1936-58

1936-47, 1948-50, 1954-56 & 1957/58

A third change in 14 years

According to Batters (2008), red shirts and white shorts were adopted in time for the start of the 1936/37 season. The basic red and white colour combination remained fairly settled until 1966, although there were changes in the design and colour of the stockings, as illustrated below:

1936/37

1937/38 - ? & 1954-56

? - 1946/47

1948-50

1957/58

There were also variations to the shirt's collar and cuffs and these can be viewed on their own dedicated pages:

Season 1936/37: Third Division North

Manager: Jock Collier (resigned March, 1937); Tom Mitchell (from March, 1937)
Captain: Eddie Legge
Final position: 12th (22 teams)
F.A. Cup: Round 4
Football League Third Division North Cup: Round 3
Top scorer: Albert Thompson (29)

RIGHT: Fox, the City full back (on left) finds the water-splash at
Bootham-crescent in the match against Lincoln City. (Original Caption.)

ABOVE: Captain Eddie Legge shakes hands with his Swansea
counterpart before the 0-0 draw at the Vetch Field in Round 4.

ABOVE: Jack Pinder and Ted Wass are at right, taken
during the replay at Bootham Crescent, which was lost 1-3.

Season 1937/38: Third Division North

Manager: Tom Mitchell
Captain: Dick Duckworth
Final position: 11th (22 teams)
F.A. Cup: Quarter-final
Football League Third Division North Cup: Round 1
Top scorer: Reg Baines (28)

Season 1938/39: Third Division North

Manager: Tom Mitchell
Captain: Dick Duckworth
Final position: 20th (22 teams)
F.A. Cup: Round 3
Top scorer: Bob Mortimer (22)

ABOVE: York City vs Huddersfield Town, 5th March 1938. Huddersfield goalkeeper Bob Hesford saves from Malcolm Comrie during the
famous F.A. Cup quarter-final.

Wartime football

The declaration of war on the 3rd of September prompted the immediate suspension of the Football League and F.A. Cup. By this time, York had played three league games and found themselves in 20th position. Recognising the value of football as a boost to morale, the Football League were permitted to organise regional competitions and clubs were allowed to select guest players who either lived or had been stationed nearby. Fixtures were to be played when (or if) possible, meaning that not all seasons could be completed.

Season 1939/40: Third Division North

Manager: Tom Mitchell
Final position: Competition suspended indefinitely
F.A. Cup: Competition suspended indefinitely
Top scorer: Billy Allen (2)

Season 1939/40: Football League North (East)

Acting manager: Arthur Wright (Club director)
Final position: 8th (11 teams)
North War Cup: Round 1
Top scorer: George Lee (13)

ABOVE: 1939/40: Hughie Gallacher, retired. Apps: 2, Goals: 1.

Season 1940/41: Football League North

Acting manager: Arthur Wright
Final position: 32nd (36 teams)
League North War Cup: Round 2
Top scorer: Bert Brenen & George Lee (16)

RIGHT: 1940/46: Tommy Dawson, Charlton Athletic. Apps: 104, Goals: 48.

Season 1941/42: Football League North

Acting manager: Arthur Wright
Final position: 32nd (38 teams)
League North War Cup: Qualifying competition
Combined Counties Cup: Winners
Top scorer: George Lee (26)

RIGHT: Combined Counties Cup Winners, 1942.
Note the red/white hooped stockings.

ABOVE: 1941/42: Dixie Dean, retired. Apps: 1, Goals: 1.

ABOVE: 1941/42: Raich Carter, Sunderland & England. Apps: 1, Goals: 0.

Season 1942/43: Football League North

Acting manager: Arthur Wright (resigned); Tom Lockie
Final position: 17th (48 teams)
League North War Cup: Semi-final
Top scorer: George Lee (26)

RIGHT: York City vs Bradford Park Avenue

York City 1 - 1 Sheffield Wednesday, League North War Cup Semi-final. The attendance of 16,350 was York's highest during the war.

ABOVE: George Lee scores his 100th City goal from the spot.

ABOVE: Lee (11) watches Cecil McCormack challenge for the ball.

ABOVE: 1941-44: Sailor Brown, Charlton Athletic. Apps: 54, Goals: 15.

ABOVE: 1942-43: Leslie Compton, Arsenal. Apps: 3, Goals: 2.

ABOVE: 1941-44: Frank O'Donnell, Blackpool. Apps: 14, Goals: 15.

ABOVE: 1942-43: Eddie Shimwell, Sheffield Utd. Apps: 1, Goals: 1.

Season 1943/44: Football League North

Acting manager: Tom Lockie
Final position: 31st (50 teams)
League North War Cup: Round 2
Combined Counties Cup: Round 1
Top scorer: Hugh Billington (17)

ABOVE: 1943-44: Benny Fenton, Millwall. Apps: 8, Goals: 2.

ABOVE: 1943-44: Joe Harvey, Bradford City. Apps: 1, Goals: 0.

Season 1944/45: Football League North

Acting manager: Tom Lockie
Final position: 42nd (54 teams)
League North War Cup: Qualifying competition
Tyne, Wear & Tees Cup: Round 2
Top scorer: Tommy Dawson & George 'Harry' Hawkins (21)

RIGHT: 1942-45: Sam Bartram, Charlton Athletic. Apps: 75, Goals: 3.
Bartram would return as manager in 1956, winning promotion to the third division in 1959.

Post-war football

Season 1945/46: Division Three North (East)

Acting manager: Tom Lockie
Final position: 5th (10 teams)
F.A. Cup: Round 4
Division North Cup: Round 2
Top scorer: Ian Winters (16)

Season 1946/47: Division Three North

Acting manager: Tom Mitchell
Final position: 15th (22 teams)
F.A. Cup: Round 1
Top scorer: Alf Patrick (17)

Season 1948/49: Division Three North

Manager: Tom Mitchell
Final position: 14th (22 teams)
F.A. Cup: Round 2
Top scorer: Alf Patrick (27)

Season 1949/50: Division Three North

Manager: Tom Mitchell
Final position: 22nd (22 teams): Re-elected to the Football League (1)
F.A. Cup: Round 1
Top scorer: Alf Patrick (14)

Season 1954/55: Division Three North

Manager: Jim McCormick (resigned 7th September 1954); Tom Lockie (Trainer) & Bill Sherrington (Secretary)
Captain: Ernie Phillips
Final position: 4th (22 teams)
F.A. Cup: Semi-Final
Top scorer: Arthur Bottom (39): D3N Top Scorer

Season 1955/56: Division Three North

Manager: Sam Bartram
Captain: Ernie Phillips
Final position: 11th (22 teams)
F.A. Cup: Round 4
Top scorer: Arthur Bottom (33)

Season 1957/58: Division Three North

Manager: Sam Bartram
Final position: 13th (22 teams)
F.A. Cup: Round 4
Top scorer: Terry Farmer, Norman Wilkinson & Peter Wragg (12)