RIPON CITY AFC

Been to Fountains Abbey today. Autumnal, sunny, walk etc. I did pass through Ripon City (not the one in Wisconsin)-population around 16,700 and steeped in history from its original name of "Inhrypum" a Christian community around 658 located in the Anglian Kingdom.
Through the Vikings, Danelaw, Plantagenets and the success of the wool industry and then dear old Henry VIII, the CITY has benefitted from its site advantages on the Rivers Ure, Laver and Skell confluence and building a canal. It has great soil, loads of hard rock and well terrific roads.
As the third smallest city in England (name the other two?) Ripon has lived on its religious history, market town status and UNESCO HERITAGE site at nearby Fountains Abbey.
The Racetrack is famous being founded in the 18th century and hosting  female race in 1723. The Ripon RUFC was founded in 1886 and the Amateur Football Club in 1898. They play in the West Yorkshire Amateur Football League and run two adult male teams and two adult female teams. I have tried unsuccessfully to search for junior teams but did see some nippers having an half term session this afternoon at the neatly situated club in the city.
RCAFC play at Mallorie Park where they first set up after the First World War. In the 1950s Dickie Bird's dad played for Barnsley FC v Ripon in the Yorkshire Trophy Final winning 1-0 and over the years the club has built a substantial stand and clubhouse.
Sitting half way down/up the West Yorkshire Amateur Football League Division Two with P10 W5 D2 L3 F28 A28, they are coping in local competition from Swillington Saints, Brighouse Old Boys and Glasshoughton Rock.
Best wishes to the City!