York City have shared goal of promotion, says new signing Alex Newby

Newby is one of York’s new signings heading into the 2025/26 season, having featured against City at his former club Altrincham twice during last campaign.

It was a heartbreaking end to the season for both the Minstermen and Altrincham, as York missed out on a potential play-off final with a disappointing collapse in the semi-final against Oldham Athletic, whilst Newby and the Robins narrowly missed out on a play-off spot.

Therefore both Newby and York are desperate to go that one step further this season, with promotion the goal for City’s new winger.

“I think that everyone you ask in the building will say [the goal is] to get promotion, or to win the league,” Newby urged to the Press.

“That’s the ambition of everyone at this club, that’s what we want to be doing, and we feel that we have a squad strong enough to do that.

“Aside from that, you’ve just got to start the season strong, it’s a cliché but we’ve got to take every game at a time and not get too far ahead of ourselves.

“We’re just focused on the Sutton game at the moment, getting through that and getting a win there.

Newby admitted to being helped in his integration into the new playing group, stating that the players have been ‘brilliant’ in making him feel welcome, aiding with the transition to a new club.

The 29-year-old also spoke on the difference he’s found between pre-season with Altrincham and York, admitting that he’s worked harder than previously against strong higher league outfits that City have faced in their friendlies.

Newby continued: “Really good, all of the lads have been brilliant with me, and the staff, since I’ve come here.

“They’ve made it really easy to transition.

“It’s different to being at my previous club, it’s been hard work like you would expect in pre-season.

“Obviously it is worth it as well for once you get to the other side.

“You’re feeling fit and strong and are ready to go for the season. We’ve played a lot of good teams and a lot of strong teams.

“The games might look a bit different to what they might look like in the season, but we can always learn from those teams as well.

“I think that the gaffer said that after the Sheffield United game, we can look at them and think ‘this is where we want to be’.

“What do they do that we don’t do, it’s good in that sense where we are getting a closer look at these teams to try and be one of those teams in the future.”

Another factor that Newby believes will help him settle in with City is the similarities between his former side Altrincham and his new team, with both sides accustomed to playing their patient possession style of play.

Manager Adam Hinshelwood has also had ‘really positive’ interactions with the attacker in the early stages of his York career, with Newby admitting to ‘admiring’ the impact which the City boss has had with the football club.

Also benefitting Newby is his familiarity to the strength of the National League, with Newby saying: “I’ve obviously played in this league for the past two seasons now and I think I’m quite familiar with all of the teams.

“The way that they like to play, all of the opposition players that we’ll be coming up against, I’ve obviously played against before.

“I think that will definitely help me adjust to a new club and a new environment.

“[I’ve had] really positive [meetings with Hinshelwood], nothing but positive since the start really.

“From the first time that I met him, I was obviously a massive admirer of the way his teams played before I came here, so just to get the chance to work with him on the training ground every day and see it first hand, I’m really enjoying it.

“It’s a challenge, it’s really enjoyable every single day really.

“There’s a lot of similarities between the style of play, but that’s the kind of football I want to be involved in and is how I want to play.

“There’s obviously differences as well, but I think there’s a lot of similarities that made it easier to transition coming from a possession-based team, into another possession-based team that try to dominate the ball or dominate the game really.

“That’s something that is a good thing.”

Newby arrives with experience with Hinshelwood’s style of play and the strength of the league, but he also has an experience which no other City player shares – growing up with a twin brother who is also a professional footballer.

The York addition’s brother, Elliot, currently plays in Sky Bet League Two with Barrow, having had previous stints with Stockport County, FC Halifax Town and Chorley.

A friendly sibling rivalry has previously been established in the Newby household, but Alex is now just proud to see his brother thriving with a Football League side.

“It’s obviously a different experience!” Newby laughed.

“He’s my twin brother, so we’ve kind of grown up playing football alongside each other and obviously there’s a few fall outs.

“There’s a competitive side of it, I’m really happy for him to go on and achieve what he’s achieved.

“Even though we’re obviously not playing together at the moment, it’s good to see him do well as well.

“I think we’ve only played against each other two or three times – I scored in one of the games against him!

“That was a bit of a frosty one when I got home.

“Most of all, we both want each other to do well and succeed.

“When we were younger it was more of an edge to it, but once you grow up you kind of just want to see your family and the people around you succeed.”