Match programme: York City v Crewe Alexandra (29 May 1993)

About this match programme

By Richard Snowball

The 1992-93 season turned out to be York City's best since winning Division Four in 1983-84 with a record 101 points.

They finished fourth in Division Three with 75 points, gaining them a play-off place.

They had beaten Bury over two legs in the semi-final, 1-0 on aggregate to qualify for the final at the old Wembley Stadium.

This was York's first ever visit to Wembley and on May 29, 1993, about 10,000 City fans made up the crowd of 22,416 for the final against Crewe Alexandra, who had finished sixth in the League, five points behind York.

York City started the match better and their fast play and quick passing soon had the Crewe defence under pressure. They created several chances and Tony Canham came nearest to scoring when his shot hit the crossbar. Although Crewe improved after the interval York continued to press and Jon McCarthy again hit the woodwork and then nearly scored in the last minute of normal time, his shot just clearing the crossbar.

To great excitement and tension the match went into extra time and just before the break York scored through York born Gary Swann, when a Paul Barnes pass put him through. Swann had also scored the winner in the play-off semi-final match at Bootham Crescent.

On the re-start York replaced influential captain Paul Stancliffe with another local player, Steve Tutill, and with one minute left Tutill inexplicably had his arm high in air and handled the ball to concede a penalty which Crewe converted.

The tension was almost unbearable for the penalty shootout and York scored their first three through McCarthy, Barnes and Canham with McKearney and Smith replying for Crewe, but then Dean Kiely the York ‘keeper saved Gareth Whalley's kick to give York a 3-2 advantage.

Pepper scored for York and Ward for Crewe to make it 4-3 and Wayne Hall stepped up to take the match winning penalty and his left footed shot went just inside the post and the celebrations began.

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