Men’s First Team

Nationality: English | Date of Birth: 17/10/85

Gary Elphick joined the Minstermen alongside Adam Hinshelwood in February 2024.

Our Assistant Manager began his playing days at Brighton & Hove Albion, featuring twice between 2004-6, whilst also going out on loan to Eastbourne Borough, St Albans and Aldershot Town.

Spells at St Albans City, Havant & Waterloo and Eastbourne Borough on a permanent basis followed between 2006-12, with over 240 appearances played out across six years.

An undisclosed fee saw the defender move to Eastleigh in 2012, but subsequently left following squad rearrangement.

Elphick settled at Tonbridge Angels between 2012-13, picking up 70 appearances for the side.

Worthing as a joint manager was just around the corner for Elphick in 2015, initially joining to play under Adam Hinshelwood before he stepped away.

Elphick joined Hastings United in 2019 before becoming first team manager in November 2021.

Winning an Isthmian League South East Division title, followed by an eighth placed position in the Isthmian Premier, Elphick departed as manager at the end of the 2022/23 season to return to Worthing as a coach.

Nationality English

Joe Stead joined York City in December 2022 from Leeds United, where he was the Professional Development Phase Goalkeeping Coach.

Stead joined the Whites in 2020, where he also had experience working with the first-team ‘keepers alongside Goalkeeping Coach Marcos Abad.

Prior to his time with Leeds, Stead was first-team Goalkeeping Coach at FC Halifax Town and academy Goalkeeping Coach at Wigan Athletic.

Nationality: English | Date of Birth: 14/03/2001

Following a year with Maidstone, the left-back opted to join the Minstermen upon the expiry of his contract in Kent.

Brookes’ youth was spent playing for his boyhood club West Ham United, as well as Chelsea too.

His first season of proper men’s football came at non-league London outfit, Tower Hamlets, where he played over 25 times for them.

In 2020/21, he plied his trade with Basildon United, however the coronavirus pandemic cut his time on the pitch short.

Next up for the full-back was Great Wakering Rovers – his only goal for them came from a free kick in an Isthmian League North Division thriller against Hashtag United, a club that Brookes would move onto midway through the season.

His start to life in yellow and blue was superb, notching four assists in his first seven games.

He played for Hashtag across two seasons, scoring a goal in each, and departing in January 2023 to move up the leagues and join Chelmsford City.

Defeat in the play-offs was suffered in his initial campaign. The following season, he appeared 50 times in all competitions, again assisting the Clarets into the play-offs, but it was another gutting loss in the semi-final, which was ultimately his final game for the club.

The next time he would be out on the pitch would be for his most recent side, Maidstone United.

Playing as a left midfielder in his opening couple of games for them, he claimed two goal contributions, and had nine by Christmas.

His great form carried on throughout the season and into the National League South play-offs for a third year running.

Maidstone cruised through the eliminator against Worthing thanks to a Brookes brace, and edged past Eastbourne too, but they fell just short in the final against Boreham Wood.

Nationality: English | Date of Birth: 09/11/1992

The defender linked up with City as his eleventh senior club on July 1st 2025.

His youth career began at Barnsley where he progressed through the ranks but was released in 2009 and signed for Scunthorpe United, becoming youth team captain.

It was at Glanford Park where he made his senior debut, and had loan spells at Southport and Harrogate.

Palmer’s next few years were spent in non-league at the likes of Hinckley United, Droylsden and Buxton, before putting pen to paper with then-FA Trophy holders North Ferriby United.

His year spent there was successful, helping the Villagers to promotion from the National League North, picking up the club’s Player of the Month on the way.

Remaining in the same league, the centre-back switched East Yorkshire for West Yorkshire, joining Guiseley.

Two years there were followed by arguably his most successful career period, at Stockport County.

The Hatters relied heavily on Palmer in their triumphant bids for promotion in both the sixth tier and in the National League.

With prior experience of escaping the National League North, he played the majority of games in his first season at Edgeley Park, regularly captaining the side that won the title.

In 2019/20, Palmer established himself in the Stockport backline, ending the campaign as their third top scorer.

Two years on, another league title was on the horizon, and after a thrilling race with Wrexham, it was the Greater Manchester side that pipped it in the end.

He made minimal appearances in the Hatters’ opening months back in the Football League, and soon moved back to the National League to assist Chesterfield in their title challenge.

A gutting play-off final defeat in 2023 broke Spireites hearts, but they went a few steps better the next year, tallying up 98 points to clinch automatic promotion.

Palmer remained with Chesterfield for their return to the Football League, playing 17 times in all competitions before departing at the end of the season.

Position: Defender | Nationality: English | Date of Birth: 04/09/1995

The defender joined us on a permanent deal after leaving Oldham Athletic in summer 2025.

His career began at championship side Middlesbrough, where he remained until 2017.

Two loan spells to Rochdale and then to York in the 2015/16 season saw out his time with the Boro.

A permanent move to Rochdale followed, where he helped the Dale secure survival from the League One drop.

He departed the Lancashire side at the close of that season before joining Hartlepool United where he went on to make over 75 appearances across two seasons.

Kitching joined up with Stockport County in the summer of 2020 where he went on to achieve his first promotion from the National League when County won the title in 2022.

Following that success, he signed with Oldham Athletic, another successful story was to enfold as he went on to play over 100 times for the Latics, again registering another promotion on his CV, this time via the play-offs.

Nationality: English | Date of Birth: 11/03/2002

York City announced the signing of defender Malachi Fagan-Walcott on a season-long loan deal from Championship side Cardiff City at the beginning of September.

The defender is a youth product of Norsemen FC, where he signed aged 9, before being picked up by Tottenham Hotspur at the age of 13.

Fagan-Walcott penned a first professional deal with the Premier League side in 2018 before going on to gain senior experience with Spurs in the EFL Trophy, the UEFA Champions League from the bench, and with Dundee during a brief loan spell.

England have called on the defender’s services internationally too, in U16 & U17s, with several caps secured across the two age groups.

Cardiff City acquired him in the summer of 2023, picking up the defender to play in their Under-21s setup.

In January, Fagan-Walcott was signed on loan by Dunfermline manager James McPake, who’d initially taken the defender to Dundee previously.

15 appearances in the Scottish Championship followed, netting three goals too.

In June, The Bluebirds extended his contract before he went on to make his Championship debut as a substitute away to Burnley in August.

Nationality: English | Date of Birth: 24/08/99

York City announced the signing of Cameron John following a successful trial period with The Minstermen on August 1st, 2024.

The 24-year-old left-back , who can also operate centrally, put pen to paper with City after departing Rochdale in the summer of 2023.

John was offered a new deal at the end of last season by Dale, where he joined in the summer of 2022.

As a youngster, John moved from Southend to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2015 to kickstart his path into professional football.

A five-year spell with Wolves saw John make appearances across U18s and 23s level, with those experiences enabling the defender to go out on a season-long loan with Doncaster Rovers.

21 appearances during 2019/20 eventually led to John signing a two-year deal with Rovers in 2020.

Across his two spells, John played 66 times for the South Yorkshire-based outfit.

After departing Doncaster, Rochdale acquired his services on a two-year deal which expired this summer. In total, he made 55 appearances in all competitions across two seasons for the Greater Manchester-based side.

Nationality: English | Date of Birth: 08/01/1996

Boateng signed for York City in June 2025, bringing an end to his successful three-year spell with Mansfield Town.

Originally from London, Boateng joined the Crystal Palace Academy at the age of eight, progressing through to eventually first team contention, having picked up multiple awards along the way.

While with the Eagles, he spent time on loan in the Football League with Crawley Town, Bristol Rovers, Plymouth Argyle, and Northampton Town.

After thirteen years at Selhurst Park, Boateng left for Exeter City in 2017. He impressed in his two seasons there, playing 77 times for the League Two side.

Next, he would spend a couple of years at MK Dons, a division higher.

In his first year there, he would appear 28 times, scoring once, before spending the majority of the following campaign at Cambridge United.

That would end up being one of the midfielder’s most successful career periods, helping guide the U’s to promotion as the League Two runners-up.

Back at MK Dons, Boateng had one more year there, where he was given regular minutes throughout the season, also chipping in with four goals.

Following his contract ending at Stadium MK in 2022, he joined Mansfield.

The Stags narrowly missed out on a play-off place at the end of his initial term, in which Boateng had become a popular figure in the midfield and solidified his place in the team.

Having never scored more than one goal in a senior game before, he was an unlikely hat-trick hero against Harrogate on route to promotion in 2023/24.

He clocked up over 40 League One appearances for Mansfield, before leaving for the Minstermen.

Nationality: English | Date of Birth: 21/11/1995

The midfielder joined the Minstermen in summer 2025 after his departure from fellow National League club Altrincham.

Newby started his football career in the Bolton Wanderers youth ranks, before joining hometown club Barrow – he only made one appearance there, coming off the bench against Southport.

Spells with Kendal Town (loan) and Clitheroe followed, where he climbed the non-league pyramid.

Three successful years at Chorley were next, where Newby tallied up over 90 appearances, scoring 24 times, including his first in black and white against City in 2018.

He appeared in multiple play-off campaigns for the Magpies, helping them gain promotion from the National League North.

In 2020, Newby made the jump to League One, where he would ply his trade at Rochdale. His first season there ended in relegation, but the midfielder managed 38 league appearances.

His second and final season at Spotland gave him even more EFL experience, playing the vast majority of games again, and leaving the Dale with a grand total of 82 games played, in which he scored thirteen times and provided eight assists.

Newby spent his next two years with League Two side Colchester United, and during that period, endured a positive loan stint at Altrincham.

That led to Alty snapping up the attack-minded player on a permanent deal, and he has impressed across the last couple of seasons for them. In 2023/24, his goals helped the Robins to a play-off semi-final, and his form last term was just as good, finishing with 15 goals in 2024/25.

Position: Midfielder | Nationality: English | Date of Birth: 21/09/1992

The experienced midfielder joined the club following his departure from Chesterfield, becoming our first summer signing of 2025.

Ollie started his career out at his boyhood club, Rotherham United, before joining Gainsborough in 2012.

A spell at FC United of Manchester earned Ollie a first move to Chesterfield, where he went on to make over 80 appearances.

Permanent moves to Oldham, Tranmere, and Barrow followed before he re-joined the Spireites in 2022.

For the 2023/24 season, Banks played his part in Chesterfield’s title win in the Vanarama National League.

Nationality: Northern Ireland | Date of Birth: 14/01/91

Midfielder Paddy McLaughlin became Steve Watson’s first signing as City manager when returning to the club in January 2019 on loan from Hartlepool United.

In his second spell with York after winning promotion to the Football League with the club in 2011.

Nationality: Gambian | Date of Birth: 23/12/2004

York City confirmed the signing of Mo Fadera from Garforth Town in the simmer of 2024.

The winger joined Adam Hinshelwood’s squad after impressing on trial, and in the pre-season game played out in July.

The youngster netted against York City in pre-season for Garforth Town, after coming on as a substitution, charging down the left flank from deep and curling in the second with a right-footed shot from close range.

Fadera originally started out playing grassroots football with Hamilton Panthers, who play at the Knavesmire, before joining Garforth in the summer.

Nationality: English | Date of Birth: 08/08/1995

Ollie Pearce joined the Minstermen from Worthing in 2024 following an incredibly successful six-year stint on England’s South Coast.

After several years at Bognor Regis Town, Pearce made the move along the coast in 2018 to join The Rebels.

Six years later, with 245 appearances under his belt, Pearce departed The Rebels with 155 goals to his name to link up with City.

Pearce initially scooped a Golden Boot (35 goals) and a place in the Premier Division Team of the Season, which added to his title winner’s medal in 2021/22.

The striker smashed through a century of goals in February 2023, making it 100 goals in just 178 appearances at the time, before again breaking through the 30 goal barrier to land himself in the National League South Team of the Year.

The 2023/24 campaign was yet another remarkable one for the striker as he scored 46 goals in 51 appearances across all competitions, winning the golden boot in the National League South by a distance.

Nationality: English | Date of Birth: 14/05/1995

York City announced that winger Ashley Nathaniel-George had agreed to join the Minstermen following the expiry of his contract at Maidenhead in summer 2024, following a two-year stay at York Road.

The winger spent his youth career at Arsenal, Watford, Wycombe, and Wealdstone, before moving to Potters Bar Town.

After an impressive season at Hendon, he joined League 2 side Crawley Town between 2018-20.

Nathaniel-George joined Maidenhead in September 2022 after spells at Southend in League Two and Torquay, winning Maidenhead’s Supporters Player of the Year in 2023.

The winger has also been capped for Antigua and Barbuda on several occasions, scoring once internationally.