by Peter Martini

NORTH Riding FA County Cup holders York Sugar FC have folded after more than 50 years of York and District League action.

The club have been struggling to put out full teams this season and this week decided to withdraw from the league for the first time since forming just after the Second World War.

Club secretary Alan Gibson confirmed the news. "We had a club meeting and decided to knock it on the head rather than embarrass ourselves and let the rest of the league down," he told the Evening Press.

"We've been struggling for the last couple of months to get a decent side together, and now we've got a few injuries and suspensions it means we are down to about five or six players we can rely on.

"We've got seven or eight lads who are committed to the club but we don't think we can make up a team of 11 on a regular basis. It's a big disappointment for everybody."

York Sugar - formerly British Sugar - have been a leading light in the Leeper Hare-sponsored York and District League.

Under manager Terry Hewitson they won successive promotions from the second to the premier division, in which they finished fourth last season.

In addition to last season's North Riding County Cup win, they have also won the League Cup and North Riding Junior FA Cup in recent years.

They were lying in mid-table after their final game, a 5-2 defeat by Kartiers last Saturday.

Gibson, son of chairman and former player Peter, said there are no plans of reforming the club in the future.

"There will still be two junior sides playing at under-15 and under-13 level and once they come out of the Minor League they might want to go into the senior York and District League. But we have no plans to get back together."

He added: "We'd like to thank everyone who has been connected to the club over the years."

Hewitson, who is keen to take on a management role at another club, said: "I'm very sad that we've had to fold.

"We lost some players at the start of the season to teams in higher leagues and the players I brought in unfortunately haven't had the same commitment as the rest of the lads.

"Over the last four seasons we've had plenty of success and this year we had a chance of winning the league."