The York Nomad Society (YNS) is a well-known supporters’ group and football hooligan firm associated with York City Football Club, who currently play in the National League, the fifth tier of English football. The group has built a reputation for bringing medium-level football violence to both home and away matches, with numerous members arrested over the years.
Formed in 1981, the York Nomad Society began as an alternative travel option for York City supporters, offering cheaper away-day transport compared to the official club coaches. These independent trips quickly became popular because they allowed pub stops for drinking, turning them into lively and social journeys for travelling fans. However, as the years went by, the YNS evolved from a simple supporters’ initiative into both an organised fan group and a football hooligan firm, especially by the 1990s when football-related disorder was at its height in England.
Unlike many other English hooligan groups, the YNS developed a culture influenced by the Italian ultras movement. As highlighted in the book Hooligans A–Z, the York Nomad Society became known not only for its involvement in clashes but also for its community-driven fundraising efforts. These activities helped to foster a unique identity and sense of belonging that extended beyond violence. Over the decades, it is estimated that around 1,000 individuals have, at some point, been associated with the YNS, whether through travel, matchday participation, or direct involvement in the firm.
The group’s history has been marked by several high-profile incidents that drew national attention. In 1986, former YNS member Terry Exelby made headlines when he became the first English supporter to be arrested at a World Cup tournament. After drunkenly climbing into the luggage racks of a plane en route to Mexico, he was detained by the FBI upon arrival in Texas, a story that gained significant media coverage. In 2002, violence erupted at an away fixture against Cheltenham Town, resulting in two York supporters being arrested. A year later, in 2003, a major confrontation occurred in York city centre between 30 and 40 fans from York and Bury. The clash involved thrown missiles and running battles before police with dogs intervened and arrested seven people from both sides.
One of the YNS’s most infamous incidents took place in 2006 during a match against Oxford United. More than 100 fans from the two clubs clashed near the Blackbird pub, in what local reports described as a pre-arranged fight. The Oxford Times reported smashed windows at the Priory pub and confirmed that three York supporters were later arrested. This confrontation became one of the defining moments in the YNS’s reputation, reinforcing their image as one of the more active lower-league hooligan firms in England.
Despite police crackdowns, banning orders, and an evolving football culture that has reduced organised violence, the York Nomad Society continues to hold a strong identity among York City’s supporter base. Many older members still travel to matches, and the YNS name remains synonymous with the passionate, rebellious, and sometimes volatile side of lower-league English football culture.