Match programme: York City v Stoke City (4 January 1969)

About this match programme

By Richard Snowball

This match programme was published for York City’s F.A. Cup 3rd round match against Stoke City who had 1966 World Cup-winning Gordon Banks in goal.

In the 1968-69 season, York were again struggling in Division Four, and coming into their 3rd round F.A. Cup match they were fourth from the bottom of the League, exactly where they finished at the end of the season, thus having to apply for reelection for the third season running.

This they achieved, receiving 45 out of the possible 48 votes.

In the F.A. Cup, they had won their way through to the 3rd round having beaten South Shields 6-0 away from home in the 1st round, and then Morecambe 2-0 at home in the 2nd round.

In the 3rd round, played on January 4, 1969, City were drawn at home to Stoke City and the match attracted a crowd of 11,129 with, no doubt, many keen to see Gordon Banks in goal for Stoke.

Less than three years earlier, Banks had been the goalkeeper in the famous 1966 England World Cup winning side and was the outstanding ‘keeper of the era. York lost the match 2-0 but put up a good performance against a strong Stoke side.

During the season, a 17-year-old Chris Topping played his first game for York, and this match again Stoke was only his second senior appearance. He went on to play 463 games in the 10 years he was with the club.

He followed another local stalwart, Barry Jackson, who was coming to the end of his career with York.

Also in this season, winger Andy Provan and full back Gerry Baker played their last games for the club.

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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