EFL club told their current stadium is too small after promotion success
York City have been told their stadium is ‘too small for our ambitions’ by their local MP.
It follows the club’s promotion to League Two after a ten-year absence from the Football League.
The Minstermen clinched the National League title last month after drawing their final day title-decider with Rochdale.
Josh Stones’ equaliser in the 13th minute of stoppage-time ended their EFL exile in dramatic fashion.
His goal confirmed York as champions on 108 points, with Rochdale dropping into the play-offs despite ending the season with 106 points themselves.
York City stadium plans
However, local MP Luke Charters believes the club must now find a new stadium that matches their ambitions.
York currently play at the 8,500-capacity York Community Stadium, which they share with rugby league team York Knights.
The ground, which was opened in 2021, also hosts academy matches for Hull City, Leeds United and Sheffield United.
Discussing the club’s future at their current home, Charters said: “York City’s promotion could be the spark for the next generation of fans with the success we’ll have as a League Two club.
“We need to get all the stakeholders together to talk about this next season.
“The current stadium is too small for our ambitions, we’ve outgrown it. I hope promotion’s the start of new fans coming to the club.
“I remember when I went to my first game and soon I’ll be taking my son to his first match, it’s a magical time for a family.”
York City’s stadium history
Prior to moving to the York Community Stadium, York played at Bootham Crescent.
With a capacity of 8,256, the venue served as their home ground for 88 years between 1932 and 2020.
The club had previously played home matches at Fulfordgate following their formation in 1922.
Next season will mark York’s first League Two campaign since they were relegated in 2016.
They had since spent five years in the National League North, the sixth tier of English football, during their ten-year wait for an EFL return.
Although the club have previously played as high as the second-tier of English football, they have only spent two seasons at that level.
Those came between 1974 and 1976, with the majority of their 104-year existence spent in the third and fourth-tiers.
However, York have not played higher than League Two for 27 years.
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