The York Football League is a football competition based in

North Yorkshire North Yorkshire is the largest ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county (lieutenancy area) in England, covering an area of . Around 40% of the county is covered by National parks of the United Kingdom, national parks, including most of ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

, founded in 1897. 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 The North Riding County Football Association, also known as the ''North Riding FA'', is the association football, football sport governing body, governing body for the North Riding of Yorkshire. Its headquarters are located in the town of Stokes ...

, 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 Rowntree's is a British confectionery brand and former business based in York, England. Rowntree developed the Kit Kat (introduced in 1935), Aero (introduced in 1935), Fruit Pastilles (introduced in 1881), Smarties (introduced in 1937) brands, ...

. Three teams which now compete at higher levels in the English football system once competed in the York Football League:

Pickering Town Pickering Town Football Club is an English football club based in Pickering, North Yorkshire. The club was founded in 1888 and are currently members of the . History Pickering Town Football Club were first established in 1888, for many yea ...

Tadcaster Albion Tadcaster Albion Association Football Club is an association football club in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, England. Formed in 1892, their ground is situated behind the John Smith's brewery in Tadcaster, thus the reason for their nickname "The B ...

and Knaresborough Town.

History

When the league was formed in the late 1800s,

association football Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...

was just beginning to gather popularity in

The Football League The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional association football, football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, the league is the oldest such competition in Association football around the wor ...

itself had only begun nine years before the York League; it was also founded prior to the city's now primary team

York City York City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of York, North Yorkshire, England. As of the 2022–23 season, the team compete in the National League, at the fifth tier of the English football league sys ...

. Upon the league's formation, nine teams entered into the league, the founding clubs were:

Throughout the league's history, the only club from the first-ever season to continue in an unbroken existence is Rowntrees (now known as Nestlé Rowntree) until its 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 YMCA, sometimes regionally called the Y, is a worldwide youth organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, with more than 64 million beneficiaries in 120 countries. It was founded on 6 June 1844 by George Williams (philanthropist), Georg ...

) also went on to become founding members of the Yorkshire League for the 1920–21 season.Football Club History Database
/ref> Some teams from the York League have climbed the football ladder in the past.

played in the league before gaining promotion in 1972. They are currently in the Northern Counties East Premier Division. Also, York Railway Institute and

were 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 Christian Benjamin Fox (born 11 April 1981) is a Scottish football manager, most recently for Selby Town, and former professional footballer who played as a midfielder for York City, Larne, Selby Town, Pickering Town and Wakefield Wakefie ...

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 2022-23

Premier Division

*Dringhouses *Dunnington *Easingwold Town AFC *Huntington Rovers *Kirkbymoorside *Malt Shovel (Selby) *Old Malton St Mary's *Osbaldwick *Poppleton United *Rawcliffe *Tadcaster Magnets *Thorpe United *Wigginton Grasshoppers

Division One

Bishopthorpe White Rose , Cawood , Duncombe Park , Haxby Town , Hemingbrough United , Pocklington Town 2nd , Pollington , Rufforth United , Strensall Tigers , Tockwith AFC

Division Two

Bubwith White Swan , Civil Service (York) , Cliffe , Clifford , Garforth LG , Helperby United , Heslington , Howden AFC , Stamford Bridge AFC , Walnut Tree , Wheldrake

Division Three

Church Fenton , Copmanthorpe , Ebor Wanderers , Elvington Harriers , Fulford , Hamilton Panthers , South Milford , Sporting Knavesmire , Wilberfoss AFC , York St John University YSJ (Sat)

Division Four

Barmby Moor , Bishop Wilton , Hensall Hawks Open Age , Knottingley Albion Junior York League , London NE Railway Builders , Marton Abbey , Selby Olympia , The Beagle , York Railway Institute , York Shamrocks

Champions

Premier Division

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. *1909–10

*1910–11 Easingwold *1911–12 Lowther United *1912–13 Cawood United *1913–14 Acomb *1916–19 ''Suspended due to

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

'' *1919–20 Burton Lane Working Mens Club *1920–21 Fishergate Old Boys *1921–22 Archbishop Holgates Old Boys *1922–23 St Lawrences Working Mens Club *1923–24 St Lawrences Working Mens Club / Tadcaster Albion *1924–25 St Lawrences Working Mens Club / Selby Olympia *1925–26 Clarence C&I / Selby Olympia *1926–27 LNER Locomotive / South Bank Working Mens Club *1927–28 LNER Locomotive / Poppleton United *1928–29 LNER P'way / South Bank *1929–30 Selby East Common / Malton Bible Class *1930–31 Clarence C&I / RA & Signals *1931–32 Selby Brayton Road / Poppleton Road OB *1932–33 Tadcaster Albion] *1933–34 LNER Institute / 3rd Hussars *1934–35 Easingwold Town / Riccall United *1935–36 Market Weighton / Duncombe Park *1936–37 Fulford United / Old Malton St Mary's *1937–38 Fulford United / Acomb *1938–39 Old Priory / York Railway Institute *1939–40 Easingwold Town *1941–46 ''Suspended due to

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

'' *1946–47 New Earswick *1947–48 United Services / Poppleton Road Old Boys *1948–49 Fulford Road WMC / Market Weighton *1949–50 Fulford United / South Bank *1950–51 Cliftonville / Clifton & Rawcliffe Community Association *1951–52 Huntington Rovers / Catholic United *1952–53 BR Nomads / Knaresborough *1953–54 Pickering Town / Catholic United *1954–55 Riccall United / Haxby *1955–56 Duncombe Park / Ardua *1956–57 Olympia Mills (Selby) / South Bank *1957–58 Old Malton St. Mary's / Rowntrees *1958–59 Cawood / Dunnington *1959–60 Fulford United / Holme Rovers *1960–61 South Bank / Cookes *1961–62 Selby Shipyards / Civil Service *1962–63 Easingwold Town / NMU *1963–64 Olympia Mills (Selby) / British Sugar *1964–65 Huntington Rovers *1965–66 Fulford United *1966–67 NMU *1967–68 Vickers *1968–69 Wilberfoss Athletic *1969–70 Riccall United *1970–71 Old Malton St. Mary's *1971–72 Amotherby & Swinton *1972–73 New Earswick *1973–74 British Sugar *1974–75 Sheriff Hutton *1975–76 Pickering Town *1976–77 Rangers *1977–78 Melbourne *1978–79 Brayton *1979–80 Post Office *1980–81 York Railway Institute *1981–82 Huntington Rovers *1982–83 Dringhouses *1983–84 St John's College *1984–85 Cliftonville *1985–86 Huntington Rovers *1986–87 Griffin *1987–88 Olympia Mills *1988–89 Riccall United *1989–90 Westlers United *1990–91 New Earswick *1991–92 General Accident *1992–93 Wigginton Grasshoppers *1993–94 Boroughbridge *1994–95 New Earswick *1995–96 Rufforth United *1996–97 Pocklington SC *1997–98 General Accident *1998–99 York Sugar *1999–2000 Wigginton Grasshoppers *2000–01 Riccall United *2001–02 Malton Bacon Factory *2002–03 Wigginton Black Horse *2003–04 Thorpe United *2004–05 Nestlé Rowntree *2005–06 Heslington *2006–07 Haxby United *2007–08 Wilberfoss *2008–09 Riccall United *2009–10 York Railway Institute *2010–11 Wigginton Grasshoppers *2011–12 Terrington Glory *2012–13 Aviva *2013–14 Tadcaster Magnets *2014–15 F1 Racing *2015–16 Malton & Norton *2016–17 Poppleton United *2017–18 Thorpe United *2018–19 Pocklington Town 2nd

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. *1909–10 Escrick Park *1910–11 Melbourne A S *1911–12 Clifton Church Institute *1912–13 Bishopthorpe *1913–14 South Bank *1914–19 ''Suspended due to

'' *1919–20 Central Mission *1920–21 Huntington *1921–22 Poppleton United *1922–23 Model School Old Boys *1923–24 Clarence C&I / LMS Railway *1924–25 Poppleton Road Old Boys / Fulford United *1925–26 Acomb AS / Church Fenton *1926–27 Acomb AS / Tadcaster United *1927–28 LNER P'way / RA Signals *1928–29 Huntington Rovers / St Georges Wesleyans *1929–30 Stamford Bridge *1930–31 Huntington Rovers / Poppleton Road Working Mens Club *1931–32 Acomb Carr Lane / Riccall United *1932–33 Stamford Bridge / St. Maurice's *1933–34 Heslington / Eborcraft *1934–35 Crescent Working Mens Club / RAOC *1935–36 Haxby Fellowship / Acomb *1936–37 Pocklington *1937–38 Clifton Colliery Institute *1938–39 Poppleton United / Cawood *1939–46 ''Suspended due to

'' *1946–47 Fulford Road WMC / Pocklington US *1947–48 Huntington Rovers / RAF Rufforth *1948–49 Cliftonville Youth Club / C&W Nomads / INL *1949–50 Clifton & Rawcliffe Community Association / South Bank / NMU *1950–51 Pavilion Rangers / Poppleton SF / Groves United *1951–52 Heslington / Knaresborough / Escrick Park *1952–53 Cookes / RAF Church Fenton / Gleneagles *1953–54 Fulford Road Working Mens Club / South Bank Reserves *1954–55 Duncombe Park / Crayke *1955–56 Wilberfoss Athletic / Haxby Reserves *1956–57 Cliftonville Reserves / Mail Coach United *1957–58 Yard Staff Reserves / LNER Builders *1958–59 Easingwold Town / Crayke *1959–60 Armstrong / Hammerton United *1960–61 Selby St. Mary's / NMU *1961–62 Heworth / Haxby Reserves *1962–63 Unicrux / Strensall *1963–64 Ampleforth / Escrick Brick & Tile Works *1964–65 Fulford United *1965–66 Newton-on-Ouse *1966–67 Wilberfoss Athletic *1967–68 Heworth *1968–69 Stillington *1969–70 Old Malton St. Mary's *1970–71 FC Melrose *1971–72 Post Office *1972–73 Pocklington Social Club *1973–74 Sheriff Hutton *1974–75 St John's College *1975–76 Moor Lane Youth Club *1976–77 Cawood *1977–78 Kingsway *1978–79 Water Lane Youth Club *1979–80 St John's College *1980–81 Chapelfields Youth Club *1981–82 Dringhouses *1982–83 Fulford United *1983–84 Olympia Mills (Selby) *1984–85 Selby Town Reserves *1985–86 Old Malton St Mary's *1986–87 Bishopthorpe United *1987–88 Westlers United *1988–89 Stamford Bridge *1989–90 General Accident *1990–91 Black a Moor *1991–92 Old Malton St Mary's *1992–93 York Sugar *1993–94 Fulford United *1994–95 Kartiers *1995–96 Malton Bacon Factory *1996–97 Copmanthorpe *1997–98 York Sugar *1998–99 Thorpe United *1999–2000 South Bank *2000–01 Hammerton United *2001–02 Tate & Lyle Selby *2002–03 Hamilton Panthers *2003–04 Easingwold Town *2004–05 Heslington *2005–06 Poppleton United *2006–07 Osbaldwick *2007–08 York Railway Institute *2008–09 Hemingbrough United *2009–10 St. Clements *2010–11 Terrington Glory *2011–12 Church Fenton White Horse *2012–13 Tadcaster Magnets *2013–14 F1 Racing *2014–15 Sporting Knavesmire *2015–16 Thorpe United *2016–17 Wilberfoss *2017–18 Haxby Town *2018–19 Malt Shovel

Division Three

Below is an incomplete list of previous champions at the fourth level of York League football in all forms. *1920–21 Poppleton United *1921–22 Phoenix Working Mens Club *1922–23 Manor School Old Boys *1923–36 ''not competed'' *1936–37 Riccall United *1937–38 Church Fenton *1938–65 ''not competed'' *1965–66 Cross Keys *1966–67 Fulford Road Working Mens Club *1967–68 Bishop Wilton *1968–69 Amotherby & Swinton *1969–70 FC Melrose *1970–71 New Earswick *1971–72 Cravens *1972–73 Sheriff Hutton *1973–74 Crown Hotel *1974–75 Moor Lane Youth Club *1975–76 Cawood *1976–77 Kingsway *1977–78 Chapelfields Youth Club *1978–79 Osbaldwick *1979–80 Aruda *1980–81 Ebor *1981–82 Olympia Mills (Selby) *1982–83 Selby Town Reserves *1983–84 Hemingbrough United *1984–85 Melbourne *1985–86 Poppleton United *1986–87 Westlers United *1987–88 Rangers *1988–89 Black a Moor *1989–90 Ben Johnsons *1990–91 Selby RSSC *1991–92 Post Office *1992–93 Whitemoor *1993–94 Kartiers *1994–95 Malton Bacon Factory *1995–96 Cawood *1996–97 Hamilton Panthers *1997–98 Thorpe United *1998–99 Stillington *1999–2000 Hammerton United *2000–01 Tate & Lyle Selby *2001–02 LNER Builders *2002–03 Wilberfoss *2003–04 Tockwith *2004–05 Sheriff Hutton *2005–06 Huby United *2006–07 St. Clements *2007–08 Heworth *2008–09 Terrington Glory *2009–10 Strensall *2010–11 Cliffe *2011–12 Tadcaster Magnets *2012–13 F1 Racing *2013–14 Sporting Knavesmire *2014–15 Kirkbymoorside *2015–16 Wilberfoss *2016–17 Heworth Green *2017–18 Malt Shovel *2018–19 Wheldrake

References

External links

York League (Current)York League (Old)York Minster Engineering League @ TheFA.comYork Press – Football News
{{Men's football in England Football leagues in England Football in North Yorkshire 1897 establishments in England Sports leagues established in 1897 Football competitions in Yorkshire