York City's Under-18 team are gearing up to kick off their new EFL Youth Alliance league campaign this Saturday when they face Preston North End. The match, scheduled for 11am at Springfields Training Ground, marks the beginning of a long-awaited return to EFL competition for York’s academy after ten years away from the Football League.
The Minstermen have been preparing for this fixture with pre-season matches against Blackburn Rovers and Fleetwood Town, as well as local contests against Goole. Despite an early setback in their preparations, losing 4-2 at Pickering, York has since bounced back with a 2-1 win over the same opponents.
Preston North End’s U18s are no pushover, having finished second in the EFL Youth Alliance last season behind Shrewsbury Town. Manager Tim Ryan is confident his squad will rise to the challenge: 'We’re looking forward to stepping back into the EFL programme. We’ve had a good pre-season and have some talented players who I’m sure will handle this test well!'
Fans can follow live updates on Twitter (@YCFCAcademy) and catch post-match reactions and highlights on YouTube. The next fixture for York’s U18s is set against Rochdale, which will take place at home in February 2027.
