York City F.C. Clubman of the Year explained

York City Football Club is a professional association football club based in York, North Yorkshire, England. Founded in 1922, the club was elected to play in the Midland League, and competed in this league for seven seasons before being elected to the Football League as members of the Third Division North in 1929.[1] York reached the second tier of English football with promotion to the Second Division in 1974, but were relegated two years later.[2] York became the first team to reach 100 points in a Football League season after winning the 1983–84 Fourth Division championship with 101 points, which remains to be the club's only league title.[3] The club was relegated to the Football Conference following the 2003–04 season,[4] but returned to the Football League with victory in the 2012 Conference Premier play-off final.[5]

The York City Clubman of the Year award is voted for annually by the club's supporters to name a player who throughout the season has met the three criteria of sportsmanship, effort on the field of play and ability.[6] Previously fans voted by either handing a voting form to the club or by e-mailing the club[7] and can now vote via an online poll.[8] As a mark of respect, the trophy is named the Billy Fenton Memorial Trophy, after player Billy Fenton, who died suddenly in 1973.[9] The award is presented before the final home match of the season, for many years by Fenton's widow, Margot Fenton.[10] [11] However, the presentation of the award took place at an awards night in 2011,[12] while the following year it was presented after the final home game of the season.[13] From 2014 to 2015, an awards night was held at York Racecourse to present the award.[14] [15] In 2016, the award was presented before the final home match of the season.[16]

Since the inaugural award was made to Phil Burrows in 1974, 38 different players have won the award. Eight of these players have won the award for at least a second time, the most recent being Sean Newton. Newton and Daniel Parslow are the only players to have received the award on three occasions. Gordon Staniforth was the first to win the trophy in consecutive seasons, a feat since emulated by John MacPhail, Barry Jones and Alan Fettis. Three winners of the award have represented their country at senior international level, of whom Jon McCarthy and Alan Fettis went on to become Clubman of the Year for a second time. Chris Brass, the winner of the 2003 award, went on to manage the club from 2003 to 2004.[17] The current incumbent of the award is Olly Dyson, who was the 2022–23 recipient.

Key

Winners

season

SeasonLevelNamePositionNationalityAppsGoalsclass=unsortableNotes
scope=row style=text-align:center1973–743543
scope=row style=text-align:center1974–752 452
scope=row style=text-align:center1975–762388
scope=row style=text-align:center1976–773 5213
scope=row style=text-align:center1977–784 5013
scope=row style=text-align:center1978–794 (2)5219
scope=row style=text-align:center1979–804519
scope=row style=text-align:center1980–814510
scope=row style=text-align:center1981–8244925
scope=row style=text-align:center1982–834529
scope=row style=text-align:center1983–8445210
scope=row style=text-align:center1984–853 (2)559
scope=row style=text-align:center1985–863461
scope=row style=text-align:center1986–873 (2)5225
scope=row style=text-align:center1987–8834318
scope=row style=text-align:center1988–894 4711
scope=row style=text-align:center1989–904530
scope=row style=text-align:center1990–914500
scope=row style=text-align:center1991–924499
scope=row style=text-align:center1992–934481
scope=row style=text-align:center1993–943 4925
scope=row style=text-align:center1994–953 (2)5010
scope=row style=text-align:center1995–963571
scope=row style=text-align:center1996–973571
scope=row style=text-align:center1997–983475
scope=row style=text-align:center1998–993512
scope=row style=text-align:center1999–20004 (2)401
scope=row style=text-align:center2000–014510
scope=row style=text-align:center2001–024 (2)520
scope=row style=text-align:center2002–034441
scope=row style=text-align:center2003–044454
scope=row style=text-align:center2004–055 442
scope=row style=text-align:center2005–0654518
scope=row style=text-align:center2006–075493
scope=row style=text-align:center2007–085561
scope=row style=text-align:center2008–095570
scope=row style=text-align:center2009–105550
scope=row style=text-align:center2010–115 (2)471
scope=row style=text-align:center2011–125421
scope=row style=text-align:center2012–134 (3)501
scope=row style=text-align:center2013–144460
scope=row style=text-align:center2014–154496
scope=row style=text-align:center2015–164402
scope=row style=text-align:center2016–175 353
scope=row style=text-align:center2017–186 3225
scope=row style=text-align:center2018–196 (2)376
scope=row style=text-align:center2019–206 (3)395
scope=row style=text-align:center2020–216The Fans[19] align=left-align=left-00
scope=row style=text-align:center2021–226560
scope=row style=text-align:center2022–235 424
scope=row style=text-align:center2023-245414

Wins by playing position

PositionPlayersWins
scope=row56
scope=row1723
scope=row1112
scope=row79

Wins by nationality

NationalityPlayersWins
scope=row3236
scope=row35
scope=row13
scope=row12
scope=row12
scope=row11
scope=row11

References

General

Specific

Notes and References

  1. Book: Batters, David . York City: The Complete Record . 2008 . Breedon Books . Derby . 978-1-85983-633-0 . 238–252.
  2. Book: Batters . York City: The Complete Record . 235–237.
  3. Book: Batters . York City: The Complete Record . 360.
  4. Book: Batters . York City: The Complete Record . 402.
  5. News: Match report: York City 2, Luton Town 1 – Play-off final . Dave . Flett . The Press . York . 21 May 2012 . 28 April 2019.
  6. Web site: Billy Fenton Memorial Trophy winners . Niall . Cope . York City F.C. . 1 February 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170528053314/http://www.yorkcityfootballclub.co.uk/club/clubman-award/index.aspx . 28 May 2017.
  7. Web site: Player of the Year award 2014 . York City F.C. . 22 April 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160722021103/http://www.yorkcityfootballclub.co.uk/news/article/player-of-the-year-award-2014-1471794.aspx . 22 July 2016.
  8. Web site: Player of the Year award 2022 . York City F.C. . 25 April 2022.
  9. Book: Batters . York City: The Complete Record . 168.
  10. News: Merris backs Billy . Evening Press . York . 3 May 2005 . 28 April 2019.
  11. News: Flock of awards is Bishop's reward . Steve . Carroll . The Press . York . 1 May 2007 . 28 April 2019.
  12. News: Mills: Michael Rankine all set to sign for Aldershot . Steve . Carroll . The Press . York . 11 May 2011 . 28 April 2019.
  13. News: York City clinch fourth place in Blue Square Bet Premier . The Press . York . 28 April 2012 . 28 April 2019.
  14. Web site: City awards night . York City F.C. . 17 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160602102936/http://www.yorkcityfootballclub.co.uk/news/article/york-city-awards-dinner-updated-1515860.aspx . 2 June 2016.
  15. Web site: Lowe wins Player of the Year . York City F.C. . 6 May 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160910033534/http://www.yorkcityfootballclub.co.uk/news/article/lowe-wins-player-of-the-year-2443814.aspx . 10 September 2016.
  16. News: York City fans call for manager Jackie McNamara's sacking after 4–1 defeat to Bristol Rovers . Dave . Flett . The Press . York . 30 April 2016 . 28 April 2019.
  17. Web site: Managers: Chris Brass . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 28 April 2019.
  18. Web site: York City FC: Squad . Soccerway . Perform Group . 28 April 2019.
  19. Web site: Fans win Clubman Of The Year award 2021 . York City F.C. . 21 May 2021.