About this match programme
By Richard Snowball This programme is for the F.A.Cup semi-final replay between York City and Newcastle United during the 1954-55 season. After putting up a battling performance in the semi-final against 1st division Newcastle United, played in atrocious conditions at Hillsborough, York travelled the following Wednesday to Roker Park, Sunderland for the replay. Sunderland themselves had lost to Manchester City in the other semi-final and no doubt knowing the rivalry between Newcastle and Sunderland fans many of the locals in the attendance of 58,239 would no doubt have been cheering on York City. York welcomed back Sid Storey who had missed the Hillsborough game through injury, but went a goal down after only three minutes. City fought on gallantly until just after half time, when their task was made even harder after centre half Alan Stewart sustained a bad head cut and had to leave the pitch for 12 minutes to have stitches. When he returned he could not play in his normal central defensive position and went on to the right wing. This was long before substitutes were allowed to be used. York's vision of reaching Wembley for the final was not to be when Newcastle scored their second goal in the 90th minute. The dream was over, but not before York City had earned the respect of football fans all over the country for the quality of the football they had played since the 1st Round match against Scarborough four months earlier in November 1954. 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. www.tooab.com