York City’s boozy celebrations have lasted more than 24 hours after they sealed a pulse-raising return to the Football League.
Striker Josh Stones scored a 103rd-minute equaliser at Rochdale to send the Minstermen up to League Two with 108 points and end a decade-long exile from the EFL.
But by Sunday afternoon Stones, 22, was keeled over at a table in a beer garden after hitting the Kopparberg cider bottle with his pals.
The party had started on Saturday with a pitch invasion and trophy lift while York’s heroes covered each other in champagne.
That then spilled into the dressing room, where the players danced around, waved flags, and bounced on the benches singing ‘championes, championes, ole, ole, ole!’
By Saturday evening, after a jubilant coach ride, York’s stars were out on the town – some of them still in full kit, others topless – and downing Grey Goose vodka from a gigantic bottle.
York City’s stars have partied for more than 24 hours after their promotion to League Two
Heroic goalscorer, Josh Stones (centre), was looking worse for wear by Sunday afternoon
But Stuart Maynard’s men were only just getting started.
The jamboree continued long into the night but neither the late bedtime nor the hangovers could stop the players from getting up for more on Sunday morning.
Winger Ollie Pearce, 30, rocked up for the drinking session with his shin pads still on, perhaps half-expecting another challenge from one of Rochdale’s crestfallen defenders.
In the beer garden, players were openly mingling with supporters, giving fans a chance to properly thank them.
It’s highly unlikely one would see such scenes in the Premier League, where the big names are often ringfenced.
The singing continued into Sunday afternoon, as players and fans filled the pub with the sound of their voices, somehow not yet hoarse.
Defender Jeff King, 30, shared a range of snaps from throughout the night and on Sunday, giving an insight into the booze-laden revelries.
The squad converged on The Dubliner, an Irish pub in the city centre which stays open until 2am every night of the week.
Winger Ollie Pearce was still inhis shin pads as the party spilled into Sunday
And at 6.07pm – almost 30 hours after kick-off against Rochdale, who must now go through the play-offs – King posted another update.
York’s new EFL stars were still in The Dubliner, medals around their necks, looking slightly worse for wear as they sang to the tune of a guitar.
The 2026-27 League Two campaign will begin on August 14, so they will have almost four months to recover from their merrymaking.
‘I’m so happy. We deserve it as a group, the staff, the fans. I love the club and that meant everything,’ Stones said on Saturday.
‘I thought it was over, but the boys never say never. If I’m really honest, I hope they [Rochdale] go on and win the play-offs, they’ve been unbelievable.
‘I missed a chance at 0-0 and I thought if that was it and we lost 1-0, I wouldn’t sleep for days. Now I’m not going to sleep for days, in a good way.’
