Yorkshire international football team represents Yorkshire as a region in international association football. The team are affiliated with WUFA, it does not play in FIFA and UEFA matches. The team were previously affiliated with CONIFA (from 6 January 2018).

Yorkshire
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)The Vikings
AssociationYorkshire International Football Association
ConfederationWUFA
Head coachRyan Farrell
CaptainPaddy McGuire
Most capsJordan Coduri (7)
Top scorerJordan Coduri, Tom Greaves, Brodie Litchfield (4)
Home stadiumVarious
First colours
Second colours
First international
 Yorkshire 1–1 Ellan Vannin 
(Fitzwilliam, Yorkshire; 28 January 2018)
Biggest win
 Yorkshire 8–1 Kashmir
(Ossett, Yorkshire; 17 October 2021)
Biggest defeat
Jersey Parishes of Jersey 2–1 Yorkshire 
(Saint Peter, Jersey; 21 October 2018)
 Yorkshire 1–2 Tamil Eelam 
(Ossett, Yorkshire; 10 October 2019)

It plays at various venues throughout the region. Founded in 2017, it is controlled by the Yorkshire International Football Association (YIFA). The first CONIFA match, a 1–1 draw with Ellan Vannin, took place on 28 January 2018 at the Yorkshire NuBuilds Stadium in Fitzwilliam.

History

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Early attempts at a Yorkshire team

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Despite Yorkshire having a representative schoolboy team for many years, there was no formal senior equivalent until 1924 when the West Riding County Football Association put together a men’s side as part of the jubilee of the University of Leeds. Players were chosen from Bradford City, Bradford Park Avenue, Halifax Town, Huddersfield Town and Leeds United.[1] Although the team won 2–0, it did not represent the whole county.[2] In 1935, a Yorkshire team made up of players from leading clubs across the entire region, including Bradford City, Huddersfield Town, Leeds United and Sheffield United, took on a team formed of Middlesbrough, Newcastle United and Sunderland players at the latter’s Roker Park ground as part of the Queen's jubilee celebrations.[3] Once again, however, the team, which beat the North East side 3–2, was reported as representing only West Yorkshire.[4]

First official Yorkshire international team

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Officially established on 16 July 2017, YIFA held a foundation meeting in October of the same year at the Square Chapel, Halifax, to sign off its constitution and formalise its existence as a footballing body. While organising a senior Yorkshire international football team was its primary focus, YIFA also gave notice of its intention to seek membership of CONIFA.[5] Plans for a senior women’s team and disability teams were also announced.

On 13 November 2017, YIFA announced that Ryan Farrell, assisted by Micky Long, had been appointed as Yorkshire's first ever head coach.[6][7] On 6 January 2018, ahead of the friendly against Ellan Vannin, Yorkshire was accepted as a member of CONIFA. The following week, Matt Bradley of Dinnington Town was the first player revealed to have been called up to the national side, while Paddy McGuire, who plays for Thackley, was named the first captain.[8][9]

Team colours

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Yorkshire’s traditional kit colour is dark blue. The current kit is provided by Yorkshire-based sportswear company, Godzown Sports.

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Inspired by the Yorkshire flag, the motif of the Yorkshire international football team features a stylised White Rose of York on a blue shield.

Fixtures and results

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  Win   Draw   Loss

2018

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28 January Friendly Yorkshire   1–1   Ellan Vannin Fitzwilliam
15:30 GMT Coduri   54' Report Davies   48' Stadium: Yorkshire NuBuilds Stadium
Attendance: 627
Referee: Steve Lynch
25 March Friendly Yorkshire   6–0   Chagos Islands Fitzwilliam
15:00 BST Collier   14', 29'
Rhodes   44'
Hobson   56'
Mole   68'
Bradley   78'
Report Stadium: Yorkshire NuBuilds Stadium
Attendance: 532
15 April Friendly Barawa   2–7   Yorkshire London
17:00 BST   53'   65' Hurtley   26'
Coduri   50', 72', 88'
Rigby   60'
Rhodes   78', 90'
Stadium: Coles Park Stadium
21 October Friendly Parishes of Jersey   2–1   Yorkshire Saint Peter, Jersey
15:30 BST Boyle   23'
C. Weir   76'
Ripley   83' Stadium: La Rue des Vignes
18 November Friendly Yorkshire   5–4   Panjab Ossett
16:00 GMT Greaves   5', 38', 65', 72'
Litchfield   51'
J. Panesar   1'
Minhas   12'
Singh Sandhu   56'
Zia   63'
Stadium: Ingfield Stadium

2019

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4 May Friendly Yorkshire   6–2   Somaliland Athersley
15:00 BST Walshaw   19' (pen.), 73', 83'
Dempsey   42'
Litchfield   64'
Normanton   75'
Report Abdi   49', 87' Stadium: Sheerien Park
1 June 2019 Atlantic Heritage Cup Yorkshire   1–0   Parishes of Jersey Ossett
15:00 Litchfield   90+3' Stadium: Ingfield Stadium
Attendance: 521
Referee: Karl Parker
10 October Friendly Yorkshire   1–2   Tamil Eelam Ossett
19:45 Litchfield   87' Thomas A.   19'
Prashanth R.   80'
Stadium: Ingfield Stadium
Attendance: 175

2021

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17 October Friendly Yorkshire   8 - 1   Kashmir Ossett
Stadium: Ingfield Stadium

Selected international opponents

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Opponents Matches Win Draw Loss GF GA
  Barawa 1 1 0 0 7 2
  Chagos Islands 1 1 0 0 6 0
  Ellan Vannin 1 0 1 0 1 1
  Parishes of Jersey 2 1 0 1 2 2
  Kashmir 1 1 0 0 8 1
  Panjab 1 1 0 0 5 4
  Somaliland 1 1 0 0 6 2
  Tamil Eelam 1 0 0 1 1 2

Players

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The following players were called up to the squad for the friendly against   Tamil Eelam on 10 October 2019.[10]

Caps and goals correct as of 1 June 2019 after the game against   Parishes of Jersey.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK George Clarke (2000-05-11) 11 May 2000 (age 24) 3 0   Brighouse Town
1GK Luke Wilson (2000-11-28) 28 November 2000 (age 23) 1 0   Thackley

2DF Danny Buttle 4 0   Handsworth Parramore
2DF Isaac Baldwin 0 0   Farsley Celtic
2DF Kris Hargreaves 0 0   Thackley

2DF Joshua Dacre (1996-06-22) 22 June 1996 (age 28) 1 0   Goole

3MF Jordan Coduri 7 4   Penistone Church
3MF Paddy McGuire (captain) (1987-07-29) 29 July 1987 (age 37) 6 0   Thackley
3MF Cameron Rigby (1997-01-20) 20 January 1997 (age 27) 4 1   Maltby Main
3MF Jack Normanton (1997-04-07) 7 April 1997 (age 27) 2 1   Brighouse Town
3MF Kieron Thompson 0 0   Thackley
3MF Sam Barker 0 0   Harrogate Railway Athletic

4FW Matt Bradley (1998-11-28) 28 November 1998 (age 25) 5 1   Dinnington Town
4FW Brodie Litchfield (1997-10-17) 17 October 1997 (age 27) 3 3   FC United of Manchester
4FW James Wilshaw (1984-02-12) 12 February 1984 (age 40) 1 3   Scarborough Athletic

Recent call-ups

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The following players have been called up in the previous twelve months or withdrew from the squad due to injury or suspension.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Kyle Trenerry (1999-07-10) 10 July 1999 (age 25) 1 0   Farsley Celtic v.   Parishes of Jersey, 1 June 2019
GK Ed Hall (1992-10-31) 31 October 1992 (age 31) 4 0   Stocksbridge Park Steels v.   Panjab, 18 November 2018

DF Ben Rhodes (1999-11-28) 28 November 1999 (age 24) 6 3   Stocksbridge Park Steels v.   Parishes of Jersey, 1 June 2019
DF Eddy Busfield (1997-05-23) 23 May 1997 (age 27) 3 0   Nostell Miners Welfare v.   Parishes of Jersey, 1 June 2019
DF Matt Dempsey (1990-02-06) 6 February 1990 (age 34) 2 1   FC United of Manchester v.   Parishes of Jersey, 1 June 2019
DF Connor Smythe (1996-01-11) 11 January 1996 (age 28) 1 0   Pontefract Collieries v.   Parishes of Jersey, 1 June 2019
DF James Knowles (1983-05-23) 23 May 1983 (age 41) 1 0   Ossett United v.   Parishes of Jersey, 1 June 2019
DF Lawrence Hunter 6 0   Knaresborough Town v.   Somaliland, 4 May 2019
DF Andy McManus (1987-07-26) 26 July 1987 (age 37) 5 0   Athersley Recreation v.   Panjab, 18 November 2018
DF Alex McQuade (1992-11-07) 7 November 1992 (age 31) 1 0   Ossett United v.   Panjab, 18 November 2018

MF Adam Hayton (vice-captain) 6 0   Nostell Miners Welfare v.   Parishes of Jersey, 1 June 2019
MF Ross Daly (1989-05-03) 3 May 1989 (age 35) 1 0   Hyde United v.   Parishes of Jersey, 1 June 2019
MF Corey Gregory (1993-02-22) 22 February 1993 (age 31) 1 0   Ossett United v.   Parishes of Jersey, 1 June 2019
MF Nathan Valentine (1993-10-05) 5 October 1993 (age 31) 0 0   Scarborough Athletic v.   Parishes of Jersey, 1 June 2019
MF Jordan Emery 2 0   Armthorpe Welfare v.   Panjab, 18 November 2018

FW Tom Greaves (vice-captain) (1985-04-23) 23 April 1985 (age 39) 3 4   Bury AFC v.   Parishes of Jersey, 1 June 2019
FW Seon Ripley (1994-03-23) 23 March 1994 (age 30) 4 1   Hemsworth Miners Welfare v.   Somaliland, 4 May 2019 WD

Head coach

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Manager Period Played Won Drawn Lost Win %
  Ryan Farrell 2018 8 5 1 2 062.5
Totals 9 6 1 2 66.6

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "A Yorkshire Soccer Team". Leeds Mercury. 11 December 1924. p. 15.
  2. ^ "Student's Bright Display". Leeds Mercury. 19 December 1924. p. 15.
  3. ^ "Yorkshire's Selected". Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette. 3 May 1935. p. 14.
  4. ^ "Few Thrills at Roker Park". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 7 May 1935. p. 21.
  5. ^ "Yorkshire Is Getting Its Own International Football Team". www.yorkshirepost.co.uk. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  6. ^ "How Yorkshire Has Launched Its Own International Team". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  7. ^ "Reet Champion! Yorkshire Gets Its Own International Football Team". examiner.co.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  8. ^ "Dinnington Town FC on Twitter". twitter.com.
  9. ^ "Match Of The Dales: Yorkshire's International Football Team Is Taking Devolution Into Its Own Hands". esquire.com. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  10. ^ "Yorkshire International Football Association_Players". yorkshireifa.com.
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