FLASHBACK to New Year’s Day of 2024, and York City were in 19th position and on 25 points. 12 months on, and the Minstermen are second in the National League, with promotion back to the Football League a real possibility.

It’s been a year of ups and downs for York, with the club at one point looking destined for relegation back into regional football, now eyeing a potential return to League Two after a truly remarkable turnaround.

City started their 2024 with a home match at the LNER Community Stadium against high-fliers Gateshead, and perhaps even surprised themselves after a 2-0 win.

It continued an unbeaten run that had started in December 2023 with a 0-0 draw against Rochdale, that would eventually prove to be pivotal in survival for the season.

A point at Boreham Wood and a 2-1 win over Oxford City contributed to something of a high point during Neal Ardley’s reign as York boss, before Hartlepool United put a stop to that positive unbeaten run.

In January, Ardley was also able to take advantage of the EFL transfer window opening, bringing in Billy Chadwick from Stockport County, as City returned to winning ways against Southend United.

Unfortunately for Ardley, it would be his final win in the York dugout, as a run of four matches without a win, ending with a 2-0 defeat to Barnet, saw the manager’s stint with City come to an end after being axed.

It was a relatively controversial decision at the time which split the fanbase – almost unthinkable now 10 months on.

Neal Ardley was sacked after a 2-0 defeat to Barnet. (Image: Tom Poole) Adam Hinshelwood was announced as his successor, a somewhat unknown manager from the National League South who had established himself as a Worthing icon after leading the club up the divisions.

It was his first step into full-time management, and with Hinshelwood making the long trip up North alongside Garry Elphick and Cameron Morrison, it wasn’t the start to life in North Yorkshire that he would have been hoping for.

Hinshelwood’s tenure started with back-to-back defeats against Wealdstone and AFC Fylde, before a first point was gained in a bore 0-0 draw at Kidderminster Harriers.

But what followed was one of the most depressing nights in the Minstermen’s recent history, and what felt like a real sucker-punch in the push for safety.

York’s 6-1 defeat to Altrincham in March can only be described as embarrassing, which caused captain Lenell John-Lewis to brave the media and speak on the defeat, answering the questions that a lot of City fans had been posing.

Therefore it was only fitting that John-Lewis would score in the following match against Aldershot Town for a 1-0 win, and a first three points for Hinshelwood.

It sparked a needed run of form, with wins over Bromley, which included a Dipo Akinyemi Goal of the Season contender, a victory against champions Chesterfield and an unlucky 1-1 draw at FC Halifax Town.

A defeat to Eastleigh was softened with a comfortable win over Woking, as City confirmed survival in the National League on the final day, despite defeat to Solihull Moors.

It had been a season to forget for a lot of supporters, and for Matt and Julie-Anne Uggla, who, despite allegedly splashing the cash, can’t have been happy with where the team finished.

The off-season was always going to be crucial for York if they were going to attempt to improve on last season’s measly 20th placed finish, and with Hinshelwood taking sole control of the recruitment, it would be interesting to see the calibre of players he attracted to the club.

York City and Adam Hinshelwood brought in a new roster of players in the Summer, including the league's top scorer Ollie Pearce. (Image: Tom Poole) Their transfer business got underway with an incredible quadruple signing, as Ollie Pearce, Joe Felix, Harrison Male and Ashley Nathaniel-George all signed on the same day. They’ve certainly had impressive impacts since joining.

Tyrese Sinclair, Ricky Aguiar, Alex Hunt and Malachi Fagan-Walcott were also additions, as well as Cameron John, Mo Fadera, Luca Thomas, Jeff King and Darragh O’Connor, who may feel as if they still have more to offer after joining this season.

More importantly, Hinshelwood also worked hard to reduce the squad size, which had been as high as 34 the season prior, freeing up the budget to help maintain a sustainable future for the football club.

After a pre-season of only cotton candy pink kits, City started their season with a trip to Southend, with the general consensus being that no one knew what to expect. It was a new look York side, under a management team that still felt as if they had to prove themselves.

A 1-1 draw against the Shrimpers began the campaign, before back-to-back home victories over Tamworth and Rochdale, and a 2-2 draw against recently-relegated Sutton United.

A run of four matches unbeaten to start the season was brought to an end by Boston United in a 2-0 defeat, which, as of right now, is City’s only home defeat all season.

The Minstermen responded to that slight setback in a commendable manner. Wins over Dagenham & Redbridge, Wealdstone, Braintree Town and AFC Fylde followed, as well as a battling goalless draw at Aldershot Town.

Slowly, but thankfully, a sense of belief has been building in York after an incredible start to the campaign.

York City were top of the National League for Christmas. (Image: Tom Poole) York added a 3-0 win over Solihull to their list of victories, having lost 1-0 to the Moors on the final day of the season prior, before draws against Eastleigh and Woking followed.

An FA Cup progression took place over lower league Biggleswade FC, before wins over Ebbsfleet United and more impressively, Barnet.

Alex Hunt’s free-kick in that match felt like it would be hard to top as far as moments go so far this season, but little did any of us know that a match just four days later would bring such jubilation.

After a pretty dire performance away at Halifax saw York head into stoppage-time deservedly behind, strikes in the 91st minute from Fagan-Walcott, and then in the 96th from Pearce, secured a truly incredible win in front of over 2,000 travelling supporters.

City then challenged League One promotion candidates Wycombe Wanderers in the FA Cup, exiting the competition after a herculean effort, before a win over Hartlepool United.

York arguably entered their most disappointing spell of the campaign so far, which is saying something, as defeats to Forest Green Rovers and Altrincham took place, with a 4-0 win over Yeovil Town too.

To end their year, the Minstermen have cruised to wins against Maidenhead United, Darlington in the FA Trophy and Southend, with a 1-1 draw at Tamworth also within the mix.

Unfortunately City supporters couldn’t celebrate their traditional Boxing Day match after fog forced postponement at Oldham Athletic, with attention turning to Gateshead on New Year’s Day at the LNER Community Stadium (3pm).

After that 6-1 defeat to Altrincham earlier in the year, any York supporter saying that they would have been top of the league by the following Christmas would have been told that they are far too optimistic.

To be in this position and with such a feelgood attitude surrounding the football club and the City is a true testament to the incredible work and progression put in place.

It’s certainly a good time to support the City!