Match programme: York City v Accrington Stanley (24 April 1954)

About this match programme

By Richard Snowball

This programme is for the last home game in the 1953-54 season which again finished in a relegation battle, with City needing two points from either this match or the last away game against fellow strugglers Halifax Town the following Tuesday night.

In the event, City lost this Accrington Stanley match 1-2, but managed a 3-2 win at Halifax thus forcing them to apply for re-election.

A notable transfer during this season was of 20-year-old David Dunmore to Tottenham Hotspur for a then club record fee of ÂŁ10,500. David was a product of local junior football and played his first game for York during the previous 1952-53 season aged 18.

A powerfully built player he scored 25 goals in 49 League and cup appearances in just over a season and a half at York attracting the attention of Division One clubs.

He was to return to York towards the end of his career in 1965 and scored another 16 goals.

The previous April, another local player Alf Patrick played his last senior game for the club having scored 117 goals in 241 League and cup matches. Alf lives in York and still takes an interest in the club aged 97.

In the period from the 1940's to 1960's York City did very well in sourcing players from local league football, notably junior club Cliftonville who played on Low Moor between Fulford and Heslington.

Acknowledgement

This facsimile of the match programme was created by the publisher of There’s Only One Arthur Bottom, the daily email newsletter for fans of York City FC.

www.tooab.com