York Football League

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.

York Football League
Founded
1897
Nation
England
Feeder To
Northern Counties East League
Divisions
Premier Division
Division One
Division Two
Division Three

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 (2018–19)
Old Malton St Mary's (Premier Division)
Pocklington Town 2nd (Division One)
Malt Shovel (Division Two)
Wheldrake (Division Three)
Clifford (Division Four)
Website
Official Website
Twitter
Official Twitter feed

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:

 
  • Acomb
  • Bishopthorpe
  • Easingwold
   
  • York St. Clements
  • York Trinity
  • York Wednesday
York League side Poppleton United in 1908.

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 four 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 it 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 2020-21

Premier Division

Division One

  • Bishopthorpe United
  • Brooklyn
  • Cliffe
  • Harrison Signs
  • Haxby Town
  • Malt Shovel
  • Osbaldwick
  • Pocklington Town 2nd
  • Riccall United
  • Stamford Bridge
  • Tockwith

Division Two

  • Bubwith White Swan
  • Cawood
  • Civil Service
  • Clifford
  • Heslington
  • Pollington
  • Rufforth United
  • The Beagle
  • Wheldrake
  • Wombleton Wanderers

Division Three

  • Barmby Moor
  • Church Fenton
  • Copmanthorpe
  • Crayke United
  • Duncombe Park
  • Fulford United
  • Garforth LG
  • Helperby United
  • Walnut Tree
  • Wilberfoss
  • York St John University

Division Four

  • Bishop Wilton
  • Elvington Harriers
  • Howden
  • Kellingley Welfare 2nd
  • LNER Builders
  • Marton Abbey
  • Selby Olympia
  • South Milford
  • Sporting Knavesmire
  • Thirsk Falcons Development
  • York RI

Champions

Premier Division

Club Winners Championship seasons
Dringhouses 12 1932–33, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1993–94, 1994–95, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2010–11
York Railway Institute 11 1935–36, 1936–37, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1940–41, 1949–50, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1953–54, 1967–68
Osbaldwick 11 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1996–97
Rowntrees 10 1901–02, 1930–31, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1972–73, 1975–76, 1978–79, 1980–81, 1981–82
Knaresborough 9 1902–03, 1903–04, 1904–05, 1908–09, 1924–25, 1925–26, 1928–29, 1933–34, 1934–35
Riccall United 7 1970–71, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1976–77, 1977–78, 2014–15
Old Malton St. Mary's 5 2000–01, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2018–19
East Yorkshire Regiment 3 1911–12, 1912–13, 1913–14
Selby Olympia 3 1926–27, 1927–28, 1931–32
Pickering Town 3 1955–56, 1966–67, 1969–70
Boroughbridge 3 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000
Market Weighton 2 1954–55, 1956–57
Haxby United 2 1982–83, 2009–10
Pocklington Town 2 2001–02, 2002–03
Huntington Rovers 2 2006–07, 2007–08
Wigginton Grasshoppers 2 2016–17, 2017–18
NER United 1 1905–06
York and Lancaster Regiment 1 1906–07
St. Paul's 1 1907–08
5th Royal Irish Lancers 1 1909–10
Green Howards 1 1910–11
Lowther United 1 1919–20
Durham Light Infantry 1 1923–24
Northumberland Fusiliers 1 1929–30
Old Priory 1 1939–40
Tadcaster Albion 1 1947–48
Cookes 1 1948–49
Holme Rovers 1 1962–63
Vickers 1 1968–69
Brayton 1 1979–80
Bishopthorpe United 1 1995–96
Hamilton Panthers 1 2008–09
Dunnington 1 2012–13

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.

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.

Division Three

Below is an incomplete list of previous champions at the fourth level of York League football in all forms.

References

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