York City will play EFL football for the first time in 10 years after Josh Stones’ 102nd-minute goal earned the visitors the draw they required to pip hosts Rochdale to automatic promotion in an extraordinary final-day National League title decider against a crackling atmosphere at the Crown Oil Arena.
Starting two points below York on 105 points, Rochdale thought they had sealed automatic promotion when forward Emmanuel Dieseruvwe headed his 26th goal of the season from Ian Henderson’s cross in the 95th minute.
OH MY WORD 🤯🤯🤯🤯
YORK HAVE EQUALISED IN THE 102ND MINUTE TO WIN PROMOTION 😱
Watch LIVE NOW at https://t.co/17IGNhwWu5 📺 pic.twitter.com/GSexKSCwht
— National League on DAZN (@DAZN_NationalLg) April 25, 2026
York – who finished second on 96 points last season before missing out in the play-offs – looked set for another extended campaign until Stones, who had shot straight at 18-year-old goalkeeper Oliver Whatmuff earlier in the second half, changed their destiny by squeezing the ball over the line in a scramble to deny Rochdale top spot at the last.
National League top scorer Ollie Pearce could not add to his 34 goals for York this season as the meeting between the two best defences in the division ended with delirium for the Minsterman and a place in League two in 2025/26 for Stuart Maynard’s indomitable promotion winners.
Rochdale vs York City: Stones goal seals promotion
Rochdale might have scored the first goal of the game during the closing stages when Callum Howe nodded a corner against his own crossbar, and the substitute played a key part in the remarkable ending to one of the greatest title deciders of all time.
After Dieseruvwe delivered the promise of imminent promotion to a suitably ecstatic home crowd, Howe’s emphatic header from Stones’ delivery was unconvincingly cleared by Rochdale, bouncing out for the former Wigan Athletic striker’s shot to narrowly cross the line and send the City players charging towards their fans to celebrate.
The moment York were crowned National League Champions 🏆
THEY ARE GOING UP! THEYAREGOINGUP! pic.twitter.com/4yESO1qBtc
— National League on DAZN (@DAZN_NationalLg) April 25, 2026
The goal was undeniably cruel on Rochdale, who were already unfortunate to have been rivalled this season by a York side capable of eclipsing the spectacular points tally amassed by Jim McNulty’s team.
Rochdale will play Scunthorpe United or Southend United in the play-off semi-finals in May, followed by a potential final against Boreham Wood, Forest Green Rovers or Carlisle United.
York can look forward to the release of the League Two fixtures on June 25 (12:00 BST). The start of the 2026/27 fourth-tier season will be on the weekend of August 14.
CHAMPIONS OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE, YORK CITY 🥳
A day they’ll forever remember. pic.twitter.com/E07RcuGR7c
— National League on DAZN (@DAZN_NationalLg) April 25, 2026
Rochdale team vs York City
Rochdale made one change from their 2-1 win at Braintree Town a week earlier, when their winner arrived in the 99th minute through Dieseruvwe.
Dan Moss came in for midfielder Aidan Barlow, who put them in front for the first time at Braintree.
Rochdale starting XI: Oliver Whatmuff, Kyron Gordon, Ethan Ebanks-Landell, Callum Perry, Harvey Gilmour, Devante Rodney, Ryan East, Luke Hannant, Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, Emmanuel Dieseruvwe, Daniel Moss
Rochdale substitutes: Casey Pettit, Joe Pritchard, Aidan Barlow, Archie Baptiste, Ed Francis, Tyler Smith, Ian Henderson
York City team vs Rochdale
York were unchanged from their 3-0 win at home to Yeovil Town the previous Saturday.
York City starting XI: Harrison Male, Jeff King, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Zak Johnson, Mark Kitching, Alex Hunt, Hiram Boateng, Ben Brookes, Ollie Banks, Ollie Pearce, Josh Stones
York substitutes: Ryan Fallowfield, Callum Howe, Joe Grey, Daniel Batty, Greg Olley, Alex Newby, George Sykes-Kenworthy
