Match programme: York City v Aston Villa (17 August 1974)

About this match programme

By Richard Snowball

August 17, 1974, was a memorable day in the history of York City as it provided the club’s first match in Division Two (later known as the Championship). The visitors were Aston Villa, one of the oldest and best know clubs in English football.

An excited crowd of 9,396 turned out to watch the game which saw York start very strongly and they scored after only eight minutes when Barry Lyons put a low shot into the corner of the net after a short passed free kick from Ian Holmes.

Aston Villa fought their way into the game and it became more end-to-end and after 30 minutes, Ray Graydon equalised with a header.

In the second half, both sides had periods of dominance but neither could force a winning goal and the match finished 1-1.

It was a wonderful day for York fans and one they will never forget.

At the end of the season, it proved to have been a good performance as Aston Villa finished second in the League to Manchester United.

Other accomplished teams in Division Two that season included Sunderland, West Brom, Nottingham Forest, Fulham, Norwich City and Sheffield Wedneday who finished bottom and were relegated.

York's highest position in the League that season was in October 1974 when they were fifth, but by the end of the season they finished fifteenth, still a wonderful achievement.

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, and TOOAB contributors Richard Snowball, Terry Espiner and Paul Bowser.

www.tooab.com