 Following the arrival of new boss Denis Smith, York posted a seventh-place finish in 1982–83, lying just three places and four points outside the promotion places.They then ran away with the Fourth Division title in 1983–84, racking up 101 points and a goal difference ratio of +57.They finished eighth in the Third Division in 1984–85 and seventh in 1985–86, but only avoided relegation in 1986–87 by one place and four points.