Throw in a suave and inspirational centre-half nicknamed Monty and a tough-as-teak cruiserweight centre-forward who didn't realise his own awesome strength, plus the usual sprinkling of hardened pros and young bucks – not to mention an ironman defender turned rookie manager.

One thing City couldn't be accused of was lacking character, but equally they weren't a "waifs and strays" collection on the pitch either – as legendary Minstermen boss Denis Smith fondly recollects a quarter-of-a-century on from those intoxicating days in North Yorkshire.

The footballing odyssey of ex-Sunderland, Bristol City, West Brom, Oxford and Wrexham chief Smith – one of a the select band of bosses to preside over 1,000 Football League matches in charge – is chronicled in his illuminating autobiography entitled Just One of Seven.

And Smith, who celebrates his 61st birthday this week, admits he will always hold a special place in his heart for his first managerial love – little old York.

Hard-as-nails defender Smith, hewn from the toughest Potteries clay in a near 15-year playing career with his beloved Stoke City where he blast-furnaced many an opposing striker, had arrived in the historic White Rose city back in the spring of 1982 to find a club pretty much on the floor.

Applying for re-election in seven seasons told its own story.
But, crucially, Smith, who was handed the managerial reins in May of that year, recognised – as befits a life-long Potter – some promising raw material.

None more so than John Byrne, who was left to train in the gym away from the first team when he first arrived due to a perceived allergy to grass which turned out to be asthma.

Smith ignited the attacking fires of Byrne and Keith Walwyn and turned them into one of the most feared striking combos in the lower leagues.

After landing a defensive lieutenant in his own mode in John McPhail, not to mention a reassuring presence between the posts in Roger Jones, who was subsequently diagnosed as being blind in one eye, City took off. And their promotion dreams were ultimately realised in that 1883-4 campaign – a season fondly remembered as the best ever at Bootham Crescent by many supporters.

The statistics are telling, with the runaway Division Four champions becoming the first-ever side to reach 100 points, with a new club record set for most wins (31), most away victories (13) and most goals scored (96). City were never out of the top two and didn't relinquish pole position after taking over in late October 1983. And they forged a near 13-month unbeaten home record from October 16, 1982 to November 12, 1983.

Heady days indeed for Smith and his assistant Viv Busby and though the creature comforts were thin on the ground back then, the warm glow of some champagne football more than made up for matters.

On first arriving at York, Smith told Yorkshire Sport: "I wasn't really getting on with the manager at Stoke and he wanted me out because I was a bit of a threat really. I wasn't, but he thought I was!

"I wasn't in the team and went to York, who didn't have a manager at the time, to get some games under my belt.