By Riley Nichol
York City FC proved themselves as formidable challengers in the 24/25 Vanarama National League, finishing in an impressive 2nd place and totalling 96 league points. Despite faltering in the playoff semi-final against a strong Oldham side, York City found an excess of joy throughout the season, winning 29 of their league fixtures and losing just 7!
This season came as a shock to many football fans, including even the York City faithful, after an admittedly disappointing previous campaign which saw the Minstermen tally 53 points, just 1 point above the relegation zone. The introduction of manager Adam Hinshelwood has proven to be a great appointment, as he has demonstrated his expertise by transforming a relegation candidate into a title-challenging side, in under a year.
Hinshelwood’s fluid, forward-thinking style of play, combined with his exciting attacking signings, were the key to York City taking the National League by storm last season, scoring an incredible 95 league goals (compared to the previous season’s 55). The introduction of Ollie Pearce, Ashley Nathaniel-George and Tyrese Sinclair on free transfers also proved to be wonderful business by City, allowing Hinshelwood to play the free-flowing football that subsequently found such glory for the Minstermen.
Whilst the season was an overall success, missing out on promotion to the Football League was a huge disappointment following the expectations set throughout 24/25, as Hinshelwood and his team look to strengthen their ranks in preparation for another big season in the Vanarama National League…
Highlights of 24/25:
One of the major highlights of this season for many fans across York is undoubtedly Ollie Pearce’s goalscoring record. Pearce signed for York City on a free transfer from Worthing, following his former manager Adam Hinshelwood to the club.
Whilst a small group of fans doubted Pearce’s ability to make the step-up to the National League, most were head over heels for his outstanding output, and welcomed him to the club warmly. Pearce very quickly proved this small group wrong, by scoring in his home debut at the LNER Community Stadium against Tamworth, and netting a further 30 to finish the season as the National League’s top goalscorer, on 31 goals.
As the Minstermen couldn’t stop scoring early in the season, fans around the city swiftly warmed to this new system, seeing their team score an abundance of goals in just a few games. Big scorelines early on included a confident 3-0 win at home to AFC Fylde (who finished 2 places above York City in the prior season), demonstrating York’s rapid progress. The following week, City bested Solihull Moors in another 3-0 win away from home. The next 3 months included even more chaotic scorelines, such as 4-0, 5-3, 4-0 and 6-2 – Hinshelwood had soon gained a reputation amongst fans as an attacking-minded genius.
These early months of the season also included a massive 3-1 home win against title-challengers Barnet on October 22nd, with York City midfielder Marvin Armstrong striking against his former club to equalise on the stroke of half-time, and get his side back into the game.
The Minstermen came out even stronger in the second half, as fan favourite midfielder Alex Hunt struck a glorious free kick into the corner of the net to take the lead lavishly, followed by a routine Ollie Pearce finish into the bottom corner less than 3 minutes later. This was the moment many fans in red and blue realised their team may truly have what it takes to compete with the very best in the league, boosting an already-impressive start to the season to new heights!
The following game, just 4 days later, the York City away support witnessed one of its most ludicrous derby results ever… York City vs Halifax is a highly anticipated fixture every season for fans of both clubs, and the Yorkshire derby almost always makes for an action-packed affair. On this occasion, Halifax pegged back York City with a 14th-minute goal, and the match began to open up in the second half. On a day when the Minstermen felt the goals just wouldn’t come, the promising young centre-back Malachi Fagan-Walcott poked the ball into the back of the net in the 91st minute, following a messy corner – the away end believed they’d rescued a point, but much to their enjoyment, it wasn’t over yet! In the 96th minute, experienced midfielder Dan Batty whipped a ball into the box following a free kick, finding captain Callum Howe, who rose to the cross and knocked the ball over to the back post, as Pearce sniffed it out and nodded it into the back of the net. Going from a goal down in the 90th minute to winning 2-1 at The Shay is surely an iconic moment for York City fans to relish for years to come!
Struggles of 24/25:
Whilst this football season was certainly a resounding success, many fans can’t help but feel slightly underwhelmed by failing to achieve promotion to League Two due to the controversial single auto-promotion place, which was lost out to Barnet.
Understandably, many fans feel that York City proved themselves to be a cut above the rest of the league, and deserved to be automatically promoted without the need for play-offs; however, City were well beaten by Oldham, and will remain in the Vanarama National League for the upcoming 25/26 season.
At one point in the season, York City and Barnet were separated by just a few points, and everything was building up to a huge game at the Hive stadium…
Going into the game, York City trailed league leaders Barnet by 4 points in 2nd place, meaning a big win was needed to take them within 1 point of The Bees. On the flip side, a loss at the Hive would have given City a hill to climb, leaving them 7 points behind first place. Sadly, Barnet put in a title-winning performance to remain unbeaten at home in the league, and managed to get the better of the Minstermen, flipping the score of the reverse fixture and beating York City 3-1.
Following such a prolific period for the team, this lethargic and uninspiring performance from Hinshelwood’s side came out of the blue, leaving questions to be asked about their determination, grit and spirit.
York City dropped 2 further points in a 2-2 draw with Halifax at home in another bizarre derby, as the Shaymen took a two-goal lead within 3 minutes.
This was a real low point for this group of York players, off the back of a shattering loss away at Barnet. Positively, the Minstermen showed some fight and rescued a point, clawing back two goals, scoring an equaliser in the 100th minute, and providing a definitive answer to fans doubting their grit – I’m sure Halifax are sick of these late York City goals by now!
After these results, York struggled to find consistency, and the gap between 2nd and 1st only continued to grow. By the time a good run of form was eventually found, it was too late, and fans accepted a 2nd-place finish; it’s an excellent league finish for the club nevertheless!
Looking ahead…
After what was a scintillating and largely positive 24/25 campaign, those at York City will look forward to the upcoming National League season with plenty of confidence, and intent to gain promotion to the Football League. Hinshelwood has worked miracles in his time at the club so far, adjusting even the most negative York fans’ expectations of the team.
His club will be looking to raise the bar even higher next season and become the team to beat!
With a positive start to the summer break and plenty of fresh signings, excitement for the new season is growing across York…
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