Yesterday marked the end of the season for York City Ladies first team, who secured Women’s National League status for a fifth consecutive season! This is a phenomenal achievement for the club, and York, just one day after York City have confirmed their return to the English Football League – many congratulations and well deserved.
The team ended the season on fifteen points, four points clear of relegation, with Doncaster Rovers Belles and Blackburn Rovers finishing below the team.
The team welcomed Blackburn Rovers to York Sport Stadium, with a day of family fun planned on a sunny afternoon in York. The squad needed only one point to guarantee their safety, regardless of the other Division 1 North results.
From the first minute of the game Katie Astle and Rosie Bell linked up well on the left hand side, with York players scrambling in the opposition box for an early opener. City’s first real chance came from Milly Ash, only seven minutes into the game, forcing a great save from the Blackburn goalkeeper. Possession was retained through Ruby Shaw, Eliza Benson and Katie Varley who kept the flow across the midfield, before another chance fell to York through Dani Trickett, which sailed over the bar. The game continued in this manner, where York could not captialise in front of goal, whilst Alex Gatt and Imogen Hayhurst kept the Blackburn danger at bay. Reaching half time, the team were still level, 0-0.
It was then a great opportunity for all young Minster Belles fans in attendance, who were welcomed to the pitch to take part in mini games, crossbar challenge and penalty shootouts. Over thirty young, aspiring footballers joined injured players Millie Martin and Georgia Wattam on the field. There was some great talent on show and we can’t wait to see some of the girls on the big stage in the future!
As the second half commenced the players stepped up a whole new level with a fresh intensity, more fight and a new level of determination. Throughout the second half the team came close in front of goal multiple times, won all aerial duels, every one versus one battle and controlled the majority of possession. York’s first substitute came seventy-five minutes in with Ruby Shannon replacing Milly Ash. The best chance of the game came when Eliza Benson rattled the crossbar from 25 yards out, which could not be followed up and was reclaimed by the oppositions substitute goalkeeper. Despite multiple close chances, it wasn’t meant to be – the final whistle blew and it was an instant relief for York City Ladies who knew that one point guaranteed their safety after an intense game.
We want to take this opportunity to thank all of our fans who have backed us in a historic season – reaching the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time in the clubs history, the semi-final of the County Cup, and retaining our status as a National League side. We couldn’t have done it without your support.
From all of the players, staff, volunteers and everyone involved at York City Ladies, have a great summer and keep an eye on our social media for an exciting preseason ahead of the 2026/2027 campaign. We also wish Faye Singleton, Kanisha Underdown, Niamh Doody, Georgia Wattam and Millie Martin good luck with their recovery and hope to see the players make their return next season!
To keep up to date and stay involved, be sure to follow our X account for live game updates (YorkCityLFC), our facebook (York City Ladies), our instagram (yorkcityladies) and finally our TikTok for post match interviews (yorkcityladies).
Love, YCLFC.