Match programme: York City v Manchester City (8 May 1999)

About this match programme

By Richard Snowball

Since promotion in the play-off final in 1993 at Wembley, York City had enjoyed five seasons in Division Two (the present League One), but in season 1998-99 they were struggling at the bottom end of the table.

Coming into the last game of the season, they were sixth from the bottom needing one point to remain safe.

This last match was played on May 8, 1999, away at Manchester City who were lying third in the table and trying to climb back up the pyramid.

Earlier in the season, on December 19, 1998, York had inflicted a 2-1 defeat on Manchester at Bootham Crescent before a crowd of 7,527.

Many Manchester City supporters still think that this was the lowest point in their club's history, but at the same time the turning point for their climb back up through the leagues.

Manchester City gained revenge for their earlier defeat and beat York City 4-0 before a crowd of 32,471 to consolidate their play-off position.

This was the biggest crowd to watch a York City league match since 1975, when 46,802 saw Manchester United beat York 2-1 at Old Trafford.

The sting in the tale for York City was that both Oldham Athletic and Wycombe Wanderers won their matches, thus consigning York to relegation This was the only time in the season that York had been in a relegation position and was one of the saddest days in their history.

Manchester City gained promotion by beating Gillingham in the play-off.

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.

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