Ripon City - Non League to Champions League

reggaeboy81 · November 10, 2023

Welcome to my save - Ripon City A.F.C

Starting in the Vanarama North we will take the UK's 5th smallest city from non-league to the champions league.

With the use of the editor this small city will start as a semi-pro club dreaming of success. but with a twist!

But first abit about Ripon City A.F.C

Ripon City AFC established in 1898.

Early Years

Early signs indicate the club played most of its pre-war matches on the Cricket Club ground. After winning the 1907/08 Harrogate and District League,

In 1918 Ripon City held its first meeting since before the war and, when play resumed, they could be seen playing on the present site at Mallorie Park. At this time only two teams existed in the city – Ripon United and Ripon City. In 1919 the two clubs amalgamated and became Ripon City A.F.C. One of the first projects undertaken after this amalgamation was the erection of the stand. This was built in 1920 and is still in use today.

It would seem the problems we encounter today are not new and were inherited from our predecessors. A report in August 1935 stated the club was in danger of closing if members did not show more commitment and gate receipts were increased. With this in mind, after twelve years service, the club left the York & District League and entered the Allertonshire League in an effort to boost gate revenue.

Fortunes did indeed seem to change and the 1940’s saw the club to be much improved.

1950’s and onwards

In the early 1950’s Ripon were a formidable force and in his autobiography Harold ‘Dickie’ Bird recalls his father playing for Barnsley F.C and beating Ripon City 1-0 in the Yorkshire Trophy Final at Oakwell. 1958 saw Ripon City win both the Ripon League Senior and Junior Charity cups as well as reaching the final of both the Whitworth and Hulme cup.

In May 1962 a decision was taken to purchase the present ground at Mallorie Park. In August 1977 Harrogate District Council approved plans for a new clubhouse and changing rooms both of which remain in use today. However in 1981, the rapid growth of the club saw plans for a new shower block approved and these still remain one of the finest in our leagues.

At this time Ripon had an abundance of local football teams. One such team was Ripon Y.M.C.A. who went on to become known as Ripon Yorkshire Magnets AFC. This team was to become one of the most successful local teams of that time and in July 1990 an amalgamation took place between Ripon City and Yorkshire Magnets. With the onset of the 1991/92 season the name of the club changed to Ripon City Magnets a name that took us into our centenary year and beyond.

A NEW ERA AND A PLAN

So heres the twist, Ripon City have appointed a legendary ex-footballer with a plan to develop English and his original home nation players.

who is this man?

The one and only John Barnes!

After a illustrious career with Liverpool winning major honours, John Barnes managerial career has not been as rosey, stints at Celtic, Jamiaca National team and Tranmere deemed un-successful by the media, led John Barnes in to more media work. But with the option to build a club from the ground up in his own image and with links to un-earthed talents in Jamaica, it was an offer to good for John Barnes to turn down.

With a little tweak of the editor we have made work permits for jamaican players obsolete and can sign freely for UK teams. we have added low level staff and players from the free market at the level of the tier 6. I will not be using the player search screen, but relying on the scouts and in furure a DOF to un-earth new players, attribute masking is also on.

MEET THE STAFF

Manager - John Barnes