# York Acorn A.R.L.F.C.

York Acorn A.R.L.F.C. are an amateur Rugby League club who currently play in the National Conference Premier League in the UK. Their home ground is the Acorn Sports & Social Club on Thanet Road in the Acomb suburb of York.

## History

York Acorn was formed in August 1973 and named after a public house, "The Ackhorne", in the centre of the city of York. It moved to its current ground in 1990 and opened its club house on 19 January 1991.
The rugby section maintains control of the day-to-day running of the sports & social club as other sports, such as football and running, are based at the club. In 2011 the club were awarded Sport England's Gold Clubmark for being child friendly.
York Acorn were founder members of the National Conference League in 1993 having been elected to Division 2 from their regional league. This three-division league replaced the BARLA National League. The club would not achieve promotion from the bottom tier until the 2004–05 season.

## Seasons

Results from before the establishment of the National Conference League are not recorded due to lack of sources. After 2011 they were available from a variety of reputable sources

### League

| Year | League | Lvl | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Position |
| 2011–12 | National Conference Premier | 4 | 26 | 5 | 1 | 20 | 471 | 805 | –334 | 11 | 14th R |
| 2012 | National Conference Division 1 | 6* | 26 | 19 | 0 | 7 | 701 | 509 | 192 | 38 | 3rd P |
| 2013 | National Conference Premier | 5 | 26 | 7 | 1 | 18 | 575 | 670 | −95 | 15 | 12th R |
| 2014 | National Conference Division 1 | 6 | 22 | 9 | 2 | 11 | 506 | 536 | −30 | 20 | 7th |
| 2015 | National Conference Division 1 | 5 | 26 | 14 | 2 | 10 | 814 | 633 | 181 | 30 | 5th P |
| 2016 | National League Premier | 5 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 425 | 745 | –320 | 6 | 12th R |
| 2017 | National Conference Division 1 | 6 | 20 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 516 | 446 | 70 | 20 | 5th |
| 2018 | National Conference Division 1 | 6 | 22 | 11 | 1 | 10 | 552 | 544 | 8 | 23 | 7th |
| 2019 | National Conference Division 1 | 6 | 22 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 706 | 371 | 335 | 33 | 2nd P |
| 2020 | National Conference Premier | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 54 | 58 | −4 | 1 | 9th |
| 2021 | League G | 5 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 305 | 185 | 120 | 18 | 3rd |
| 2022 | National Conference Premier | 5 | 22 | 7 | 1 | 14 | 404 | 552 | −148 | 15 | 8th |
| 2023 | National Conference Premier | 5 | 22 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 502 | 485 | 17 | 19 | 7th |
| 2024 | National Conference Premier | 5 | 22 | 13 | 0 | 10 | 420 | 493 | –73 | 20 | 6th |

### Challenge Cup

| Year | Round | Home | Away | Score |
| 1993–94 | 1 | York Acorn | Orell St James | 32–32 |
| 1993–94 | 1 | Orrell St James | York Acorn | 24–5 |
| 1994–95 | 1 | York Acorn | Crown Malet | 18–25 |
| 1996 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 1997 | 1 | York Acorn | Fryston | 22–12 |
| 1997 | 2 | York Acorn | Mayfield | 7–20 |
| 1998 | 1 | Millom | York Acorn | 22–2 |
| 1999 | 1 | Oulton | York Acorn | 42–8 |
| 2000 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2001 | 1 | York Acorn | Halton Simms Cross | 0–18 |
| 2002 | 1 | York Acorn | Dewsbury Moor | 34–32 |
| 2002 | 2 | York Acorn | Heworth | 14–16 |
| 2003 | 1 | Redhill | York Acorn | 24–12 |
| 2004 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2005 | 1 | York Acorn | East Hull | 12–64 |
| 2006 | 1 | York Acorn | Ince Rose Bridge | 29–22 |
| 2006 | 2 | York Acorn | Seaton Rangers | 35–16 |
| 2006 | 3 | Hull Kingston Rovers | York Acorn | 62–1 |
| 2007 | 1 | Siddal A.R.L.F.C. | York Acorn | 18–14 |
| 2008 | 1 | Hull Wyke | York Acorn | 18–40 |
| 2008 | 2 | York Acorn | Bradford Dudley Hill | 14–6 |
| 2008 | 3 | Rochdale Hornets | York Acorn | 50–8 |
| 2009 | 1 | Halton Simms Cross | York Acorn | 46–12 |
| 2010 | 1 Pool A | York Acorn | Skirlaugh A.R.L.F.C. | 18–12 |
| 2010 | 2 Pool A | York Acorn | Thatto Heath Crusaders | 32–36 |
| 2011 | 1 Pool A | York Acorn | Milford Marlins | 24–35 |
| 2012 | Preliminary | York Acorn | Norland Sharks | 42–4 |
| 2012 | 1 | Shaw Cross Sharks | York Acorn | 10–18 |
| 2012 | 2 | York Acorn | Skirlaugh A.R.L.F.C. | 26–10 |
| 2012 | 3 | Gateshead Thunder | York Acorn | 28–10 |
| 2013 | 1 | Normanton Knights | York Acorn | 48–16 |
| 2014 | 1 | York Acorn | Siddal A.R.L.F.C. | 12–16 |
| 2015 | 1 | Shaw Cross Sharks | York Acorn | 18–16 |
| 2016 | 1 | York Acorn | Sharlston Rovers | 36–20 |
| 2016 | 2 | York Acorn | Distington | 28–10 |
| 2016 | 3 | York City Knights | York Acorn | 66–0 |
| 2017 | 1 | RAF | York Acorn | 12–30 |
| 2017 | 2 | Myton Warriors | York Acorn | 18–4 |
| 2018 | 1 | York Acorn | Askam RLFC | 16–32 |
| 2019 | 1 | York Acorn | Beverley | 42–4 |
| 2019 | 2 | Wath Brow Hornets | York Acorn | 8–9 |
| 2019 | 3 | York Acorn | Featherstone Lions | 10–20 |
| 2020 | 1 | York Acorn | Hammersmith Hills Hoists | 36–14 |
| 2020 | 2 | York Acorn | Barrow Island | 34–14 |
| 2020 | 3 | Rochdale Hornets | York Acorn | 54–10 |
| 2021 | Only professional clubs entered due to ongoing pandemic | Only professional clubs entered due to ongoing pandemic | Only professional clubs entered due to ongoing pandemic | Only professional clubs entered due to ongoing pandemic |
| 2022 | 1 | Edinburgh Eagles | York Acorn | 24–38 |
| 2022 | 2 | York Acorn | Wests Warriors | 28–10 |
| 2022 | 3 | Royal Navy | York Acorn | 22–8 |
| 2023 | 1 | RAF | York Acorn | 10–12 |
| 2023 | 2 | Bradford Bulls | York Acorn | 62–6 |
| 2024 | 2 | Orell St James | York Acorn | 12–22 |
| 2024 | 3 | Cornwall R.L.F.C. | York Acorn | 10–18 |
| 2024 | 4 | York Acorn | Wath Brow Hornets | 32–28 |
| 2024 | 5 | Halifax Panthers | York Acorn | 62–6 |

## Notable former players

* Peter Fox (born 5 November 1984) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s.
* Ash Robson, as a junior, Robson played for York Acorn RLFC before signing for Castleford Tigers. He returned to Acorn and played a handful of games before retiring.