Monday's FA Cup 1st round draw sees York enter the competition for the first time this season. After a decade of having to toil through qualifying round ties at footballing outposts such as Biggleswade, Needham Market and Irlam, City's return to the EFL brings the luxury of not having to concern themselves with these preliminary stages.
Entering the cup at the 1st round presents an opportunity for City to achieve something they’ve managed just once in the past 15 seasons, in progressing to the 2nd round. How straightforward that task is will depend in large part on which side is paired with City when the draw is made. Let's take a look, then, at some of the more interesting prospective match-ups that could be drawn. We'll set aside any possible opponents from League Two, as that would surely be the dullest outcome.
A glamour tie?
While the real glamour of the cup undoubtedly lies in securing a tie with one of the Premier League big boys, there are a handful of historically successful clubs currently slumming it in League One who York could potentially be pitted against in the 1st round.
Leicester City were FA Cup winners just five years ago, and a Premier League side 18 months ago, but mismanagement and some underperformance from high-profile players has seen them drop to the third tier for just the second time in their history. York faced them in the FA Cup back in 2001, but that was just before their move to the King Power stadium, so an away draw would bring a new ground for City fans to visit too. The Foxes’ early season form suggests that it could even be a winnable tie, as they currently sit 14th in League One, and their fans are growing impatient with a series of mediocre performances under manager Russell Martin.
Another sleeping giant who City could potentially be drawn to face is Sheffield Wednesday. A period of chaos off the pitch under the ownership of Dejphon Chansiri culminated last season in a hefty points deduction and relegation to League One. The Owls have started the season well and are currently nestled inside the playoff places, so it would be a tough draw, but a chance to turn out at Hillsborough would surely hold some appeal. It's a ground that holds a special place in York’s FA Cup history as the venue for their semi-final draw against Newcastle back in 1955, but the Minstermen haven't played there in 50 years. One downside would be that Wednesday boast among their ranks forward David Keillor-Dunn, whose two goals helped Barnsley eliminate York at the same stage of the competition last year.
