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 | Yorkshire Times A Voice of the Free Press |
Blaine Roberts-McNally
Sports Reporter
12:00 AM 22nd September 2025
sports
What's On This Week, 22nd September?
Image by Michal Jarmoluk from Pixabay
We start the week with National League action as York host newly relegated Carlisle United at the York Community Stadium. The Minstermen will be looking to replicate their season last year, as York finished as runners-up behind Barnet on 96 points.
The semi-final of the playoffs was where York faltered in May this year with a 3-0 demolition at the hands of eventual winners Oldham. With the ferocity of the National League meaning only two teams go up, it is up to York to be ruthless again if they are to continue on their upward trajectory.
Thus far this campaign they have looked somewhat off it at this early stage with 15 points from eight games, which has them just outside the playoffs in eighth spot. Despite the somewhat disappointing start, York have only lost one game, which was their latest National League fixture at home to Solihull Moors, which ended in a 1-0 defeat following a devastating Wakeling winner in the fifth minute of added time.
There is still much to do for York, as they do have two games in hand on a lot of the teams above, but with the visit of Carlisle approaching, they will need to rectify the Solihull loss in order to push on into the remainder of the season.
Carlisle will be no easy fixture for the Minstermen, as they have made a compelling start in the league following their relegation from League Two. Mark Hughes’ side finished in 23rd last season with just ten wins and 42 points in 46 matches.
So far this campaign they already have more than half of that points tally in just ten matches with 23 points and one loss, which sees them in second, just a single point behind current leaders Forest Green.
Carlisle added to their win tally at the weekend with a 2-1 away win over Altrincham, which means they have won four on the spin, with their last loss coming in late August with a 2-1 loss to Sutton.
This has all the hallmarks of an early battle between two sides that will be fighting at the top of the table come May. A win in this fixture could be the difference between a favourable and feared matchup in the playoffs or a wider sign of what needs to improve over the coming months.
Time: 19:45
Venue: York Community Stadium
The match will be shown on DAZN UK.
The EFL Cup has a wealth of David vs Goliath clashes this week, and this match is no different, as one of the contenders for a Premier League top six in Newcastle faces off with a new threat in League One in Bradford City.
Bradford have been taking League One by storm following their automatic promotion from League Two last season and are currently holding court at the top of the third tier with just one loss and six wins in 9 games and currently on a run of back-to-back 3-1 victories over fellow playoff contenders Huddersfield and Cardiff.
City have already shown their skills against higher opposition in the cup this season with two victories over Championship sides with a 2-1 win over Blackburn and an astonishing 3-0 comfortable win away at Stoke City.
Newcastle will be another battle altogether with a wealth of Champions League-level players, a solidified structure under manager Eddie Howe and experience in success in the EFL Cup as they enter the tournament as defending champions.
Bradford will be hoping for a rested side when they make the trip further up north, but with more pressing matters in the league to attend to, Bradford could make the switch themselves and decide to rest first teamers.
Shadows of their famous 4-2 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in 2015 could appear as a result in this one, which would no doubt be on par with their result against the West London side and ultimately fuel Bradford more with confidence when they return to league action looking for back-to-back promotions.
Time: 19:45
Venue: St James’ Park, Newcastle
The match will be shown on Sky Sports Football.
The Super League Playoffs are here, and the first fixture to take in features a Yorkshire side in Wakefield that had no aspirations of being at such heights at the start of the year.
Wakefield were new boys in the league this year following their triumphant season in the Championship, but Trinity have taken to the top tier like a duck to water with 15 wins in 27 matches that saw them finish in the sixth and final playoff spot.
Things looked to be taking a turn recently with Hull FC being hot on their heels for that sixth spot and looking better placed for it when Wakefield lost to Wigan and local rivals Castleford in the space of two weeks. Following those disappointing results, Powell’s men pulled themselves up and brought out one of the results of the season in a dominating display over league leaders Shield winners Hull KR in a 28-12 home victory.
Their place was secured in the final match of the regular season with another stellar performance over bottom side Salford in a 52-16 win, which meant Hull FC’s loss to Catalan Dragons resigned them to a near miss of the playoffs.
Their first opponents are the Leigh Leopards, who once again had a successful season and claimed their highest ever Super League finish of third. The Leopards only lost seven times all season and narrowly missed out on an automatic semi-final spot by three points.
That was not for lack of trying, though, as Leigh are on a five-match winning streak entering the playoffs, with their last loss coming against Hull FC in a narrow 18-12defeat in mid-August.
While Leigh are hot favourites, Wakefield have the potential to dent their confidence and prove that they have the credentials to continue to push standards in the top tier. For Leigh it would be the chance to get to their first ever grand final and continue what has been recent success for the club with their Challenge Cup victory in 2023 and consecutive playoff finishes.
Time: 20:00
Venue: Leigh Sports Village
The match will be shown on Sky Sports Go.