Newby was confirmed to be York’s second signing of the Summer on Tuesday morning when City announced that the attacking midfielder had made the switch upon the expiry of his contract with Altrincham.
The 29-year-old registered an impressive 25 goal contributions in 44 games last season, and adds another attacking outlet for manager Adam Hinshelwood’s plans moving forward.
The Press sat down with RadioAlty commentator George Allen to see what City supporters can expect from the newest addition.
“I think you can expect a player that has got a lot of creativity and technical skill,” George commented.
“Newby is someone that might not be the most pacey player, but actually is maybe more of a game-thinker than a game player.
“He can be really big in those crucial moments where you might need a player to just take a breather and look at the situation around him.
“We’ve seen that a lot more this season when he’s moved into that number ten role.
“That number ten role, that’s where he probably prefers to play most because he can watch the game and it is in his control.
“He likes to control things, bring other players into play and then come into the box or be on the edge for crosses that might come out from defenders.
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“He’s more of a game-thinker than a game player, but there’s a lot of technical skill in there.
“He can come up with something in those big moments, but that EFL experience definitely helps there.”
Newby spent the majority of the 2024/25 season in the number ten role, but has also appeared on the wing for Altrincham and at his previous clubs.
George believes that Newby’s best role could be on the wing, but he doesn’t expect the 29-year-old to primarily operate there for York.
He explained: “I think that he is best out on the left to be honest. He played there a lot in his first season with Alty when it was his loan move, which was made permanent, because Chris Conn-Clarke was in that number ten role. Him coming off of the left with that right-footed curling shot is effective really, we’ve seen him over set-pieces.
“He’s got a good shot on him has Newby, he can hit them, whereas this season, because Conn-Clarke left, he’s moved into that number ten role.
“I think he’s had his best days in an Alty shirt, in terms of consistency, on the left hand side, but I think for York he will probably play in that central role.
“That’s potentially something coming into York where they want him, so he can demand what he wants really and Alty are the kind of club where he can do what he wants, because he’s almost bigger than the club.
“At York, he’s a fantastic player and I’m sure Adam Hinshelwood will have wanted him to play in that central role.”
Newby joins York with Football League experience in his locker, having represented both Rochdale and Colchester United in the past.
It has allowed Newby to show his composure in a lower league like the National League, with George detailing: “I mentioned earlier on about him being a big game thinker about what’s going on rather than getting lost in the action, I think that’s something quite big.
“I remember a free-kick at Bromley a year and a half ago, just before Christmas. It was the last minute at Bromley away when we were 2-1 down, and he goes and puts it into the top left corner.
“It’s just because he’s calm and can take a breath, he’s taken a couple of penalties for us but generally there has been other takers that have gone over.
“He’s a man who kind of steps up to the big occasion and doesn’t get phased, so I think that the EFL experience is something big in that.
Alex Newby (left) celebrates scoring for Altrincham, where he had two successful seasons. (Image: Jonathan Moore/Newsquest) “He’s definitely got the quality there and we all expected him to go to the Football League, but the possibility of York getting promoted this year with some strong firepower added is quite appealing really.”
Another factor which could benefit Newby in his transfer to York is how he will be able to adapt to York’s known style of play.
Similarly to City, Altrincham have been known to like playing a patient possession style of player, meaning that Newby won’t have to transition into a different set-up in North Yorkshire.
“It’s an interesting one because Alty like to play good football, a lot of National League teams like to lump it forward to a big striker, an Oldham kind of thing with [Mike] Fondop up there.
“Alty are much more of a footballing side and we’ve seen similar bits with York this season, who have tried to play the proper way if you say it.
“Newby is key in that, he’s a playmaker who brings others into play and finds pockets of space that a less intelligent player might not look for.
“He’s really good on the ball, that’s one particular thing that is important to say.
“When he’s in those tight positions, he can get around them.
“Left foot or right foot, he’s comfortable on both, and he’ll hit it on both.
“In terms of a proper football playing side where he can bring others into play, then I think that’s where the similarities are really.”
