History
League History
The League was founded in 1908 - inaugurated at the first meeting on 8 January 1908.
There were 6 founding clubs:
Bootham
Bishopthorpe
St Lawrence’s
Layerthorpe
Rowntrees
Cherry Street Mission
Over the 100 years there has been 249 different clubs, representing local emoployers, church orgnsiations, youth clubs, military, schools and many village sides ffrom the greater York area.
The first Chairman was a Mr JW Biscombe and the Secretary was Mr H Richmond.
The Vice Chairmen were Mr A Bell and Mr TK Wilson, and the Treasurer was Mr GF Andrew. There were also 5 other neutral members.
The League ceased during the first World War and in November 1918 fixtures were arranged, CH Fenby being instrumental in this process.
By early 1939 the League consisted of 19 teams (5 of these were in Division 2 - 14-16 age group). The League continued through the war years and the numbers were supplemented by the addition of teams such as the Army Cadets, Army Apprentice, ATC and Civil Defence Runners.
By the end of the war there were 11 teams playing in each of the 2 Divisions (1946). In 1948 the school leaving age was changed which meant the juniors were aged 15 to 16 and half years and the sniors 16 and a half to 18 years.
However, by 1958 York Youth football was now thriving and a Local Education League was formed. Many teams left the York Minor League and it was made difficult to continue; on 3 September 1959 the League was forced to report to the
York FA that it was unable to arrange fixtures for the ensuing season.
For the next 6 years there was no Minor League programme, but the organisation still existed. By 1965 Sunday Football was being played.
Enter Ken Hornby and Ken Bainbridge - they circularised the 66 York & District League clubs. Consequently, by September 1966 a restart was made, with matches being played on a Saturday (unless both teams agreed to a Sunday fixture).
The present Sunday fixtures came into being in 1970. In 1971 the League expanded to include boys still at school and between the age of 13-15 years. In 1972-73 the Leage comprised 14 senior and 16 junior teams.
In 1973-74 the league was organised into a Senior section (19 teams), Intermediates (16 teams) and a Junior section (9 teams).
At the Leagues 75th anniversary in 1982-83 there were 25 clubs and 50 teams
The League was fortunate to receive sponsorship form York British Sugar for 6 years (1996-2005) providing clubs with footballs, first aid kits and blankets, etc.
Currently, the League consists of many clubs, comprising 39 clubs (over 100 teams) - 4 age groups U13, U14, U15 and U16 - over many Divisions.
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