Match programme: York City v Wigan Athletic (15 September 1979)

About this match programme

By Richard Snowball

This match against Wigan Athletic played on September 15, 1979, was York City's biggest away win for six years.

They won the match 5-2 with Gordon Staniforth scoring a hat-trick, which was the first away hat-trick since Paul Aimson scored three at Hull City nearly 14 years earlier to the day.

Just over a month later, Staniforth moved to Carlisle United for a new record fee of ÂŁ120,000. A left-sided attacking player he had scored 39 goals in 151 appearances since his signing from Hull City three years earlier. He later returned to York but only played a few more games.

This result was not reflected in the end of season table, as Wigan who were only in their second season of League football finished 6th with York languished in 17th position.

Two years earlier, Wigan had knocked York out of the F.A. Cup in the 1st Round when they still a non-league club.

York City manager Charlie Wright, who had been attempting to re-build the side, was finding life difficult and in March, 1980 he was sacked and replaced by Barry Lyons, a player with vast experience at Nottingham Forest.

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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