Richard Ernest York (25 April 1899 â 9 December 1969), known as Dicky York (also spelled Dickie York), was an English footballer, who in addition to a long club career with Aston Villa in the Football League appeared twice for the England national team. A winger, he spent 16 years at Villa from 1915 to 1931 and was on the losing team in the 1924 FA Cup final. He later had brief spells with Port Vale and Brierley Hill Alliance.
Richard Ernest York was born on 25 April 1899 in Handsworth, Staffordshire. He was the eldest of two children to Richard and Edith Mary (née Bagley); his father was a press tool maker. York enlisted in the Army on 8 May 1917, and by April 1918 had transferred to the Royal Air Force. He married Constance G. Wright in 1923. He ran decorating and plumbing business in Birmingham after retiring from football.
York started his career with his local clubs Handsworth Royal and Birchfield Rangers. In March 1915, he joined Aston Villa as a young amateur, signing professional forms in August 1919. He also guested for Chelsea and Boscombe Town during World War I. He scored one goal in 17 games for Villa in 1919âÂÂ20, but did not feature in the 1920 FA Cup final, which ended in a 1âÂÂ0 victory over Huddersfield Town at Stamford Bridge. He appeared just 11 times in 1920âÂÂ21, before going on to make 47 appearances in the 1921âÂÂ22 campaign, as the "Villans" finished fifth in the First Division. He scored nine goals in 37 games in 1922âÂÂ23 and five goals in 43 games in 1923âÂÂ24. He also appeared at Wembley in the 1924 FA Cup final, in a 2âÂÂ0 defeat to Newcastle United. He scored seven goals in 34 matches in 1924âÂÂ25, before hitting 20 goals in 44 appearances in 1925âÂÂ26. He bagged 13 goals in 43 games in 1926âÂÂ27, before being limited to just four goals in 30 appearances in 1927âÂÂ28. He rediscovered his scoring form with 18 strikes in 48 matches in 1928âÂÂ29, before hitting seven goals in 32 games in 1929âÂÂ30. However, he played just four times in the 1930âÂÂ31 campaign, as Villa finished second in the league with an English record of 128 top-flight league goals scored.
He joined Port Vale in June 1931, making his debut in a 3âÂÂ1 win at Plymouth Argyle on 29 August. He was a first-team regular until he was struck by injury in December of that year. After his recovery he played infrequently, and ended the 1931âÂÂ32 season with five goals in 26 Second Division appearances. He left the Old Recreation Ground and was transferred to Brierley Hill Alliance in August 1932.
He made two appearances for England, both 1âÂÂ0 defeats to Scotland in April 1922 and April 1926.
Aston Villa