T'Other Side: York City Knights

  

FIRST TEAM SQUAD

LAST TIME OUT

2021 MATCHES

Head Coach: James Ford

 

James Ford is widely regarded as one of the best of the younger coaches. He began his career as a head coach with York in 2015 and has remained with the club ever since.

In 2017 Toronto Wolfpack won all 15 of their League One Fixtures but Ford’s York team caused a huge upset beating them in the League One Super 8s.

In 2018 he guided them to promotion into the Championship and remarkably, whereas most promoted clubs struggle in their first year, York finished 3^rd in the Championship in 2019.

As a player he was usually in the backs although he did also play at fullback and half-back. His career started with Fev in 2003, making 34 appearances in 3 years. In 2005 he went on loan to Sheffield and then spent the following three years there and established himself as a regular first team member before moving to Super League with Castleford in 2009. In 2010 he joined Widnes, and in April 2011 he transferred to York where he has remained ever since and when he retired from playing at the end of 2014 moved into the head coach position.

 

Captain: Chris Clarkson

 

The son of former Fev player, Micky Clarkson, made his professional début with Leeds Rhinos in 2010 and was there for 5 seasons which included a few dual reg appearances for Hunslet. In 2015 he joined Widnes and then, in 2016, moved on to Hull KR. In 2019 he signed for Castleford and joined York at the beginning of 2020.

He usually plays in the second row or at loose forward although he has also filled in at halfback this year during York’s injury crisis in the halves.

 

Star Man: Brendan O’Hagan

 

Young Australian, Brendan O’Hagan, was a major signing for York this year.

21 years old when he arrived in England, O’Hagan hadn’t played in the NRL but had been involved in the youth systems of Newcastle Knights, Canberra Raiders and Wests Tigers.

His potential was recognised early and he was in the New South Wales State of Origin squads at U16s, U18s and U20s.

He came back into the York team last weekend, after being out through injury since early June, and had quite a come back with a hat trick!

 

Loan signings

 

Keeping track of York’s loan signings this year is no easy matter and it is compounded by many loans being for only a fortnight. They have had about a dozen players on loan so far in 2021.

York have had a problem with injuries to half-backs. Morgan Smith (grandson of Fev’s Peter Smith) is out with a long term injury and their Aussie signing Brendan O’Hagan has also been injured. As a result they have borrowed several half-backs and been forced into using 12 different halfback pairings in their 20 Matches.

Currently on loan, as far as we know, are Riley Dean (halfback, Warrington), and from Leeds Corey Hall (back) and Corey Johnson (hooker or halfback).

 

 

The Fev connection

There have been some notable moves between York and Fev. Both Steve Quinn and Graham Steadman moved from York to Rovers and Fev’s Challenge Cup Captain Mal Dixon had 2 spells at York and was also their Head Coach.