North Riding Senior Cup

... York City's main chance of silverware

York City's NRSC history dates back to our first ever season when during 1922/3, City reached the final at first attempt, going down 4-2 to Middlesbrough at Ayresome Park.

In May 2006, City captured the North Riding Senior Cup for the 10th time in the club’s history with a 3-1 win over Northallerton. City's 11th and most recent triumph was in 2010.

Our earlier triumphs were against Middlesbrough (1950 (winning 3-0 at Ayresome Park (07/04/50) and 1979), Scarborough (1957, 1996 and 2000), Billingham Synthonia (1970), Whitby Town (1986 and 1999) and Stockton (1989).

City were also involved in the competition's biggest crowd in recent times when 12,500 flocked to the Riverside Stadium in 1997 to witness the Middlesbrough beat City 3-1, Italian star Fabrizio Ravanelli and Paul Merson were amongst the scorers.

The Teessiders also beat City in the 1955 final with a certain Brian Clough getting the only goal of the game.

In "modern" times, City won the 1998/9 competition and again in the following 2 season, with wins at Whitby (4-2, played on 29/July/1999 in pre season) and Scarborough (1-0) before Middlesbrough lifted the cup with a 2-0 win at Bootham Crescent in 2001 (attendance 948).

In City's 4-2 1999 win at Whitby, Alan Pouton (penalty) and Rodney Rowe gave City a 2 goal lead within the first 15 minutes. 5 minutes later, Mark Atkins made it 3. Whitby got one back 7 minutes before the break but any hopes of a comeback where dashed when Pouton made it 4-1 straight from te re-start. Whitby pulled a goal back on 72 minutes, but with 2 more City goals disallowed, it was an easy win for City.

As its name suggests, it is the senior county cup competition for Yorkshire’s North Riding that pre-dates today’s North Yorkshire. Inaugurated in the 1881/2 season as The Cleveland Cup, it assumed its current name in 1902.

Historically, it featured the county’s 2 Football League clubs, Middlesbrough and York, entering at the quarter or semi final stage and a host of non league clubs. Historically, Scarborough being the leading side, but including various works based teams such as ICI (Middlesbrough) and Rowntrees (York) along with the likes of polytechnic sides (e.g. Cleveland, Teesside & South Bank), Whitby, Pickering, Northallerton and others. Fixture dates determinded the strength of the leading sides, sometimes first team, but nowadays more likely reserve or junior sides. For many years, it was the only chance for City and Scarborough to meet in competitive football.

Nowadays, the competition is open to any club with affiliated to the North Riding County FA and involves teams as far down the football pyramid as the Northern Counties East Division One.

In theory, we could be drawn against a local York amatuer side, in practice I do not recall such a game. Like The FA Cup, the minnows start out with qualifying rounds, the big boys (City (yes, the big boys) and Middlesbrough) usually join at the last 8 stage. However, over the years we have played the likes of Stocksbridge, Billingham Synthonia, ICI, Skinnington Iron And Steel Works, Scarborough Penguins and South Bank (Middlesbrough).

Although there are no age restrictions on sides, City usually put out a reserve or youth based team, however, City have been known to put out a stronger side, especially in later rounds.

It suffered from floating timescales, sometimes pre season, others late season and was even abandoned when lack of interest or time prevailed.

The 2006 Yorkshire Evening Press report is produced below:

On Tuesday May 2 , 2006, YORK City's baby-faced North Riding Cup final winning team put forward convincing arguments for the continuation of youth and reserve team football at KitKat Crescent last night.

Goals from teenage trio Alex Rhodes, Neale Holmes and Chas Wrigley secured a 3-1 victory over promoted Northern League first division outfit Northallerton Town at KitKat Crescent to mark the end of the 2005/06 season with silverware.

It was also a performance full of promise with Colin Walker's side containing eight trainees from the club's youth programme, which the club have expressed a commitment to keeping despite the withdrawal of £69,000 in funding received over the past two seasons from the Football League, Premier League, FA, PFA and Sport England.

Encouragingly, the young Minstermen looked comfortable and sensible in possession throughout the match against their older and stronger opponents with midfield playmaker Holmes particularly catching the eye, scoring an excellent goal during a tidy display.

City went ahead on nine minutes when Rhodes chased a long ball over the top of the Northallerton defence and drilled a low shot past 'keeper Sam Dobbs.

Northallerton right-back Simon Kasonali then went close with a free kick at the other end before Holmes extended the Minstermen's lead on 23 minutes when Bryan Stewart's cross from the right was only cleared as far as the penalty box.

Holmes took one touch to control the ball before sending an impressive dipping effort into Dobbs' top right-hand corner.

Dave Merris almost added a quick third with a driving 40-yard run into the visitors penalty box and Stewart also saw a low shot fumbled behind at his near post by Dobbs.

City's youngsters were not as dominant during the second period and Northallerton reduced the deficit on 79 minutes when goalkeeper Arran Reid spilled a corner and substitute Craig Skelton found the roof of the net from 15 yards.

Stewart should have replied on 82 minutes but made a hash of his attempted lob after being sent clear on goal by Holmes.

The Minstermen ensured victory four minutes later, however, when a brave run and cross by Nathan Kamara, who colliding into the advertising hoardings and injured himself in the process, led to Wrigley firing into the roof of the net from six yards.

City match facts.

North Riding Senior Cup Final

York City 3, Northallerton 1

(at KitKat Crescent)

York City: Arran Reid, Nathan Kamara (Michael Walsh, 87), Darren Hollingsworth, Mark Hotte, David Merris, Bryan Stewart, Byron Webster, Neale Holmes, Anthony Taylor (Danny Phillips, 81), Chas Wrigley (Mark Holt, 90), Alex Rhodes. Subs not used: Andy McWilliams, Liam Shepherd.

Goals: Rhodes 9, Holmes 23, Wrigley 86.

Northallerton Town: Sam Dobbs, Simon Kasonali, Dominic Gamble (Craig Skelton, 75), Andrew Swalwell (Dane Wilson, 21), Stuart Jackson, Michael Waller, Graeme Williams, Steven Cochrane, Carl Chillingsworth, Ross Diamond, Karl Charlton (David Cooke, 87). Subs not used: Paul Curry, Paul Burton. Skelton 79.

Referee: P Quinn.

Attendance: 429.

Admission was £6, less than half of the normal price that season.

1990 When City visited Whitby in September 2020 for a friendly, the progarmme recalled their 1990 NRSC success over City at Bootham Crescent, "Whitby had a chance to take the lead after 5 minutes when Richie Gowans 15 yard shot was deflected wide and from the resultant corner Paul Sharkey's near post header was well saved at the foot of the post by Dean Kiely, on loan from Coventry. Whitby opened the scoring 7 minutes before the break when Sharkey broke clear, beat a defender before crossing for Paul Pitman to fire the ball high into the corner of Kiely's net. 9 minutes into the second half, Whitby doubled their lead when Steve French hammered the ball past the diving Kiely from the edge of the box. York fought back and 12 minutes later a free kick fron Ricky Greenough was headed back out to Geoff Thompson who looped his shot into the net for 2-1. Whitby held out to claim a great victory".

A Bit Of History

City went onto win the cup for an 11th time in 2010 beating Stokesley 2-0 in the final. City's success is put into the shadows by Middlesbrough who the competition for a 55th time in 2018. Even Scarborough have 19 wins to their name. Read More

Footnote (2): City's first ever trophy was the East Riding Senior Cup which they won by beating Beverley White Star. Presumably, the club's Fulfordgate location implied membership of the East Riding FA.

Footnote (2): At the end of the 1954/5 season, in recognition of City's FA Cup exploits, City were invited by The East Riding FA to play Hull City at Boothferry Park in the East Riding Invitation Cup. 8,958 saw a goalless draw, both clubs held the trophy for 6 months. City were invited to play Hull for the cup a year later, winning 7-4 on aggregate, 8,881 saw City beat Hull 5-0 at home in the second leg, largely thanks to an Arthur Bottom hat trick.

City's 2016/7 NRSC Campaign

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City's 2018/9 NRSC Campaign

City's 2019/20 NRSC Campaign