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York City promotion 'the best day of my life'

Jack Hadaway-WellerYorkshire
News imageMollie Ovenden Three women taking a close-up photo at a football stadium. They are standing in the spectator seating area and are wearing red team jerseys and casual clothing; two are wearing sunglasses. Behind them, a green football pitch is visible with match stewards in high-visibility jackets and a large crowd of spectators, many also dressed in red. The scene appears bright and outdoors, suggesting a daytime sporting event.Mollie Ovenden
Mollie Ovenden (centre) went to the game with her sister and her mum

Fans of York City have described the "elation" and "delirium" after their team clinched a return to the English Football League in dramatic fashion.

Josh Stones' equaliser in the 13th minute of stoppage time against title rivals Rochdale secured the point needed to confirm their place as National League champions, ending a 10-year exile.

"It was utter, utter elation, the whole stand, I've never seen anything quite like it," said Mollie Ovenden who was at the match with her family.

The 1-1 draw meant York City finished the season on 108 points, with Rochdale forced into second on 106 points.

York beat Rochdale to promotion

Ahead of the game York City knew they only needed a point to top the league, and with the match goalless heading into injury time it looked like the title was heading their way.

Bu a late goal for Rochdale in the 95th minute looked destined to leave York facing the lottery of the play-offs, with Mollie saying it felt "just like the world had ended".

Believing their team was going up, home fans invaded the pitch in scenes of wild celebration.

When the game finally restarted, York threw everyone forward and Stones bundled the ball over the line to secure the draw to take them up.

"Because you didn't see that net bulge, there was still that second of confusion, have we done it?" said Vicky Fenwick, who was at the game with her brother.

"Then it was just nuts, absolutely nuts."

Fellow supporter Paul Worthington said: "In all my years of going that was the most unbelievable football match of my life ever."

The late goal that took York City back to the EFL

York City have spent ten years outside of the EFL since being relegated from League Two in 2016 including a stint in the National League North, the league below the National League.

"York have been in the absolute depth of despair" said fan Steve Saxon.

"The relegation to National League North was the absolute bottom of the pile.

"For us to have worked our way back up in four years, since we were promoted from that league is tremendous."

Mollie added: "It's not easy being a York fan [but] getting up into League Two, it's a dream.

"I said it so many times on Saturday 'this is the best day of my life'."

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.

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