A man standing on a grass football pitch, wearing a red shirt, black shorts and red socks, and holding a trophy.
Paul Barnes lifting the Billy Fenton Memorial Trophy, which he won in the 1993–94 season

York City Football Club is a professional association football club based in York, North Yorkshire, England. Founded in 1922, the club was elected to play in the Midland League, and competed in this league for seven seasons before being elected to the Football League as members of the Third Division North in 1929.[1] York reached the second tier of English football with promotion to the Second Division in 1974, but were relegated two years later.[2] York became the first team to reach 100 points in a Football League season after winning the 1983–84 Fourth Division championship with 101 points, which remains to be the club's only league title.[3] The club was relegated to the Football Conference following the 2003–04 season,[4] but returned to the Football League with victory in the 2012 Conference Premier play-off final.[5]

The York City Clubman of the Year award is voted for annually by the club's supporters to name a player who throughout the season has met the three criteria of sportsmanship, effort on the field of play and ability.[6] Previously fans voted by either handing a voting form to the club or by e-mailing the club[7] and can now vote via an online poll.[8] As a mark of respect, the trophy is named the Billy Fenton Memorial Trophy, after player Billy Fenton, who died suddenly in 1973.[9] The award is presented before the final home match of the season, for many years by Fenton's widow, Margot Fenton.[10][11] However, the presentation of the award took place at an awards night in 2011,[12] while the following year it was presented after the final home game of the season.[13] From 2014 to 2015, an awards night was held at York Racecourse to present the award.[14][15] In 2016, the award was presented before the final home match of the season.[16]


Since the inaugural award was made to Phil Burrows in 1974, 38 different players have won the award. Eight of these players have won the award for at least a second time, the most recent being Sean Newton. Newton and Daniel Parslow are the only players to have received the award on three occasions. Gordon Staniforth was the first to win the trophy in consecutive seasons, a feat since emulated by John MacPhail, Barry Jones and Alan Fettis. Three winners of the award have represented their country at senior international level, of whom Jon McCarthy and Alan Fettis went on to become Clubman of the Year for a second time.[17][18][19] Chris Brass, the winner of the 2003 award, went on to manage the club from 2003 to 2004.[20] The current incumbent of the award is Olly Dyson, who was the 2022–23 recipient.

Key

Winners

A man standing on a grass football pitch, wearing a black suit.
Gordon Staniforth was the first player to win the award twice, receiving it in the 1977–78 and 1978–79 seasons.
A man standing on a grass football pitch, wearing a black jumper.
Steve Tutill made 366 appearances in 12 seasons with York.[22]
A group of people standing on a grass football pitch, only two are fully visible.
Scott Kerr (left) won the award for 2011–12, a season which culminated in York's return to the Football League.[5]
As of the end of the 2022–23 season
Season Level[a] Name Position[b] Nationality Apps[c] Goals[c] Notes
1973–74 3 Phil Burrows Defender  England 54 3 [d]
1974–75 2 ‡ Chris Topping Defender  England 45 2
1975–76 2 Micky Cave Midfielder  England 38 8
1976–77 3 ‡ Brian Pollard Midfielder  England 52 13
1977–78 4 ‡ Gordon Staniforth Forward  England 50 13
1978–79 4 Gordon Staniforth (2) Forward  England 52 19 [e]
1979–80 4 Ian McDonald Midfielder  England 51 9
1980–81 4 Eddie Blackburn Goalkeeper  England 51 0
1981–82 4 Keith Walwyn Forward  Saint Kitts and Nevis 49 25
1982–83 4 Derek Hood Midfielder  England 52 9 [f]
1983–84 4 John MacPhail Defender  Scotland 52 10
1984–85 3 ‡ John MacPhail (2) Defender  Scotland 55 9 [e]
1985–86 3 Simon Mills Midfielder  England 46 1
1986–87 3 Keith Walwyn (2) Forward  Saint Kitts and Nevis 52 25 [e]
1987–88 3 Dale Banton Forward  England 43 18
1988–89 4 ‡ Ian Helliwell Forward  England 47 11
1989–90 4 Chris Marples Goalkeeper  England 53 0
1990–91 4 Steve Tutill Defender  England 50 0
1991–92 4 Jon McCarthy Midfielder  Northern Ireland 49 9
1992–93 4 Paul Stancliffe Defender  England 48 1
1993–94 3 ‡ Paul Barnes Forward  England 49 25
1994–95 3 Jon McCarthy (2) Midfielder  Northern Ireland 50 10 [e]
1995–96 3 Andy McMillan Defender  South Africa 57 1
1996–97 3 Tony Barras Defender  England 57 1
1997–98 3 Steve Bushell Midfielder  England 47 5
1998–99 3 Barry Jones Defender  England 51 2
1999–2000 4 ‡ Barry Jones (2) Defender  England 40 1 [e]
2000–01 4 Alan Fettis Goalkeeper  Northern Ireland 51 0
2001–02 4 Alan Fettis (2) Goalkeeper  Northern Ireland 52 0 [e]
2002–03 4 Chris Brass Defender  England 44 1
2003–04 4 Darren Dunning Midfielder  England 45 4
2004–05 5 ‡ Dave Merris Defender  England 44 2
2005–06 5 Clayton Donaldson Forward  England 45 18
2006–07 5 Neal Bishop Midfielder  England 49 3
2007–08 5 David McGurk Defender  England 56 1
2008–09 5 Daniel Parslow Defender  Wales 57 0
2009–10 5 Michael Ingham Goalkeeper  Northern Ireland 55 0
2010–11 5 Daniel Parslow (2) Defender  Wales 47 1 [e]
2011–12 5 Scott Kerr Midfielder  England 42 1
2012–13 4 ‡ Daniel Parslow (3) Defender  Wales 50 1 [g]
2013–14 4 Lanre Oyebanjo Defender  Republic of Ireland 46 0
2014–15 4 Keith Lowe Defender  England 49 6
2015–16 4 Dave Winfield Defender  England 40 2
2016–17 5 ‡ Sean Newton Defender  England 35 3
2017–18 6 ‡ Jon Parkin Forward  England 32 25
2018–19 6 Sean Newton (2) Defender  England 37 6 [e]
2019–20 6 Sean Newton (3) Defender  England 39 5 [g]
2020–21 6 The Fans[33] - - 0 0
2021–22 6 Peter Jameson Goalkeeper  England 56 0
2022–23 5 ‡ Olly Dyson † Midfielder  England 42 4

Wins by playing position

Position[b] Players Wins
Goalkeeper 5 6
Defender 16 22
Midfielder 11 12
Forward 7 9

Wins by nationality

Nationality Players Wins
 England 31 35
 Northern Ireland 3 5
 Wales 1 3
 Saint Kitts and Nevis 1 2
 Scotland 1 2
 Republic of Ireland 1 1
 South Africa 1 1

Notes

  1. ^ The official level of competition in the structure of the English football league system.
  2. ^ a b For a detailed description of playing positions, see Association football positions.
  3. ^ a b Appearances and goals from the season the player won the award. Includes appearances and goals in the Football League (including play-offs), Football Conference/National League (including play-offs), FA Cup, Football League Cup, Associate Members Cup/Football League Trophy, FA Trophy and Conference League Cup. Sources: 1973–74 to 2007–08,[23] 2008–09,[24] 2009–10,[25] 2010–11,[26] 2011–12,[27] 2012–13 to 2015–16,[28] 2016–17,[29] 2017–18,[30] and 2018–19.[31]
  4. ^ The first winner of the award in 1974.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Won the award on two occasions.
  6. ^ Hood played as a defender and a midfielder during his eight-year stay with York, but is listed as a midfielder as this is the position he played most matches this season.[32]
  7. ^ a b Won the award on three occasions.

References

General

Specific

  1. ^ Batters, David (2008). York City: The Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. pp. 238–252. ISBN 978-1-85983-633-0.
  2. ^ Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 235–237.
  3. ^ Batters. York City: The Complete Record. p. 360.
  4. ^ Batters. York City: The Complete Record. p. 402.
  5. ^ a b Flett, Dave (21 May 2012). "Match report: York City 2, Luton Town 1 – Play-off final". The Press. York. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  6. ^ Cope, Niall (1 February 2017). "Billy Fenton Memorial Trophy winners". York City F.C. Archived from the original on 28 May 2017.
  7. ^ "Player of the Year award 2014". York City F.C. 22 April 2014. Archived from the original on 22 July 2016.
  8. ^ "Player of the Year award 2022". York City F.C. 25 April 2022.
  9. ^ Batters. York City: The Complete Record. p. 168.
  10. ^ "Merris backs Billy". Evening Press. York. 3 May 2005. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  11. ^ Carroll, Steve (1 May 2007). "Flock of awards is Bishop's reward". The Press. York. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  12. ^ Carroll, Steve (11 May 2011). "Mills: Michael Rankine all set to sign for Aldershot". The Press. York. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  13. ^ "York City clinch fourth place in Blue Square Bet Premier". The Press. York. 28 April 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  14. ^ "City awards night". York City F.C. 17 May 2014. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016.
  15. ^ "Lowe wins Player of the Year". York City F.C. 6 May 2015. Archived from the original on 10 September 2016.
  16. ^ Flett, Dave (30 April 2016). "York City fans call for manager Jackie McNamara's sacking after 4–1 defeat to Bristol Rovers". The Press. York. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  17. ^ "McCarthy, Jon". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  18. ^ "Fettis, Alan". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  19. ^ "Ingham, Michael". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  20. ^ "Managers: Chris Brass". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  21. ^ "York City FC: Squad". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  22. ^ Batters. York City: The Complete Record. p. 209.
  23. ^ Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 340–421.
  24. ^ Williams, Tony; Wright, James, eds. (2009). Non-League Club Directory 2010. Tony Williams Publications. p. 163. ISBN 978-1-869833-66-4.
  25. ^ Flett, Dave (20 May 2010). "Review of York City's 2009/10 season". The Press. York. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  26. ^ Williams, Mike; Williams, Tony, eds. (2011). Non-League Club Directory 2012. Tony Williams Publications. p. 157. ISBN 978-1-869833-70-1.
  27. ^ Flett, Dave (25 May 2012). "Season review: York City's class of 2011/12". The Press. York. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  28. ^ "York: Squad details". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 April 2019. Individual seasons accessed via drop-down list.
  29. ^ Flett, Dave (27 May 2017). "York City 2016/17 season review and player ratings". The Press. York. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  30. ^ Flett, Dave (4 May 2018). "York City season review 2017/18, including player ratings". The Press. York. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  31. ^ Flett, Dave (3 May 2019). "Player ratings for York City's 2018/19 season". The Press. York. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  32. ^ Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 177, 359.
  33. ^ "Fans win Clubman Of The Year award 2021". York City F.C. 21 May 2021.
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