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Whilst some top managers rate the Champions League alongside the Premier League in their list of priorities, it is safe to say that captain Dom O’Shea and his men will be focusing on the league and gaining promotion this season. If that is achieved then they will hopefully approach the various cup competitions with confidence and possibly pick up more silverware, but for the next two weeks the BUSA league (BUSA Northern Conference Division 3B) is all-important for York.
Currently they lead the table on 19 points, three ahead of second-placed rivals Leeds University 2nd team, with two games to go. The crucial match will surely be on 23rd January when York host Leeds in a game which could seal promotion for York if they win, or throw open the title race if they lose. A draw would result in York having to equal Leeds’ result in the final round of games on 30th January, and a loss would mean York having to better Leeds’ result. The latter would place Leeds as favourites, as York face a tricky journey to Durham 2nds, whilst Leeds would be confident against a bottom of the table - and frankly shambolic - Bradford outfit.
Despite this doomsday hypothesising, the team are more than confident that they can avoid any upsets and see out the season top of the table. Confidence may be verging on arrogance in the case of some players, with creative midfielder Tom Wilson being quoted after the last fixture of Autumn term as saying: “Fuck it, we’ve won it now, let’s get hammered!”.
The captain O’Shea and technical director McWilliams certainly don’t share this view though, as they’ve been holding rigorous fitness sessions - on top of the club’s usual training - since the squad returned at the start of term. The Christmas break’s excess fat is rapidly being worn away, and fans should expect a York team raring to go come 2pm on Wednesday 23rd on the hallowed turf of 22 Acres.
Support from fellow students will surely be much appreciated and regardless of the result fans will enjoy the match, with players like Henry ‘Softie’ Smith, ‘Calamity’ Cooper Emmerson, and Matt ‘The Brummy Balboa’ Witherwick ensuring anything can happen!
Other than the BUSA league, York face a tough task against Manchester 1sts and a potential banana skin fixture away at Bradford (which finished a freakish 3-3 on Halloween last term) in the Northern Universities League, where York are currently 7th in the 10-team league.
Varsity in mid-February will be a tough test against a York St. John’s team who lie mid-table two divisions above York University.
Lancaster University 1st team are also in a higher division than York, but the passion of Roses will inevitably even out the apparent inequality. Despite being underdogs, York 1sts will still fancy themselves against both of these rivals.
Promotion, NUL cup, Varsity or Roses? O’Shea will prioritise the former, but with a strong, fit squad, backed up by a plethora of talent in the 2nd team, there’s no reason why a quadruple is not possible!
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