York City are currently flying high at the top of the National League standings, but do they have what it takes to maintain their outstanding start and finally return to the EFL?
Adam Hinshelwood’s side are the form side so far this season under the ownership of Matt Uggla and have tasted defeat just once in 17 National League matches so far this season, leading Forest Green Rovers by a point in the race for automatic promotion to League Two.
This time last season, York City were 19th in the National League having taken just 19 points from their opening 19 league games and were just a point above the relegation zone.
Fast forward 12 months and York sit top of the National League with 38 points and have lost just one of their first 17 league matches, whilst having the joint-second best attack and the best defence in the entirety of the fifth tier.
However, do they possess the ability to return to the EFL this season?
How have York started so far this season?
Following their 5-3 victory over Hartlepool United on Saturday, their opposition manager Lennie Lawrence revealed that he believed York City will go on to win the National League this season, but how have they started this season?
Hinshelwood’s men began the 2024/25 campaign with a 1-1 draw away to a resurgent Southend United side, before beating Tamworth and Rochdale as well as drawing to Sutton United. This led to their only league defeat thus far at the hands of newly-promoted Boston United.
However, since their surprise defeat the club are unbeaten in their last 12 league games and have lost just once in 14 matches in all competitions which came against League One leaders Wycombe Wanderers in a 3-2 FA Cup defeat.
The club also has the welcomed presence of Ollie Pearce who already has nine goals to his tally and is currently scheduled to net a respectable 24 goals this season.
Interestingly, York City’s next league outing is a trip to their title rivals Forest Green Rovers (live on DAZN) before hosting the reigning National League South champions Yeovil Town.
What do the statistics say?
The true recipe of a successful side is a team that can score goals and have the ability to keep the ball out and that is exactly what York City have so far this season.
In terms of their attacking statistics, York have averaged 1.9 goals per 90 minutes so far this season and 12.6 shots on goal which works out at a 15% goal conversion rate. They also average 4.7 corners and 15.4 successful dribbles per game which suggests that they are a strong attacking side.
They also average 63.8% ball possession thus far, 5.1 successful crosses and 464 accurate passes per 90 minutes, further suggesting that the style of play is allowing them to dictate play, work it well in wide areas and cause major problems in the final third.
During the previous season, York City had a difficult task of keeping the ball out of their goal and struggled with goalkeeping injuries – something that has now been solved following Harrison Male’s summer arrival from Dorking Wanderers.
The club have kept nine clean sheets from their first 17 league matches and conceded just 0.7 goals per game. Male himself averages 2.7 saves per 90 minutes as well as the team overall averaging 77.8 ball recoveries, 79.5 duel wins and 34.9 interceptions which showcases how they also have a resolute defensive structure.
So far this season, York City are averaging 2.24 points per game, which (if followed) would see them finish the National League campaign on 102 points and is likely to crown them as champions of the division.
Who are their main title rivals?
Taking a look at the current National League table would suggest that there are three potential title rivals that York City should monitor. These are; Gateshead, Barnet and Forest Green Rovers.
Those four sides have already picked up 43 league victories this season and have tasted defeat just 12 times.
Gateshead have experienced a managerial change already this season and are currently fourth on 33 points, five behind York though the two sides are yet to face each other this season.
Barnet were the fan-picked favourites to win the National League before a ball was kicked and currently find themselves third on 34 points. The Bees have drawn just once this season and despite them being the division’s top-scorers, they do struggle to avoid conceding goals.
Forest Green Rovers were playing League One football just two years ago, meaning it is no surprise that they find themselves as high as they do. Steve Cotterill’s side have lost just twice this season and sit just a point behind York and the two will face off against each other for the first time this weekend.
Currently, York City are looking the most likely side to win the National League but the January transfer window could place several of their assets at risk of joining the EFL, which has the potential to derail their season so far.
However, the squad of players that the club has plus their style of play already makes them difficult to beat and there is a firm belief that York can indeed go all the way this season and win the National League.