York Nomad Society

The York Nomad Society, or YNS are a supporters group and hooligan firm associated with York City Football Club, which play in National League, the lowest nationwide division and the fifth overall in the English football league system. They are known for bringing medium level violence to Home and Away games and many members have been arrested over the years.

YNS logo

Background

The YNS was formed in 1981 as an alternative travel to away matches for City supporters. The coaches the YNS put on were cheaper and allowed breaks at pubs for drinking. Since the nineties however, the YNS has become a hooligan group as well as just a supporters group.

In the Hooligans A-Z book, the YNS were described as being more akin to an Italian ultras group than a traditional English football 'firm', due to the fundraising carried out by the group. It was also claimed that, in one way or another, around 1,000 people have been 'members' of the YNS since its formation.^{[citation needed]}

Former YNS member Terry Exelby was the first English fan to be arrested at the 1986 World Cup after drunkenly climbing into the luggage racks of a plane. When the plane landed in Texas he was arrested by the FBI.^[1]

Hooligan firm

In March 2002 two York City fans were arrested on suspicion of assault following clashes at an away match against Cheltenham Town.^[2] In February 2003, seven people were arrested (four from Bury and three from York) following clashes at a home match against Bury. Between 30 and 40 fans clashed in York with missiles thrown and the police dog unit finally restoring order.^[3]

In October 2006 York fans clashed with Oxford United fans in Oxford when over 100 fans from both teams fought near the Blackbird pub.^[4] The clash was described by the Oxford Times as being a pre-arranged conflict. Three York City fans were arrested after a window was broken at the Priory pub after the match.^[5]

References

1. "Sinister side to laughter". The Press. 22 June 2006. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
2. "Two arrested after City's match". The Press. 11 March 2002. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
3. "Seven arrested after rival fans clash again". The Press. 24 February 2003. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
4. Simmonds, Ellie (3 October 2006). "Hooligan havoc as 100 clash". The Oxford Mail. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
5. . The Oxford Times. 2 October 2006. Archived from the original on 16 February 2007. Retrieved 12 August 2009.