York’s return to FA Cup action this week offers an opportunity to reflect on their past exploits in the competition. Some of the club’s most impressive feats have come in the FA Cup: the semi-final run in 1954/55, defeating Arsenal in 1984/85 and then taking European champions Liverpool to a replay. However, in recent years such glory has been hard to come by, with City only progressing past the 1st round once over the last 15 years, and occasionally even dropping out in the qualifying rounds.
City’s deepest run in the FA Cup in the 21st century came 25 years ago, at a turbulent period in which the club’s very existence came under threat. They entered the 2001/02 campaign off the back of two consecutive bottom-half finishes in the fourth tier, but hoping for a season of improvement under Terry Dolan’s management. The season began brightly enough for City, with three wins from their opening five league games, but by the time the FA Cup rolled around in November their form had stuttered and they sat 16th in the league.
The 1st round draw hadn’t been kind to Dolan’s side, either, handing them a tough-looking trip to Colchester, who were in the top half of the division above. The game at Layer Road saw City rise to the occasion, though, as a switch to five at the back saw them shut out the U’s in a goalless draw that forced a replay. If anything, the Minstermen may have considered themselves unfortunate not to have come away with a win, as the strike partnership of Lee Nogan and Michael Proctor were both guilty of spurning some decent chances.
Between that game and the return fixture at Bootham Crescent, worrying signs about the state of the club’s finances emerged. The publication of their accounts for the year to June 2001 revealed record losses of over £1 million, with the club losing £24,000 every week. This gloomy financial picture was mirrored by a growing malaise among the fanbase, with home attendances often hovering just above the 2,000 mark.
The home replay against Colchester saw only 2,014 supporters in attendance, but those who did turn out were rewarded with an evening of drama. Chris Brass headed City into an early lead, assisted by his future managerial number two Lee Nogan, and they held onto that 1-0 lead until the 80th minute when Colchester’s pressure paid off and they equalised through Scott McGleish. City regained the lead almost immediately through Graham Potter, but a scrappy stoppage-time equaliser from the visitors’ Karl Duguid took the tie to extra time.
With neither side able to find a winner in the extra half hour, the tie went to penalties. It wasn’t the first shootout City had competed in that season, as they had exited the League Cup on penalties following a draw against Crewe. This time, though, two fine saves from York keeper Alan Fettis meant that Mark Maley’s missed spot-kick didn’t matter and City advanced to the next round.
