York City have made their third signing in as many days, and you wouldn’t get many with a more fitting name than this guy.
On his 25th birthday today (May 10), winger Wes York joined the Minstermen after leaving National League club Gateshead.
The Leicester-born wingman was a big part of the Nuneaton Town side that won promotion to the National League, coming through as a youngster six years ago.
York made 91 appearances for the Warwickshire club scoring 12 goals, before moving on to Wrexham, where he featured 82 times and scored 14 goals over two years.
He was snapped up by Gateshead in 2016, and went on to make an impressive 74 appearances for the Tynesiders, scoring 18 times and making 12 assists.
York joins fellow former Gateshead team mates Russell Penn and Jordan Burrow at Bootham Crescent, who both signed for the Minstermen this week.
The 22-year-old quit the day job to play for York back in February.
After scoring twice in eight appearances, manager Martin Gray has now given Kempster the opportunity to play his first full year as a proffessional footballer.
An out-and-out winger
[arve url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwoZX0PDe7s” title=”Wes York goal for Wrexham vs Stockport 2015 ” /]
The signing of York means Gray has now brought in a centre midfielder, a striker and now a wide man.
Speaking to the club’s website, Gray was keen to highlight York’s ‘tough character’, and his attributes as an ‘out-and-out winger’, saying:
We are very lucky that another player from the National League has chosen to come here.
With Russ Penn and Jordan Burrow also joining us this week, I think it has made the move easier.
Wes is an out-and-out right winger who goes beyond full backs on the outside. He brings natural width and great pace and can contribute goals as well.
He’s also a real tough character who is not afraid to put his foot in and get kicked. His temperament is very good so he is the all-round package.
Fans’ early verdict
As always, York City fans have turned out in force on Twitter to react to the news of City’s latest signing.
Some are displeased by the Gateshead overhaul, others are calling it fate that York would one day play for York.
See what fans have had to say in our best twitter reaction below.
@BenAspinall12 Youse have just signed Wes York. One of my favourite Gateshead players.
— Gilles (@gillesoffthenet) May 10, 2018
Gateshead are a side who were fighting for relegation last season, Wes York couldn’t get a game for them. Salford were signing football league standard players this time last year.
— George Mitchell (@Darlo_George) May 10, 2018
Announce name change to Gateshead reserves
— TheNuneaton1 (@YCFC_CB) May 10, 2018
Decent! Always thought he was good against us – paddy Mac and a couple of CB's and I'll be happy #ycfc
— Ali Bell (@alibell89) May 10, 2018
Name like that, it was fate and only a matter of time before he signed for us! Recall he was a handful when he played against us previously. Good signing @YorkCityFC https://t.co/emUtbdjWnP
— Paul Doughty (@PaulDoughty1) May 10, 2018
Football plagiarism – if in doubt copy from someone else – at least Martin Gray can blame Gateshead if he doesn't get them promoted!
— Jonathan Boyle (@QuakerJon) May 10, 2018
York signs for errr York #ycfc pic.twitter.com/qNzCbsVimS
— Y Front (@YfrontFanzine) May 10, 2018