Further to an enquiry in the latest ‘There’s Only One Arthur Bottom’ newsletter (issue 128) requesting details of York City hosting Kilmarnock in a pre-season friendly in July 1969.
York actually won the game against their Ayrshire visitors by a 3-1 scoreline, courtesy of goals from right-back Bobby Sibbald (pen), and strike duo Kevin McMahon and Phil Boyer.
They were already a couple of goals ahead by the interval, with Killie’s second-half goalscorer listed as Mathie, although not showing in their original starting eleven.
The crowd at Bootham Crescent was a very impressive 2,631, according to records.
City actually finished thirteenth in the Fourth Division that season despite winning four and drawing one of their opening five league games – then a club best effort.
It had still been a marked improvement on previous years with York having been forced to apply for re-election to the Football League for three successive seasons.
However, they included knocking Second Division high-flyers Cardiff City out of the FA Cup in January 1970, winning 3-1 after extra-time in a truly monumental Third Round second replay at St Andrews.
Legendary centre-forward Paul Aimson notably returned to the club the month following the Kilmarnock friendly, while the great Barry Jackson finally left City at the end of the season after making a record 539 appearances.
York City: Mick Gadsby, Bobby Sibbald, Brian Kelly, Ian Davidson, Barry Jackson, Phil Burrows, Archie Taylor, Phil Boyer, Kevin McMahon, Billy Hodgson, Dick Hewitt
subs: Chris Topping, David Stainwright, Bob Widdowson
Goals: Sibbald (pen), McMahon, Boyer
Kilmarnock: Sandy McLaughlan, Andy King, Billy Dickson, John Gilmour, Jack McGrory, Frank Beattie, Tommy McLean, Jim McLean, Eddie Morrison, Cameron Evans, Jim Cook
subs: unknown
Goals: Mathie
Ref: V. James (York)
Att: 2,631
