YORK City Knights won a third consecutive Club of the Year at the Rugby Football League's End of Season Awards.

Having won the award in 2018 and 2019, the Knights have won the Betfred Championship Club of the Year once more in recognition of the club's growth on and particularly off the field.

The 2021 season saw York complete their long-awaited move to the LNER Community Stadium and the club's supporters were welcomed to the ground for the first time back in May following the easing of coronavirus restrictions.

While James Ford's side had a disappointing league campaign, finishing ninth after a third-placed triumph in the previous campaign, the highly-respected head coach did lead the Knights to a maiden appearance in the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup at Wembley Stadium.

Despite eventually being beaten by Featherstone Rovers, the travelling fans were treated to the club's first appearance at the national stadium in 90 years.

York City Knights Ladies have arguably been the club's stand-out success story this year, having gone from strength to strength under the guidance of new director of rugby Lindsay Anfield and head of performance Adam Cuthbertson.

Having recorded just one win in the entire 2019 league season, the Ladies reached the Betfred Women's Challenge Cup and Betfred Women's Super League play-off semi-finals in a team containing international players.

Off the field, the York City Knights Foundation recently held the Physical Disability Rugby League and Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League festivals at the club's York St John University Sports Park training base.

Further to this, the club's work in the community saw over 100 junior players from local amateur clubs involved in matches on the field at half-time during York's final-day win over London Broncos.

Knights chairman Jon Flatman told the club's website: “This award just goes to show the progress that this club is making, both on and off the field.

"In what has been a trying year for everyone in the sport, we’re incredibly proud to be named Club of the Year.

“It’s a testament to the hard work of our off-field staff, who have worked tirelessly throughout the year to try make our first year in our new home a success.

"They all deserve a big thank you for their continued efforts.

“I’d also like to thank our partners, whose support of the club is vital to our growth.

"Their backing really does help us grow as a club and, in the case of York City Knights Foundation, continue delivering a range of programmes and projects to a range of demographics in our community.

“To our fans, thank you for your continued support.

"From watching on Our League when matches were behind closed doors to really starting to make the stadium our home in our matches against Bradford Bulls and London, especially, your loyalty is really appreciated.

"I’m delighted to see you all taking to our new stadium and we all look forward to seeing you here again in 2022.

“The way you have all got behind the Ladies’ team this year has been brilliant.

"We’re really keen, as a club, to continue growing the women’s game and I’m sure you’ll be delighted to hear that we are planning more double-headers next season.

“Their success this year, after only a matter of months as a group, has been remarkable and we are all looking forward to a successful next season.

“To all of our players who have pulled on the York jersey this season, for all of our teams, thank you for your efforts and sacrifices.

"This has been a year like no other, a strange one for you all, and the way you have conducted yourselves throughout is to be commended.

“In this year, our first at the LNER Community Stadium, I’d also like to thank the City of York Council for their support in trying to make the move as smooth as possible.

“This club is about much more than 80 minutes on a Sunday afternoon for our men’s first team, and that is something we are very proud of."