'Our ambitions have outgrown the stadium'- MP after York City FC promotion

Labour’s Luke Charters said all those involved should start talking about the club’s long-term future after they secured re-entry into the Football League.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has contacted York City FC for comment.

It comes after the Minstermen secured promotion and their re-entry into the national football league on Saturday, April 25 after scoring a dramatic last-minute equaliser against Rochdale in a crunch away game.

The victory marks York’s return to the league for the first time since the 2015-6 season.

An open top bus victory parade is set to be held on Thursday, May 7 following a celebration event at the LNER Community Stadium on Wednesday, April 29.

The parade was not originally due to go ahead after York Council, North Yorkshire Police and other emergency services refused to sign it off due to safety concerns.

Construction on the club’s current home began in 2017 and was completed in December 2020 ahead of its official opening in 2021.

The all-seater stadium shared by the football club and the York Knights rugby league team has capacity for 8,500 spectators.

York City previously played at Bootham Crescent which closed in 2021 and was demolished in 2023 to make way for housing.

MP Mr Charters, who is a York City fan, said he was inspired by the ambitions club owners Matt and Julie-Anne Uggla had for the club.

However, he added that thought needed to be given to how to realise them.

The York Outer MP said: “York City’s promotion could be the spark for the next generation of fans with the success we’ll have as a League Two club.

“We need to get all the stakeholders together to talk about this next season. The current stadium is too small for our ambitions, we’ve outgrown it.

“I hope promotion’s the start of new fans coming to the club, I remember when I went to my first game and soon I’ll be taking my son to his first match, it’s a magical time for a family.”