Match programme: York City v Darlington (5 October 1985)

About this match programme

By Richard Snowball

York City had a reasonable start to the 1985/86 season in Division Three winning five of their opening ten matches and losing only three.

They went into their local derby match with Darlington on the back of a 3-0 home victory over Bolton Wanderers the previous Tuesday evening.

With confidence high, York started the game at a fast pace, with their passing game pinning Darlington back, and took the lead after only 14 minutes and increased it three minutes later.

Darlington's task became even harder when they had their full back sent off mid-way through the first half.

York did not take advantage of this and did not score again until the 63 minutes, but then the goals came at regular intervals, with the final score of 7-0 being one of their best ever victories.

Tony Canham, who was signed from Harrogate Railway Athletic towards the end of the previous season, scored a hat-trick and Keith Walwyn scored twice.

After being out injured for half of the previous season, Keith Walwyn played every game and was again top goal scorer with 22 League and 7 Cup goals and during the season scored his 100th goal for the club.

Two avid York City fans, who shall remain anonymous, lived in North Yorkshire and worked with a Darlington fan at the time, and after this result they had a can of 7Up waiting for him on his desk on the following Monday morning.

Football fans can be cruel to each other, but the Darlington fan had the last laugh as they won the return game 1-0.

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