Champions' promotion suddenly in doubt

Sport Sections

Latest From This Section

York City Knights vs Hull FC - Match Preview

Thursday, 19th January 2012

The Yorker

Nick Wright previews this weekend's clash between York City Knights and Hull FC

The end of an era?

Wednesday, 18th January 2012

The Yorker

Alex Reid looks at whether the once ever-present appearance of English clubs in the later stages of the Champions League is set to become a thing of the past

Neil Warnock: The latest managerial martyr

Monday, 16th January 2012

The Yorker

Craig Dobson looks at QPR's decision to sack Neil Warnock and replace him with Mark Hughes

York City Knights: Battling Knights secure Rhinos victory

Sunday, 15th January 2012

James Tompkinson

James Tompkinson reviews an excellent pre-season victory for the York City Knights against Yorkshire rivals Leeds Rhinos

Champions for sure but promotion will require a tough play-off

Saturday, 1st March 2008

Greg Gardner

York menâ€™s football 1sts will not be automatically promoted as suspected. The team won the Northern Conference 3B league in January and celebrated accordingly, like soon to be promoted champions. However, less than 24 hours after devastatingly being knocked out of the BUSA Plate and NUL Cup by UCLAN 1sts, the team were dealt another soul-destroying blow with news that they will have to beat Newcastle 1sts, of the league above, on Wednesday to secure promotion.

BUSA contacted UYAFC secretary Shaun Evans on Thursday morning, 33 days after the team thought they had earned promotion by beating Leeds 2nds 2-1 on 22 Acres. Evans had to deliver the bad news to 1st team captain Dom O’Shea who said: “My first reaction was of complete disbelief because we dominated our league and have shown we deserve to be playing in a higher level”

“I'm still quite angry at the way it has worked out because after a season of hard work we could have our reward taken away from us but hopefully that won't be the case. It does say on the BUSA website that the top team may have to take part in a play-off but it defies logic really, where's the incentive of being champions of the league?”

The reason for the promotion play-off with Newcastle is to ensure the leagues above have sufficient regional balance. This is annoyed O’Shea who criticised BUSA, saying “the system is poorly done” but he is still confident he can raise the team for Wednesday’s match: “I'm confident we'll get the result because I know what this team is capable of and we've beaten better teams”

I'm angry because after a season of hard work we could have our reward taken away from us
Captain, Dom O'Shea

“The resilience and confidence of the team is fucking immense so it shouldn't be too tough to rally the troops again” The captain is already focused and the team will enjoy today’s ‘Presidents’ matches against UYAFC old boys but will ensure they don’t over exert themselves with one eye on Wednesday.

The Yorker will bring you news of the promotion play-off next week, and the whole story of how York were dumped out of the BUSA Plate and NUL Cup will appear shortly.