Hospital Ball

Many York City supporters credit John Ward as being one of the finest managers the club has ever had. That is a huge accolade but even more impressive considering he was only in charge for a relative short period and never a full season. However, after a lean end to the 1980s it was John Ward who laid the foundations for success in the 1990s transforming a team of perennial underachievers into pro...

Alastair Smith is living the dream, a long time supporter of York City past who is now playing a significant role in its future as the new chief executive. Here Alastair speaks about how his love and passion for the club started before moving onto the whirlwind appointment onto the York City board and then up to the present with what it is like to be on the clubs board of directors. This interview...

This weeks guest is part of an unique band of players who achieved two promotions with York City. For long time supporters of the Minstermen, former England Youth International Brian Pollard, is regularly mentioned as one of the best players to ever play for the club due to having two successful spells with the club. Here Brian talks exclusively about playing at Bootham Crescent as well as his tim...

This week on the podcast we go all the way back to the 1970s and hear about the time when York City plied their trade in the second tier of English football, the highest level in their history. Our guest is Graeme Crawford, one of the clubs best ever goalkeepers. Graeme had a real sliding doors moment coming into professional football. He signed from Sheffield United in 1971 and few could have pre...

When Russ joined York City in January 2014 the brief was to help steer the club away from relegation but an incredible 17 game unbeaten run was formed and the club sneaked into the League Two play-offs. Sadly this trajectory couldn't be sustained and Russ ended his time at Bootham Crescent captain of the team that fell out of the football league two years later. Here he speaks in detail about his...

Our new series starts with an interview with Paddy McLaughlin ahead of his 7th season at the club and off the back of his second promotion. Paddy discusses his early years playing for Northern Ireland through the age groups, his formative years at Newcastle United before moving on to talk in-depth about both of his spells at York City. This series is sponsored by N&E Woodhouse Plastering. The...

Recorded live at Haxby Sports Bar on Friday 20th May 2022, the ten year anniversary of beating Luton Town to secure promotion back to the football league. Former York press journalist Dave Flett presented a nostalgic night remembering that iconic week in York City's history with two club legends, Daniel Parslow and Michael Ingham.

This special episode features former club director Sophie Purves who discusses everything from standing on the terraces to the battles in the boardroom in an exclusive interview. Sophie was first employed by York City to be in charge of public relations but soon became disillusioned with the resistance to change. Few could have predicted that little over a year after leaving employment at Bootham...

Our final guest of the series is Jamal Fyfield, a player signed back in 2010 to provide competition for places and developed into a regular starter when York City were promoted back into the Football League. Jamal looks back on some key moments of his York City career including a dramatic winner in a 3-2 victory over Grimsby, a team he would later represent. He also talks of his scoring role again...

Our latest episode features Rodney Rowe whose career started at his hometown club, Huddersfield Town. Despite a memorable goal and performance against Premier League side Wimbledon in the FA Cup, Rodney was often on the fringes and moved to York City in 1997 to secure first team football. A firm fan favourite, Rodney scored an audacious chip vs Preston North End over future team mate Bobby Mimms a...

This weeks guest is part of a unique group of people to have played both professional football and cricket at the same time with Chris Marples serving Chesterfield and Derbyshire respectively in his early career. York City paid a record amount for a goalkeeper to bring him to Bootham Crescent in 1988 and his four years at the club saw him become a firm fans favourite. Here he discusses his time pl...

Our latest episode features club legend Wayne Hall who joined York City in 1989. Just four years later Wayne scored the winning penalty in the shootout vs Crewe to clinch promotion to the old Division Two. Wayne went onto experience further career highlights being part of the sides that beat Manchester United in 1995 and Everton one year later. By the time of his departure in 2001 Wayne had cement...

The two spells Chris Smith had at York City couldn't have been more contrasting. As a young professional, Chris was part of an inexperienced side under a 27 year old manager which culminated in relegation from the football league for the first time in the clubs history. Following his release he had spells at Stafford, Worcester, Tamworth and Mansfield before returning to the club as Gary Mills cap...

Our new series kicks off with Keith Houchen, a player whose career is never forgotten thanks to his famous diving header for Coventry City in their FA Cup win in 1987. It was his penalty in the FA Cup win over Arsenal that means his time at Bootham Crescent is also similarly cherished. Keith's career wasn't all plain sailing from being released as a young player at Crystal Palace, relegation with...

Steve Watson made his pro debut for Newcastle and achieved the record of being their youngest ever debutant aged just 16, a record that still stands. That was the start of a journey that saw him play over 550 career games for Newcastle, Aston Villa, Everton, West Brom and Sheffield Wednesday. Here Steve reflects on his playing career including looking back at many iconic Premier League and Champio...

The final section of the live event with Richard Brodie was dedicated to a supporters Q&A. Overall, the event raised nearly £300 for York Hospital Radio and the podcast has raised over £1200 during the past year. We have recently been nominated as a finalist in the Football Content Awards (Charitable campaign section), please consider voting before September 24th via this link Vote for us Please n...

Richard Brodie was a huge favourite with York City fans and remains our most downloaded episode of the podcast. Following his initial interview Richard said there were many more stories to tell and thus we organised an opportunity to tell them via a live event at Haxby Sports Bar. After several cancellations due to covid, Richard Brodie live took place on Sunday 25th July, 2021. Interview conducte...

Providing the warm up for the main event, inspirational and passionate supporter Michael Miles entertained the audience with anecdotes of how he created the popular cult fanzine Y Front including how it developed into a twitter feed and a podcast. Michael also discusses mental health and the amazing art collaboration with local artist Sue Clayton.   Click here to buy the fanzine or products discus...

Barry Parker provided the soundtrack for many York City fans over many years as Radio York's first main commentator at Bootham Crescent. His quirky, unique style endeared him to supporters who heard him describe the highs and lows of York City in the 90s and 00s including winning at Old Trafford and Wembley.  This episode is sponsored by City Cruises, was produced and edited by James Charters and...

Not only does David Ward commentate on every York City game for Radio York, he is also a life long supporter of the club. Here David speaks about how his support grew alongside his media career, how he keeps his passion in check when broadcasting and his chemistry with regular summariser Iain Dunn.  This episode is sponsored by City Cruises, was conducted by Dan Tait, produced and edited by James...

'Not just talent' is the name of the blog created by this weeks guest, Jonathan Smith, strongly suggesting that you need more than that to succeed as a professional footballer. In this interview Jonathan outlines the sacrifices, the hard work and dedication that made him a success at Forest Green Rovers, York City, Swindon Town and Luton Town to name just four of the clubs he has represented over...

When Michael Coulson signed for York City in the summer of 2012, the club was on the crest of a wave having won promotion but four years later, Michael's last season, they were spiralling back into non-league. During that time period Michael was a real fan favourite from his all-action displays and penchant for wonder goals and here he speaks about his time at Bootham Crescent as well as his wider...

When York City were facing a second successive relegation in the 99/00 season that would have seen them drop out of the football league, manager Terry Dolan turned to Alan Fettis, a goalkeeper he originally brought over from Northern Ireland for Hull City. Fettis himself, was frustrated with lack of opportunities at Blackburn Rovers, and the signing proved to be an inspired move as Fettis kept 8 c...

Few York City players have immediately endeared themselves to supporters after one touch but Jamie Reed's immediate control of a ball that came out of the sky at Bolton in the FA Cup in January 2011 did just that. If that wasn't enough Reed scored against arch rivals Luton Town not long after and became a key player during his time at Bootham Crescent, scoring many crucial goals during a golden er...

Any past or future polls about York City's greatest ever strikers will inevitably have Paul Barnes in the starting XI. Signing for £50,000 back in 1992, Barnes scored on his debut against Shrewsbury Town and never looked back, netting 85 goals in 179 appearances. His goals helped the club get promoted in 1993, go close again in 1994 and cemented his hero status with two goals at Old Trafford when...