Today I'm going back 12 years to 2010 and York City's visit to Aggborough, home of Kidderminster Harriers in the FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round. The game was attended by 1,123 spectators. The winners of the game would receive £12,500 from the FA's Prize Fund and the opportunity to win more should they progress beyond the 1st Round Proper.
Following the earlier departure of former boss Martin Foyle, York came into the match having ended any managerial uncertainty by announcing the appointment of a new manager, former Tamworth boss Gary Mills. Mills was accompanied in his move from Tamworth to York by his trusty assistant Darron Gee. Personally, I would have to say that the City side that Mills took to "Wembley Twice" in 2012 was my favourite one ever and I enjoyed the style of football under Mills. Mills turned the York ship around that season and an 8th place finish together with a solid FA Cup run provided the grounding for the following season's glory.
Steve Burr's Kidderminster side contained one player who would become an integral part of York's promotion side the following season. Matty Blair would join York from Kidderminster the following summer. Also in the Harriers side was programme cover star, striker Lee Morris. Morris, son of Blackpool's Colin Morris, actually began his career at York City's Centre of Excellence although he would never make an appearance for the club. Lee signed for Sheffield United as a trainee and would make his debut for the Blades before transferring to Derby County where he appeared in the Premier League. Subsequently Morris has appeared for Leicester City, Yeovil Town, Burton Albion and Hereford amongst others. These days Morris is managing SC (South Carolina) United Bantams in America, a club which has links to Bradford City.
York put in a good performance in the featured game and won 2-0 with goals coming from Daniel Racchi (25th minute) and Jonathan Smith (54th minute). Racchi would go on to make just 23 appearances for York scoring twice including this one, his only goal in the FA Cup.
Following City's win in the featured game, they drew League 2 side Rotherham United in the FA Cup 1st Round whom they beat comfortably 3-0 in a Replay at Bootham Crescent after an initial goalless draw in Sheffield. The FA Cup 2nd Round saw York drawn away yet again, this time to fellow Conference side Darlington. York eased their way past Darlington earning themselves the opportunity of a crack at a Premier League side. The FA Cup 3rd Round draw did indeed provide York with Premier League opposition but they were drawn away once again, this time travelling to the Reebok stadium, home of less than glamourous Bolton Wanderers. It was there that York's FA Cup journey came to an end as the Trotters won 2-0 with two late goals to break York hearts. I would end up watching Bolton twice more in their Cup run that season as they beat Birmingham City 3-2 at St Andrews in the Quarter-Final before losing horrendously by 5-0 to Stoke City in the Semi-Final at Wembley. Manchester City won the FA Cup that season beating Stoke 1-0 in the Final.
CRB Match No. 1771
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