Ahead of Martin Foyle's second start to a season as York manager, six signings were made before the summer transfer window closed.

Under his guidance, York enjoyed an unbeaten run at home in the league that lasted until April 2011, when they were beaten by Mills' former team.

[2] After defeating Luton Town 2–0 on aggregate in the semi-final, York were beaten 3–1 by Oxford United in the 2010 Conference Premier play-off final at Wembley Stadium.

[3] Jamie Clarke, Kevin Gall, Josh Mimms, Craig Nelthorpe, Alan O'Hare, Richard Pacquette and Simon Russell were released by York following the play-off defeat,[4] with Luke Graham, Ben Purkiss and Adam Smith leaving for Kettering Town, Oxford and Mansfield Town respectively.

[9][10] Goalkeeper David Knight was brought in on a season-long loan from Histon before the start of the season,[11] while two defenders, Duane Courtney and Greg Young, signed from Kidderminster Harriers and Altrincham respectively.

[12] Midfielder Jonathan Smith was signed from Forest Green Rovers,[13] with wingers David McDermott and Peter Till joining from Kidderminster and Walsall respectively.

[13] Defender Dean Lisles and winger Jamie Hopcutt entered the first-team squad from the youth team after agreeing professional contracts.

[17] York started the season with a 2–1 defeat at home to Kidderminster Harriers, who opened the scoring with a goal direct from a corner kick.

[35][36] Following Brodie's departure, two strikers were signed; Leon Constantine joined on a contract until the end of the season after leaving Hereford United and youth-team coach Steve Torpey was registered as a player.

[39] Striker David Dowson, defender Jamal Fyfield and midfielder Danny Racchi joined the club on trial and played for the reserve team against Chesterfield.

[48] Porter's first match in charge was a 3–1 away victory over Tamworth, York's first away win of the season, with goals scored from Rankine, Alex Lawless and debutant Fyfield.

[63] Former York defender Chris Smith, who played under Mills at Tamworth, was signed from Mansfield on a three-month loan, with a view to a permanent transfer.

[64][65] With Mills stating his desire to reduce the size of a squad that was "too big",[66] Dowson, Hopcutt and Lisles were released by the club.

[67] The first victory under Mills' management was a 2–0 win away to Kidderminster in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup, with Racchi and Jonathan Smith scoring their first goals for the club.

[72] Lawless joined York's divisional rivals Luton on loan until January 2011, when a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee would take place.

[76] David McGurk handed in a transfer request having expressed his desire to join Luton, after they had a number of bids for him rejected and he had turned down a contract extension with York.

[77] York recorded their first league win under Mills with a 4–0 victory away to Rushden with Racchi, Rankine, Chambers and Neil Barrett scoring.

[79][80] The Rushden win was followed by the season's first successive league victory, after York beat Southport 2–0 at home with late goals from Constantine and McDermott.

[87] Racchi's contract with York expired, although Mills stated his intention to re-sign him once the January 2011 transfer window opened.

[92] McDermott and Racchi agreed to sign new contracts with York once the January 2011 transfer window opened, which would keep them at the club until the end of the season.

[93] Having failed to establish a place in the team under Mills, Gash agreed to join Rushden in January 2011 on loan for the rest of the season.

[99] Jamie Reed was signed from Welsh Premier League club Bangor City for an undisclosed fee, on a two-and-a-half-year contract,[100] after York had a bid for him rejected in November 2010.

[101] York were defeated 2–0 away by Premier League team Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup third round, with Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander scoring late in the match.

[111] Daniel Parslow, James Meredith, Rankine and Chambers scored as York beat league leaders AFC Wimbledon 4–1 at home.

[123] Rankine scored the only goal to give York a 1–0 victory at home to Eastbourne, with a header from a Till cross during the first half.

[157] The club's new arrivals were goalkeeper Paul Musselwhite from Lincoln,[158] defender Lanre Oyebanjo from Histon,[159] midfielders Paddy McLaughlin from Newcastle United,[157] Adriano Moke from Jerez Industrial[160] and Michael Potts from Blackburn Rovers,[147] winger Matty Blair from Kidderminster,[161] and strikers Chambers from Leicester,[162] Liam Henderson from Watford[163] and Jason Walker from Luton.