920–21 season.[2]
Some teams from the York League have climbed the football ladder in the past; Pickering Town played in the league before gaining promotion in 1972. They are currently in the Northern Counties East Premier Division. Also, York Railway Institute and Rowntrees have been crowned champions of the Northern Counties East League Division One during the 1980s.
Recent times
Today it has a total of five divisions (and three reserve divisions) including the York League Premier Division which sits at level 11 of the English football league system. The league title has been regularly changing with no team retaining its since 2007–08 when Huntington Rovers achieved it. A number of teams that have recently joined the league have progressed successfully though the divisions to the Premier Division (Tadcaster Magnets, F1 Racing and Sporting Knavesmire).
New teams entering for the 2017-18 season are Clifford, Elm Bank, Stillington and Wistow.
Former professional footballers with York City played in the league, including; Andy McMillan and Christian Fox at Haxby United.
The Representative team entered the 2017/18 FA Inter League Cup, reaching the final after wins over West Riding County Amateur league, Chester and the Wirral league, Staffordshire County League and Kent County League.
Member clubs 2017–18
Premier Division
- Church Fenton
- Copmanthorpe
- Dringhouses
- Dunnington
- F1 Racing
- Hemingbrough United
- Huntington Rovers
- Malton & Norton
- Old Malton St. Mary's
- Osbaldwick
- Poppleton United
- Sporting Knavesmire
- Tadcaster Magnets
- Wigginton Grasshoppers
- York Railway Institute
Division One
- Brooklyn
- Cliffe
- Easingwold Town
- Harrison's Signs
- Kirkbymoorside
- Pocklington Town '2nd'
- Rawcliffe
- Riccall United
- Thorpe United
- Tockwith
- Wilberfoss
Division Two
- Barmby Moor
- Bishopthorpe United
- Civil Service
- Haxby United
- Heslington
- Heworth Green
- Huby United
- Stamford Bridge
- Strensall
York St. John's University
Division Three
- Bramham
- Bubwith White Swan
- Cawood
- Fulford
- Malt Shovel
- Moor Lane
- Rufforth United
- Selby Olympia
South Milford- The Raj
Wetherby Athletic '3rd'
Division Four
AFC Crayke- Clifford (new team)
- Elm Bank (new team)
- Huntington
- London & North Eastern Railway Builders
- Pollington
- St. Clements
- Stillington S&S (new team)
- Swinton AFC
- Wheldrake
Wistow (new team)
Champions
Premier Division
Here is an incomplete list of York Football League top division winners.
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Division One
Below is an incomplete list of previous champions at the second level of York League football. From 1923 until 1960 (with the exception of 1932–33, 1939–40 and 1946–47), this division was split into two groups, hence why for those years there are two champions.
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Division Two
Below is an incomplete list of previous champions at the third level of York League football. The most common structure for the league was where it was split into two groups at the same level, hence the reason for two champions in some seasons. At times there were even three groups under the same league at this level.
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Division Three
Below is an incomplete list of previous champions at the fourth level of York League football in all forms.
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