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Maz Kouhyar: York City's 2022 promotion was 'an incredible feeling'
PROMOTION was “an incredible feeling” for York City’s Maziar Kouhyar.
Two years ago this week, Kouhyar and York defeated Boston United 2-0 in the Vanarama National League North play-off final, ending the Minstermen’s five-year stay in regional football.
Lenell John-Lewis put City ahead early on, but Kouhyar settled the nerves with a sublime late second, confirming promotion back into the Vanarama National League.
The winger has enjoyed a fascinating career to date, having arrived in England in 1999 as a refugee after fleeing from the Taliban.
Having made his way through the Walsall academy, Kouhyar suffered an ACL injury which ended his time with the Saddlers.
Kouhyar made the decision to quit football and began working for fast food chain KFC in 2020, before returning to football for a short spell with Hereford in the National League North, earning reported interest from the EFL.
But it was York and former manager John Askey who were able to snap up the 26-year-old, with Kouhyar going on to play an integral role in the Minstermen’s promotion back into the fifth tier.
“It was a big thing for me because of the journey I had had in football," Kouhyar told the Press.
“Before that I wasn’t even playing, I was working in an office, so [it was great] to fast forward to a play-off final in front of seven or eight thousand fans.
“Playing my part in York going up was an incredible feeling.
“For me, it was the biggest point of my career.
“First of all, it was because the game was such a big game with the importance of it.
“To get the win as well, I was working in an office not so long before and the transition was very quick.
“It was the real realisation that I was back, back playing football. It was absolutely amazing for me.
“I think the players and the managers have already mentioned it, but the supporters are amazing. They are always backing us and it definitely helps us on the pitch.
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“Hopefully we can give them more things to cheer about going into next season.”
The Press previously spoke to Olly Dyson, who spoke on the entire squad's relief after Kouhyar doubled York's lead late on.
Kouhyar backed this, saying: “I was similar to him, as soon as it went in I was sure that we had won the game then.
“There was a sense of relief to then just work the clock down and not concede, I think the whole stadium had that feeling towards the end of the game to get it secure.
“It was massive, we were winning most games and playing well in most games, so going into the final we were keen to just keep doing what we had been doing in the last couple of games to get the result.”
The manager responsible for that promotion and for revitalising the football club in his tenure in charge, Askey received full plaudits from Kouhyar, who paid homage towards the boss that initially brought him to North Yorkshire.
Kouhyar explained how Askey improved City in a short period of time, admitting that he was grateful for the opportunity to represent York and to create memories for the players, management team and the supporters.
Kouhyar explained: “John Askey was a big part of how the team was very solid, there was a lot of team chemistry.
“We were working hard for ourselves but also for him as well, he was the manager that brought me in at the time.
“I was grateful for the opportunity and as players he just reminded us that we could get promoted, so we created those memories for him, for ourselves and for the fans.”
