It may only be the start of July, but it has already been a busy summer of transfer action for York City, as they look to assemble a squad capable of enjoying success in the football league. Indeed it is only just over a month until York kick off their competitive season, and before that we have pre-season to indulge in, so it is no surprise that manager Gary Mills has already made five new signings.
The drama of the play off final in May secured York a place back in the football league after an eight year absence, following relegation from the football league in the 2003-04 season. Hard times followed as York struggled to attain the elusive promotion back into the football league, often falling just short of the playoffs, or being defeated once they had reached them. However last year everything was different, and now they have achieved their aim of retuning to the football league by defeating Luton in the playoff final, Mills has set about strengthening his squad.
The recent signing of Danny Blanchett on a free transfer after his release from Burton Albion, is York’s fifth addition to the squad which attained promotion. Blanchett, 24, plays primarily as a left back, and made 14 appearances for Burton last year, after previously enjoying spells at Crewe and Peterborough. Blanchett graduated from non-league football and after a trial at Liverpool was much sought after, leading to him moving to Darren Ferguson’s Peterborough. Since then though his career has somewhat stalled, and he will be looking to revive it with his latest move to the Minstermen.
York’s first signing of the summer was someone more familiar to the fans who regularly line Bootham Crescent, as Lee Bullock made a return to York from Bradford. The 31-year-old started his career at York graduating through the youth ranks, making 141 appearances for the club and in the process scoring 24 goals before moving on in 2004 to Cardiff. The last four years have seen the midfielder ply his trade at nearby Bradford, but following his release at the end of the season he was quickly snapped up by Mills.
Bullock’s signing was soon followed by that of former Oxford striker Oli Johnson, with the 24-year-old having 16 football league goals to his name, and hoping to add to that at York. Last week York made another double signing, this time bringing in striker Michael Coulson and midfielder John McReady. McReady, 19, is a promising youngster who appeared 37 times for Darlington last year, whilst Coulson scored 16 goals in 72 appearances at Grimsby.
In other transfer news Chris Doig, Jon Challinor, Ashley Chambers, Jamal Fyfield and last year’s player of the year Scott Kerr have all signed new deals. York did suffer a blow though when full back James Meredith, 24, departed York to sign for fellow league two club Bradford. The left back joined York in 2009, and the Australian has since gone on to make 131 appearances for the club, and in all likelihood his place in the team will now be taken by new signing Blanchett.
Boss Gary Mills suggested at the end of May that he would not make significant changes to his squad following promotion. He told BBC Radio York, “There’ll be a few players that come and join us but I’ve got a good squad of players. I’m certainly not going to break up too much of what I believe is a good squad to go forward.” So far he has made five signings and only time will tell whether more will follow. However there is a belief that York have the ability to compete in League Two, and the success of clubs such as Crawley and Stevenage after achieving promotion into the football league, will serve as inspiration for the Minstermen over the coming campaign.