Match programme: York City v Middlesbrough (1 January 1987)

About this match programme

By Richard Snowball

After two successful seasons in Division Three, York City were struggling with injuries and went into the local derby match with Middlesbrough on New Years Day, 1987, without a win in two months, and only managing four draws in that time.

On the other hand, their opponents were riding high after being relegated the previous season and York expected a tough game.

However York City turned their form round and came out with a 3-1 victory with goals from Martin Butler and two from Keith Walwyn.

The attendance of 8,611 was by far the biggest of the season with the average only being 3,432.

At the end of the season, Middlesbrough finished second to Bournemouth and were promoted, along with Swindon Town and Wigan Athletic, whilst York finished fifth from the bottom of the League, four points clear of relegation.

To compound a poor season, they were also knocked out of the F.A. Cup by nonleague Caernarfon Town in a replay at Bootham Crescent, the first time this had happened since they had been a Football League club.

The management team of Denis Smith and Viv Busby left the club at the end of the season and went to manage Sunderland.

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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