York Acorn A.R.L.F.C. are an amateur Rugby League club who currently play in the National Conference Premier League in the UK. Their home ground is the Acorn Sports & Social Club on Thanet Road in the Acomb suburb of York.

York Acorn A.R.L.F.C.
Club information
Nickname(s)"The Corn"
ColoursBlue jersey with gold bar, blue shorts and socks
Founded1973
WebsiteOfficial website
Current details
Ground(s)
  • Acorn Sports & Social Club,Thanet Road,Acomb, York YO24 2NW
CompetitionNational Conference Premier
20237th

History

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York Acorn was formed in August 1973 and named after a public house, "The Ackhorne", in the centre of the city of York. It moved to its current ground in 1990 and opened its club house on 19 January 1991.

The rugby section maintains control of the day-to-day running of the sports & social club as other sports, such as football and running, are based at the club. In 2011 the club were awarded Sport England's Gold Clubmark for being child friendly.[1]

York Acorn were founder members of the National Conference League in 1993 having been elected to Division 2 from their regional league. This three-division league replaced the BARLA National League. The club would not achieve promotion from the bottom tier until the 2004–05 season.

Seasons

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Results from before the establishment of the National Conference League are not recorded due to lack of sources. After 2011 they were available from a variety of reputable sources[2]

League

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Year League Lvl Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Position
2011–12 National Conference Premier 4 26 5 1 20 471 805 –334 11 14th R
2012 National Conference Division 1 6* 26 19 0 7 701 509 192 38 3rd P
2013 National Conference Premier 5 26 7 1 18 575 670 −95 15 12th R
2014 National Conference Division 1 6 22 9 2 11 506 536 −30 20 7th
2015 National Conference Division 1 5 26 14 2 10 814 633 181 30 5th P[note 1]
2016 National League Premier 5 22 3 0 19 425 745 –320 6 12th R
2017 National Conference Division 1 6 20 10 0 10 516 446 70 20 5th
2018 National Conference Division 1 6 22 11 1 10 552 544 8 23 7th
2019 National Conference Division 1 6 22 16 1 5 706 371 335 33 2nd P
2020 National Conference Premier 5 2 0 1 1 54 58 −4 1 9th[note 2]
2021 League G 5 13 9 0 4 305 185 120 18 3rd
2022 National Conference Premier 5 22 7 1 14 404 552 −148 15 8th
2023 National Conference Premier 5 22 9 1 12 502 485 17 19 7th
2024 National Conference Premier 5 22 13 0 10 420 493 –73 20 6th

Challenge Cup

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Year Round Home Away Score
1993–94 1 York Acorn Orell St James 32–32
Orrell St James York Acorn 24–5
1994–95 1 York Acorn Crown Malet 18–25
1996 Did not enter
1997 1 York Acorn Fryston 22–12
2 York Acorn Mayfield 7–20
1998 1 Millom York Acorn 22–2
1999 1 Oulton York Acorn 42–8
2000 Did not enter
2001 1 York Acorn Halton Simms Cross 0–18
2002 1 York Acorn Dewsbury Moor 34–32
2 York Acorn Heworth 14–16
2003 1 Redhill York Acorn 24–12
2004 Did not enter
2005 1 York Acorn East Hull 12–64
2006 1 York Acorn Ince Rose Bridge 29–22
2 York Acorn Seaton Rangers 35–16
3 Hull Kingston Rovers York Acorn 62–1
2007 1 Siddal A.R.L.F.C. York Acorn 18–14
2008 1 Hull Wyke York Acorn 18–40 [note 3]
2 York Acorn Bradford Dudley Hill 14–6
3 Rochdale Hornets York Acorn 50–8
2009 1 Halton Simms Cross York Acorn 46–12
2010 1 Pool A York Acorn Skirlaugh A.R.L.F.C. 18–12
2 Pool A York Acorn Thatto Heath Crusaders 32–36
2011 1 Pool A York Acorn Milford Marlins 24–35
2012 Preliminary York Acorn Norland Sharks 42–4
1 Shaw Cross Sharks York Acorn 10–18
2 York Acorn Skirlaugh A.R.L.F.C. 26–10
3 Gateshead Thunder York Acorn 28–10
2013 1 Normanton Knights York Acorn 48–16
2014 1 York Acorn Siddal A.R.L.F.C. 12–16
2015 1 Shaw Cross Sharks York Acorn 18–16
2016 1 York Acorn Sharlston Rovers 36–20
2 York Acorn Distington 28–10
3 York City Knights York Acorn 66–0
2017 1 RAF York Acorn 12–30
2 Myton Warriors York Acorn 18–4
2018 1 York Acorn Askam RLFC 16–32
2019 1 York Acorn Beverley 42–4
2 Wath Brow Hornets York Acorn 8–9
3 York Acorn Featherstone Lions 10–20
2020 1 York Acorn Hammersmith Hills Hoists 36–14
2 York Acorn Barrow Island 34–14
3 Rochdale Hornets York Acorn 54–10
2021 Only professional clubs entered due to ongoing pandemic
2022 1 Edinburgh Eagles York Acorn 24–38
2 York Acorn Wests Warriors 28–10
3 Royal Navy York Acorn 22–8
2023 1 RAF York Acorn 10–12
2 Bradford Bulls York Acorn 62–6
2024 2 Orell St James York Acorn 12–22
3 Cornwall R.L.F.C. York Acorn 10–18
4 York Acorn Wath Brow Hornets 32–28
5 Halifax Panthers York Acorn 62–6

Notable former players

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  • Peter Fox (born 5 November 1984) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s.[5]
  • Ash Robson, as a junior, Robson played for York Acorn RLFC before signing for Castleford Tigers.[6] He returned to Acorn and played a handful of games before retiring.[7]

Notes

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  1. ^ Promoted via playoffs[3]
  2. ^ League suspended due to pandemic
  3. ^ Some sources show a 18–14 win for Hull Wyke, but this is not correct[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Short history of York Acorn RLC". Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  2. ^ "National Conference Premier – Scores & Fixtures – Rugby League". BBC Sport.
  3. ^ Martini, Peter (8 November 2015). "Super York Acorn stun Normanton Knights to win promotion back to amateur rugby league's flagship league". York Press. York. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Blue and Golds into the hat". York Press. York. 4 February 2008. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  5. ^ Martini, Peter (9 September 2008). "Former Knights speedster Fox gets national call". York Press. York. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  6. ^ "York Acorn's Ash Robson signs for Castleford". York Press. York. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Former York City Knights ace Ash Robson announces retirement". York Press. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2024.