Points on the line at the LNER
Gillingham return to York after 13 years for an intriguing League Two test
Originally published in Gills Journal by David Tickner.
Thirteen years on
Thirteen years later, the clubs meet again, this time at the LNER Community Stadium, York's home since February 2021 following a long-awaited move from Bootham Crescent to a modern community venue shared with the city's rugby league club. York are newly returned once more, although the road back has been even longer and more bizarre for them this time around.
This is The Minstermen's first EFL season since 2015/16, which marked the end of a relatively short spell in the Football League. They had returned in 2012 by beating Luton Town 2-1 in the Conference play-off final, ending an eight-year absence.
The long road back
In 2015/16, York were relegated from League Two finishing bottom with just 34 points, conceding 87 goals and recording a goal difference of -36. They won only seven league matches all season, with just one of those victories coming away from home. Manager Russ Wilcox was dismissed in October 2015 after nine league games without a win. He was replaced by Jackie McNamara, but the change failed to arrest the club's decline. Meanwhile, Gillingham were enjoying a far more successful campaign in League One under Justin Edinburgh. The Gills finished ninth on 69 points after spending much of the season in promotion contention.
Things got worse for York the following season when despite winning the FA Trophy, they were relegated to the National League North where they remained for five seasons including during Covid.
In 2021/22, they finished fifth and secured a return to the National League via the play-offs and victory over Boston United in the final. Initially, they struggled on their return to the fifth tier finishing 19th and 20th in their first two seasons back.
However, a turning point came in June 2023 when the Uggla family bought a 51% controlling stake in the club. 2024/25 saw a transformation under manager Adam Hinshelwood as they scored 95 goals, accumulated 96 points and finished second in the League only to lose 3-0 at home to Oldham Athletic in the play-off semi-final.
Promotion
Last season, they went one better and achieved promotion in the most extraordinary finish to the season. Travelling to Rochdale on the final day in April, York needed to avoid defeat to secure the National League title and its only automatic promotion spot.
Rochdale scored in the 95th minute, seemingly leapfrogging York and taking the title. A home pitch invasion delayed the restart when the visitors threw everybody forward and Josh Stones equalised in the 103rd minute. York finished on 108 points, Rochdale on 106 and a ten-year absence from the Football League was over.
And then they sacked the manager who had brought it about. Towards the end of July, barely three months after securing the title and promotion and before York had kicked a ball in League Two, they sacked Stuart Maynard who had taken them there. The club’s own statement cited ‘a difference in direction and vision for the football’ whilst conceding that from outside, it might look ‘strange or difficult to understand.’ The following day Scott Lindsey was appointed coach.
Remarkably, this move was not without precedent. Maynard’s predecessor, Hinshelwood, who had taken York to 96 points and second place in the National League in 2024/25 and began the following season unbeaten in the first four League games, was sacked at the end of August 2025 and replaced by Maynard that same day.
So, in the space of 11 months, York had sacked a manager after finishing second and beginning the following season unbeaten, replaced him with a manager who won 108 points and promotion, sacked him before the new EFL campaign and appointed Lindsey.
Familiar face
Scott Lindsey is, of course, a familiar face to Gillingham fans. The son of former Gills right-back Keith Lindsey, who was part of the side promoted from the Fourth Division in 1973/74, he made 12 appearances for the club himself in 1994/95 and later returned to coach at the club's Centre of Excellence, helping to establish development centres around Kent.
More recently, his managerial career has taken him to Swindon, Crawley, MK Dons and then Crawley again. During his first spell at Crawley, he guided the club to promotion through the 2024 League Two play-offs. His second spell ended in March 2026 after a run of ten matches without a win, with his departure coming just days before Gillingham's visit to the Broadfield Stadium.
Gareth Ainsworth knows the challenge Lindsey presents. The Gills manager describes his opposite number as a ‘task master’ whose teams know what is required of them, while pointing to Lindsey’s promotion from League Two with Crawley as evidence that he ‘knows his way around this division and how to get out of it’. The pair know one another from coaching courses and LMA events and, Ainsworth says, will share a beer afterwards.
Form
After seven games, Gills are fourth with 12 points and York, seventh with 11. Gillingham have taken 11 of the last 15 available points and kept successive clean sheets at home to Tranmere and Bristol Rovers. They are unbeaten away from home in League Two this season.
Ainsworth is enjoying what he is seeing but is conscious of keeping a lid on the growing optimism. After Saturday's win, he told BBC Radio Kent: ‘I think we've got something special at the moment,’ while stressing that he has to ‘keep everyone grounded.’
York have won all three of their home league matches this season against Bristol Rovers, Exeter and Swindon scoring nine goals in the process. Stretching back into last season’s promotion campaign, they are on a 12-match home winning streak.
Like Gillingham, Lindsey made wholesale changes for their midweek EFL Trophy fixture against Rotherhamthat ended 1-1 with The Millers winning the shoot-out 5-4. Former Gills loanee, Zech Medley started for York and scored their goal. He had already started cup games against Crawley and Newcastle United Under 21s, although to date, he has largely been a substitute for York in League Two.
Tactics
Like Ainsworth this season, Lindsey favours a back three. York are not a typical newly promoted team content to defend deep and play on the counterattack. Instead, they generally look to dominate possession, regularly recording more than 60 per cent of the ball, but Chesterfield disrupted that approach last weekend. York lined up 3-5-2 yet managed no shots on target and only 52.5 per cent possession in a 2-0 defeat.
Lindsey did not disguise his dissatisfaction. ‘That wasn't a reflection of who we are and what we've been,’ he said, describing York as ‘second best’ across much of the game.
He also suggested that changes could be made for Gillingham's visit, revealing that Tuesday's EFL Trophy fixture had been used to give fringe players valuable minutes so they would be ready if called upon.
Players to watch
Attacking midfielder, Alex Newby (shirt no. 30) has six League Two goals already this season – nearly half of York’s total of 13. He scored two in York’s most recent home game – a 4-0 win over Swindon.
Forward Ollie Pearce (10) has an exceptional National League record. He scored 31 league goals in 2024/25 and 34 in the 2025/26 season. Although he has only found the net twice this season, he has provided three assists.
Operating on the left, Harry Boyes (12) is proving an excellent summer acquisition from Southend United. He has provided the most League Two assists so far – four - plus two goals.
Team news
Morgan Williams suffered a ‘significant injury’ to his ankle against Swindon with Lindsey indicating that the centre back ‘would be out for a number of weeks’. Josh Stones, scorer of the extraordinary promotion-clinching goal at Rochdale has not yet appeared this season. Dipo Akinyemi and Frankie Maguire, previous injury absentees both started in Tuesday’s Trophy match.
Gillingham will be without Conor McManus, who has recovered from the knock that ruled him out against Bristol Rovers but is now away with the Republic of Ireland Under 21 squad. Cameron Antwi, Ethan Coleman and Bradley Dack all gained minutes in Tuesday’s EFL Trophy game against Cambridge, while Will Goodwin continues to work his way back from injury.
Verdict
York's return to the Football League has already been eventful, but their return home has so far been flawless - three league matches, three victories, extending a winning run at the LNER to 12. Gillingham arrive with three successive wins of their own and unbeaten away in League Two. Something, perhaps, has to give - although after 13 years without this fixture, a share of the spoils would hardly feel inappropriate.
Prediction: York City 2-2 Gillingham
David Tickner writes regularly about Gillingham Football Club on Substack. You can read, follow or subscribe for free at Gills Journal | David Tickner | Substack
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