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With the teams in the Women’s Super League entering the fourth round of the FA Cup, it’s an exciting and possibly unpredictable weekend of action. One team hoping to make their mark alongside some of England’s biggest clubs are York City Ladies.
They are the lowest side remaining in the competition. Here’s a closer look at York City and their history.
York City history
York City Ladies, affectionally known as the Minsterbells, currently play in the FA National League Division One North.
They previously won the 2021/22 North East Regional Premier Division, and were promoted to the FA National League Division One North where they currently sit in tier four of the football pyramid.
And they’re looking to add to their history books in the FA Cup.
York City route to FA Cup fourth round
Sunday’s clash against Chatham Town will see York City enter the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history.
City entered the fourth round in December, making history as the lowest-ranked team remaining in the competition. They earned their place with a hard-fought 3-0 win over Altrincham back in December.
Earlier in the competition, the Minsterbells defeated West Didsbury & Chorlton with a thrashing of 5-1, saw out a 1-0 win against Leeds Modernians, and had a 3-1 win over Wroxham to set up the Altrincham match.
They’ve scored 12 goals across the campaign, with two clean sheets. Captain Katie Astle also won the player of the round award in the third round.
However, they’ve played just once since progressing to this stage of the competition over a month ago with the weather getting the better of a Yorkshire derby between Leeds United a week ago. They aren’t letting that dampen their focus on the FA Cup fixture.
The fourth round clash
City will travel the long journey down south to face Chatham Town. Even though the two teams play in the same tier, the distance means that it’ll be an unfamiliar clash for both sides between the North and South East divisions.
York City sit tenth place in the fourth-tier FA Women’s National League Division One North. Meanwhile, Chatham Town are fourth in the Division One South East.
Whilst they’ve drawn a same tier side this time, should they progress, there’s a chance they could be drawn against WSL clubs in the next round.
While they secretly might have hoped that would happen, this situation could give them an extra boost. Knowing they have an excellent chance to make it to the fifth round.
The meeting between the two lowest-ranked sides in the competition guarantees that there will be fourth tier representation in the next round. That means it’s set to be an exciting clash.
