York City Football Club is a professionalassociation football club based inYork, North Yorkshire, England. This chronological list comprises all those who have held the position ofmanager of thefirst team of York City. Each manager's entry includes his dates of tenure and the club's overall competitive record (in terms of matches won, drawn and lost), honours won and significant achievements while under his care.Caretaker managers are included, where known, as well as those who have been in permanent charge.
York City went without an official manager from their formation in May 1922 until the appointment ofJock Collier in July 1928.[1] Collier initially joined asplayer-manager, but was forced to retire from playing due to a broken ankle after two matches.[2] He was in charge for York's last season in theMidland League before theirelection tothe Football League in June 1929.[2] Collier oversaw the club's successful transition fromnon-League football to theThird Division North, but left the club in May 1930 to become a publican.[3]Billy Sherrington combined his duties as club secretary with that of manager for the next three years, before Collier was reappointed manager in May 1933.[3] With results at a low ebb, he helped York establish themselves in the Football League, and led them to the fourth round of the1936–37 FA Cup.[3] In March 1937, Collier retired from football to go into business with his brother.[4] Former playerTom Mitchell was appointed, and in hisfirst full season led York to the quarter-final of the1937–38 FA Cup.[5]
League football was suspended in September 1939 with the outbreak of the Second World War, and team affairs in wartime competitions were handled by director and acting manager Arthur Wright, before his resignation from illness midway through the 1942–43 season.[6] He was replaced byTom Lockie, who carried on until after the1945–46 FA Cup, when Mitchell returned for the1946–47 Football League season.[7] Mitchell resigned in February 1950 to concentrate on his business interests,[5] and was succeeded in April byBirmingham City northern scout and former York playerDick Duckworth.[8] He lifted the club from the bottom of the table to a top four position, but left in October 1952 to take over atStockport County.[9] FormerGrimsby Town managerCharlie Spencer took over in November 1952, but his health declined and died in February 1953, after less than three months in charge.[9]Sheffield United assistant managerJimmy McCormick was appointed in June 1953, before he resigned in September 1954 over a dispute with the board regarding team selection.[10] York went the next 18 months without an official manager, with team matters handled by trainer Lockie and secretary Sherrington.[10] This was a successful period for the club;[10] York reached the semi-final of the1954–55 FA Cup, and were beaten byNewcastle United in a replay.[11]
Sam Bartram, a formerCharlton Athletic player who played for York during the war, was appointed manager in March 1956.[10] Under him York narrowly missed out on becoming founder members of theFourth Division ongoal average in1957–58, although the club's firstpromotion came thefollowing season with a third-place finish.[12] York wererelegated from theThird Division afterone season, and Bartram left in July 1960 to take over atLuton Town.[13] Lockie was his successor, and in his first two seasons as manager York narrowly missed out on promotion.[13] This was followed by two disappointing seasons, including an application for re-election after1963–64, before York won promotion to the Third Division in1964–65 by playing exciting and attacking football.[13] Immediate relegation followed, and York had to apply for re-election again after1966–67.[13] Lockie became the first York manager to be dismissed in October 1967, with the team bottom of the Fourth Division.[14]
Former Sheffield United playerJoe Shaw was appointed in November 1967, but he could not prevent York having to seek re-election after1967–68.[15] Shaw resigned for personal reasons in August 1968, and was succeeded by formerHuddersfield Town managerTom Johnston in October.[15] Another re-election bid came after1968–69, but Johnston gradually improved the team; after a midtable finish thefollowing season, York were promoted to the Third Division in1970–71.[16] York avoided relegation on goal average over the next two seasons, before winning promotion to the Second Division in1973–74 with a third-place finish.[16] Johnston resigned to return to Huddersfield Town in January 1975;[16] club historian David Batters described him as "arguably the most successful manager in York City's history".[15]
York appointed formerManchester United managerWilf McGuinness in February 1975, and he helped them stay in the Second Division in1974–75.[17] However, York faced successive relegations under McGuinness, when finishing 21st in1975–76 and bottom of the Third Division in1976–77.[17] He was dismissed in October 1977, with York 22nd in the Fourth Division, and was succeeded by former Charlton Athletic playerCharlie Wright in November.[17] He could not prevent a re-election bid after1977–78, before leading York to 10th place thefollowing season.[17] Wright was dismissed in March 1980 with the team near the bottom of the table,[17] and under caretaker managerBarry Lyons York finished 17th in1979–80.[18] He was appointed permanently in May 1980, and York finished bottom of the table in hisfirst full season in charge.[18] York continued to struggle and Lyons was dismissed in December 1981;Kevin Randall andBarry Swallow each had spells in caretaker charge, before York finished 17th in1981–82.[18]
Denis Smith, who played onloan fromStoke City the previous season, was appointed player-manager in May 1982.[18] After leading York to seventh place in1982–83, Smith retired from playing.[19] York won their first major title in1983–84, when the Fourth Division championship was secured with 101 points.[19] This meant York became the first team to achieve a three-figure points total in a Football League season.[19] In the next two seasons they finished eighth and seventh in the Third Division, and tookLiverpool to FA Cup fifth round replays.[19] York narrowly avoided relegation in1986–87, and Smith left to take over atSunderland in May 1987.[19] FormerBlackburn Rovers managerBobby Saxton was appointed in June 1987; he was tasked with rebuilding the team in a matter of weeks, and York were relegated to the Fourth Division in1987–88.[20] With York bottom of the table, Saxton resigned in September 1988, and was succeeded by formerHartlepool United managerJohn Bird in October.[21] York ranked 11th in1988–89, and having looked like mounting a promotion challenge, finished 13th thefollowing season.[21] York were bottom of the Fourth Division by the time of Bird's dismissal in October 1991.[21]
York appointedAston Villa assistant managerJohn Ward in November 1991.[22] Ward developed the team he inherited from Bird, and York were top of the table by December 1992.[23] He left forBristol Rovers in March 1993, and was succeeded by his assistantAlan Little.[23] Two months later Little led York to promotion via theThird Division play-offs, with apenalty shoot-out victory overCrewe Alexandra in thefinal.[24] In the1993–94 season, York were beaten by Stockport County in the semi-final of theSecond Division play-offs.[24] York finished midtable thefollowing season, but only avoided relegation in1995–96 with a win on the final day of the season, although they knocked Manchester United out of the1995–96 League Cup.[24] In thefollowing season's competition they eliminatedEverton, but again narrowly avoided relegationthat season.[24] York's form continued to falter by the late 1990s, and Little was dismissed in March 1999 after a run of 10 matches without a win.[24]
York playerNeil Thompson took over as caretaker manager, but he was unable to avoid relegation to the Third Division, after a defeat on the last day of1998–99.[24] He was appointed permanently in May 1999, but was dismissed in February 2000 with York 21st in the table.[24] FormerHull City managerTerry Dolan was appointed and he led York clear of relegation in1999–2000.[25] Despite off-pitch problems at the club, York were in an automatic promotion place by late March 2003, before finishing 10th in2002–03.[25] York playerChris Brass was appointed player-manager in June 2003; aged 27, this made him the youngest managerial appointment in the Football League since 1946.[25] Having been 10th in the table in January 2004, York went 20 matches without a win and were relegated to theConference National after2003–04, which brought to an end 75 years of Football League membership.[25] Brass was dismissed in November 2004 with York fourth from bottom of the table, and his assistantViv Busby took caretaker charge before the appointment of formerDerby County coachBilly McEwan in February 2005.[26]
McEwan steered York away from relegation with a 17th-place finish in2004–05, and his rebuilt team finished eighth thefollowing season.[27] York reached the play-offs in2006–07, but were beaten 1–0 on aggregate byMorecambe in the semi-final.[27] With home form poor McEwan was dismissed in November 2007, and his assistantColin Walker took over as caretaker manager[28] before being appointed permanently in December.[29] After only five wins from the first 19 matches of2008–09, Walker was dismissed in November 2008,[30] and was succeeded by formerPort Vale managerMartin Foyle.[31] York avoided relegation in the penultimate match of the season[32] and reached the2009 FA Trophy final, in which they were beaten byStevenage Borough.[33] Foyle's York lost toOxford United in the2010 Conference Premier play-off final,[34] and he resigned in September 2010 with the team 15th in the table 10 matches into2010–11.[35][36]
Tamworth managerGary Mills was appointed in October 2010,[37] and he led York to sixth place in 2010–11.[36] In his firstfull season in charge, Mills led York to victory in the2012 FA Trophy final overNewport County, and subsequently in the2012 Conference Premier play-off final over Luton Town.[38][39] By winning the play-offs, York were promoted toLeague Two, meaning the club returned to the Football League after an eight-year absence.[39] Mills was dismissed in March 2013 after a run of 11 matches without a win left York in 18th place.[40][41] FormerNorthern Ireland managerNigel Worthington guided York away from relegation with four wins from the last five matches of2012–13.[42] Worthington led York to the League Two play-offs in2013–14, and they were beaten 1–0 on aggregate in the semi-final byFleetwood Town.[43] With only one win from his last 17 matches in charge, Worthington resigned in October 2014.[44] FormerScunthorpe United managerRuss Wilcox was appointed,[45] and York avoided relegation after a run of four wins from five matches late into2014–15.[46][47]
Wilcox was dismissed in October 2015 after a nine-match run without a win left York 21st in the table,[48] and was succeeded by the formerDundee United managerJackie McNamara in November.[49] York went on a run of one win from the last 16 fixtures,[50] and were relegated to theNational League after finishing bottom of League Two in2015–16.[51] This marked the end of York's four-year return in the Football League.[52] With the team 19th in the National League,[53] Gary Mills was reappointed manager in October 2016,[54] shortly after he was dismissed byWrexham.[55] McNamara remained at the club after taking on the role of chief executive.[54] Mills was unable to stop York being relegated to theNational League North for the first time in2016–17,[56] although they did beatMacclesfield Town in the2017 FA Trophy final.[57] Mills was dismissed in September 2017,[58] with York seventh in the National League North and 11 points away from the only automatic promotion place.[59] He was succeeded byDarlington managerMartin Gray,[60] who led York to an 11th-place finish in2017–18.[61] He left in August 2018 when his contract was not renewed,[62] with the team eighth in the table after five matches.[63]
Sam Collins was appointed in October 2018 after four wins from eight matches as caretaker manager[64] before being dismissed in January 2019 with the team 15th in the table.[65][66] He was succeeded by Gateshead'sSteve Watson,[67] and under him York finished in 12th place in2018–19.[68] The next two seasons were disrupted by theCOVID-19 pandemic, with York being beaten byAltrincham in the play-off semi-final after the2019–20 final league table was decided on an unweighted points per game basis, before2020–21 was declared null and void.[69] Watson left in November 2021 with York in a midtable position, and former Port Vale managerJohn Askey took over asinterim manager.[70] He was appointed permanently in March 2022 after results improved, including a run of 12 matches without defeat.[71] Askey led York to promotion back to the National League after a five-year absence at the end of the2021–22 season, after the team beatBoston United 2–0 in the2022 National League North play-off final.[72]
Askey was dismissed in November 2022 with the team 12th in the National League after 19 matches,[73] which was described as a "shock" decision byThe Press due to Askey's successful record as manager and popular standing with supporters.[74] David Webb was appointed in December to his first managerial role, having previously held youth football and off-field positions, and was most recently head of football operations at Huddersfield Town.[75] He was dismissed in February 2023 with York four points above the relegation zone following four successive defeats.[76] At two months, his tenure was the shortest of any permanent manager at the club.[76] Webb's assistant, Michael Morton, took over as interim manager,[77] and was appointed permanently in May[78] after leading York to a 19th-place finish in the2022–23 season.[79] Morton was dismissed in August after six matches without a win at the start of the 2023–24 season left York second from bottom of the table.[80] He was succeeded in September by formerSolihull Moors managerNeal Ardley,[81] who was replaced in February 2024 byWorthing managerAdam Hinshelwood, with the team one point above the relegation zone in 20th place.[82][83] Hinshelwood guided York to safety from relegation on the final day of the2023–24 season, finishing in 20th place.[84] His team finished in second place in the2024–25 National League with 96 points—the second highest seasonal points tally in the club's history—[85] but were eliminated from the play-offs after losing 3–0 at home toOldham Athletic in the semi-final.[86] Hinshelwood was dismissed in August 2025, with the decision described inThe Press as "something as a shock to supporters".[87] His tenure as manager ended with a win percentage of 54.5%—the highest of any permanent manager in the club's history.[87]
Hinshelwood was replaced in August 2025 by formerNotts County managerStuart Maynard.[88]
| Name | From | To | Record | Honours[89] | Notes | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | ||||||
| Jock Collier | 14 July 1928 | May 1930 | 105 | 44 | 33 | 28 | 041.9 | [a] | [95][96] | |
| Billy Sherrington | May 1930 | 2 May 1933 | 130 | 50 | 21 | 59 | 038.5 | [97][98] | ||
| Jock Collier | 2 May 1933 | 16 March 1937 | 178 | 63 | 39 | 76 | 035.4 | [a] | [98][99][100] | |
| Tom Mitchell | 16 March 1937 | 23 February 1950 | 270 | 91 | 64 | 115 | 033.7 | [a][b] | [99][101][102] | |
| Dick Duckworth | 3 April 1950 | 22 October 1952 | 120 | 40 | 38 | 42 | 033.3 | [a][c] | [8][103][104] | |
| Charlie Spencer | 17 November 1952 | 9 February 1953 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 033.3 | [d] | [105][106][107] | |
| Jimmy McCormick | 1 June 1953 | 7 September 1954 | 53 | 14 | 14 | 25 | 026.4 | [e] | [108][109][110] | |
| Sam Bartram | 12 March 1956 | 19 July 1960 | 209 | 84 | 56 | 69 | 040.2 | Fourth Division promotion:1958–59 | [111][112] | |
| Tom Lockie | July 1960 | 16 October 1967 | 376 | 134 | 82 | 160 | 035.6 | Fourth Division promotion:1964–65 | [a] | [113] |
| Joe Shaw | 6 November 1967 | 16 August 1968 | 33 | 9 | 9 | 15 | 027.3 | [114][115] | ||
| Tom Johnston | 31 October 1968 | 11 January 1975 | 329 | 121 | 94 | 114 | 036.8 | Fourth Division promotion:1970–71 Third Division promotion:1973–74 | [116] | |
| Clive Baker † | 11 January 1975 | 15 February 1975 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 050.0 | [117] | ||
| Wilf McGuinness | 15 February 1975 | 20 October 1977 | 129 | 31 | 32 | 66 | 024.0 | [118] | ||
| John Simpson † | 20 October 1977 | 22 November 1977 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 040.0 | [119] | ||
| Charlie Wright | 22 November 1977 | 18 March 1980 | 124 | 40 | 30 | 54 | 032.3 | [120] | ||
| Barry Lyons | 18 March 1980 | 8 December 1981 | 82 | 24 | 18 | 40 | 029.3 | [a] | [121] | |
| Kevin Randall † | 8 December 1981 | 3 March 1982 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 009.1 | [a] | [122][123] | |
| Barry Swallow † | 3 March 1982 | 15 May 1982 | 19 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 042.1 | [a] | [122][123] | |
| Denis Smith | May 1982 | 31 May 1987 | 279 | 128 | 64 | 87 | 045.9 | Fourth Division championship:1983–84 | [a][f] | [125] |
| Bobby Saxton | 9 June 1987 | 19 September 1988 | 60 | 10 | 14 | 36 | 016.7 | [126][127] | ||
| Barry Swallow † | 19 September 1988 | 10 October 1988 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 060.0 | [a] | [127][128] | |
| John Bird | 10 October 1988 | 23 October 1991 | 163 | 49 | 51 | 63 | 030.1 | [22][129] | ||
| John Ward | 5 November 1991 | 12 March 1993 | 72 | 21 | 26 | 25 | 029.2 | [22][130][131] | ||
| Alan Little | 12 March 1993 | 15 March 1999 | 328 | 113 | 89 | 126 | 034.5 | Third Division play-off winners:1993 | [130][132] | |
| Neil Thompson | 16 March 1999 | 9 February 2000 | 45 | 11 | 11 | 23 | 024.4 | [a] | [133] | |
| Terry Dolan | 11 February 2000 | 31 May 2003 | 173 | 56 | 50 | 67 | 032.4 | [134] | ||
| Chris Brass | 4 June 2003 | 8 November 2004 | 67 | 14 | 18 | 35 | 020.9 | [a] | [135] | |
| Viv Busby † | 8 November 2004 | 10 February 2005 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 028.6 | [a] | [136][137] | |
| Billy McEwan | 10 February 2005 | 19 November 2007 | 131 | 52 | 31 | 48 | 039.7 | [138] | ||
| Colin Walker | 19 November 2007 | 21 November 2008 | 58 | 22 | 20 | 16 | 037.9 | [139] | ||
| Neil Redfearn † | 21 November 2008 | 24 November 2008 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 000.0 | [140][141] | ||
| Martin Foyle | 24 November 2008 | 24 September 2010 | 102 | 44 | 30 | 28 | 043.1 | FA Trophy runners-up:2008–09 | [31][35][142] | |
| Andy Porter † | 24 September 2010 | 6 October 2010 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 025.0 | [143][144] | ||
| Steve Torpey † | 8 October 2010 | 13 October 2010 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 000.0 | [a] | [145][146] | |
| Gary Mills | 13 October 2010 | 2 March 2013 | 136 | 58 | 45 | 33 | 042.6 | FA Trophy winners:2011–12 Conference Premier play-off winners:2012 | [147] | |
| Nigel Worthington | 4 March 2013 | 13 October 2014 | 76 | 23 | 29 | 24 | 030.3 | [148] | ||
| Steve Torpey † | 13 October 2014 | 15 October 2014 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | !— | [a] | [45][47][149] | |
| Russ Wilcox | 15 October 2014 | 26 October 2015 | 54 | 13 | 20 | 21 | 024.1 | [150] | ||
| Richard Cresswell † | 26 October 2015 | 4 November 2015 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 000.0 | [a] | [151][152] | |
| Jackie McNamara | 4 November 2015 | 16 October 2016 | 48 | 8 | 12 | 28 | 016.7 | [153] | ||
| Gary Mills | 16 October 2016 | 30 September 2017 | 53 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 037.7 | FA Trophy winners:2016–17 | [147][154] | |
| Martin Gray | 1 October 2017 | 19 August 2018 | 37 | 14 | 8 | 15 | 037.8 | [60][62][155] | ||
| Sam Collins | 20 August 2018 | 5 January 2019 | 26 | 10 | 5 | 11 | 038.5 | [65][155][156] | ||
| Steve Watson | 10 January 2019 | 13 November 2021 | 91 | 47 | 19 | 25 | 051.6 | [67][155][157] | ||
| John Askey | 13 November 2021 | 16 November 2022 | 59 | 27 | 15 | 17 | 045.8 | National League North play-off winners:2022 | [155][157][158][159] | |
| Tim Ryan † | 18 November 2022 | 5 December 2022 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 000.0 | [155][160][161] | ||
| David Webb | 5 December 2022 | 8 February 2023 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 030.0 | [g][h] | [155][161][165] | |
| Michael Morton | 9 February 2023 | 28 August 2023 | 24 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 025.0 | [77][78][80][155] | ||
| Tony McMahon † | 28 August 2023 | 6 September 2023 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 000.0 | [80][81][155][166] | ||
| Neal Ardley | 6 September 2023 | 26 February 2024 | 34 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 029.4 | [81][82][155] | ||
| Tony McMahon † | 26 February 2024 | 27 February 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | !— | [82][83] | ||
| Adam Hinshelwood | 27 February 2024 | 28 August 2025 | 66 | 36 | 14 | 16 | 054.5 | [83][87][155] | ||
| Stuart Maynard | 28 August 2025 | Present | 18 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 066.7 | [88][155] | ||
