Match programme: York City v Liverpool (15 February 1986)

About this match programme

By Richard Snowball

In season 1985/86, York City had been drawn at home to non-league clubs in the first four rounds of the FA Cup.

After a scare in the 1st round with 0-0 draw against Morecambe, who chose to play the replay at Maine Road, Manchester, where York won 2-0, City comfortably beat Whitby 3-1, Wycombe Wanderers 2-0 and Altrincham 2-0.

This set up a 5th round tie for the second season running at home to Liverpool who were sitting third in Division One with York mid-table in Division Three.

As in the previous season, it was a difficult pitch at Bootham Crescent and in the first half, York gave as good as they got, and were unlucky not to have taken the lead with only Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar keeping them scoreless.

Liverpool started stronger in the second half but were shocked when York took a 61st-minute lead through Gary Ford after a four man move.

York's lead was shortlived, however, as four minutes later, Steve Senior appeared to handle the ball and Jan Molby equalised from the resulting penalty.

York continued to battle hard but as in the previous season the score finished 1-1.

York had again put up a memorable performance in the true Cup tradition built by the club over the decades.

Following the previous season's 7-0 defeat in the replay, York needed to put up a better performance this time and although they eventually lost the match 3-1 they took Liverpool to extra time, with the score 1-1 after 90 minutes.

Liverpool took the lead, but then Tony Canham equalised and many York supporters thought they were very unlucky when Keith Walwyn had a goal disallowed for a push on the Liverpool centre half after the defender and goalkeeper collided.

Liverpool went on to do the League and Cup double and York finished a creditable seventh in Division Three.

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