[7] Ahead of 2015–16, York released Wes Fletcher, Ryan Jarvis, Lewis Montrose[8] and Daniel Parslow,[9] while Jason Mooney left for Accrington Stanley.

[11][12] York made nine summer signings, those being goalkeeper Scott Flinders from Hartlepool United,[13] defenders Taron Hare[14] and Eddie Nolan from Scunthorpe United,[15] George Swan from Wolverhampton Wanderers,[12] David Tutonda on loan from Cardiff City[16] and Stéphane Zubar on loan from AFC Bournemouth,[17] midfielder James Berrett from Yeovil Town,[18] and strikers Vadaine Oliver from Crewe Alexandra[19] and Reece Thompson from Frickley Athletic.

[44] Chris Whelpdale and Charlie Lee scored for Stevenage in quick succession early in the second half, and Summerfield equalised with a curling shot on 74 minutes, before Flinders saved a late Brett Williams penalty.

[44] Striker Rhys Turner joined on a one-month loan from Oldham Athletic,[45] and made his debut in York's 2–2 home draw with Carlisle United.

[47] Platt was recalled from his loan at Harrogate, where he made six appearances, after Summerfield sustained back and head injuries in the match against Notts County.

[50] Striker Ben Hirst went on a one-month loan to Northern Premier League Division One North club Scarborough Athletic, having had limited chances in the team.

[57] Oliver scored a tap-in to give York a 14th-minute lead at home to Dagenham & Redbridge, before the away team equalised through Ashley Hemmings later in the first half.

[58] Jamie Cureton gave Dagenham the lead early in the second half before Coulson scored with a curling shot from 20 yards on 79 minutes, the match finishing a 2–2 draw.

[67] Greening, who began his career at the club, registered as a player on non-contract terms aged 36, to provide cover with a number of midfielders unavailable.

[69] Dave Winfield was stretchered off with his neck in a brace during the second half, and Ben Godfrey scored a consolation goal for York during the 10 minutes of stoppage time that followed.

[70] York were beaten 3–2 away by Leyton Orient, who took a two-goal lead through Mathieu Baudry and Jay Simpson before Oliver equalised in first-half stoppage time.

[71] York were beaten 6–0 away by Portsmouth, in which Greening was sent off before half-time for catching Michael Doyle with his elbow, before Ben Davies and Marc McNulty gave the home team the lead early in the second half.

[81] Shay McCartan finished the scoring for Accrington late into the match, and the result meant York equalled a club record of eight straight defeats.

[89] York drew 1–1 away to Mansfield, taking the lead on 10 minutes when Winfield touched in Summerfield's free kick, before the home team equalised later in the first half through Krystian Pearce.

[96] Godfrey joined Premier League club Norwich City for an undisclosed fee, believed to be £150,000, with further clauses that could take the figure to £1 million if met.

[97] The money was to be invested on strengthening the team,[97] and York immediately replaced Godfrey with Hull City midfielder Matty Dixon,[98] who signed a one-and-a-half-year contract on a free transfer.

[106] Former Scotland international striker Derek Riordan, who last played for East Fife, was signed on a contract until the end of the season, after impressing during a two-week trial.

[111] York lost 2–0 away to top-of-the-table Northampton Town, who scored in each half through John-Joe O'Toole and Marc Richards, and had Hendrie sent off for a foul on Ricky Holmes.

[113] York won successive home wins for the first time in 2015–16 after they beat Notts County 2–1, a result that saw them move off the bottom of the table into 23rd place.

[114] York moved out of the relegation into 22nd place with a 2–0 home win over Exeter,[115] and in doing so ended the club's longest run without a clean sheet since 1967, after 23 matches.

[115] York's two-match winning run came to an end after being beaten 3–1 away by Cambridge,[73] who had taken a two-goal lead by the 26th minute through Jimmy Spencer and Josh Coulson.

[117] York dropped back into the relegation zone in 23rd place after losing 2–1 at home to Northampton, who took the lead late in the first half through James Collins.

[118] John Marquis doubled Northampton's lead early into the second half, and Russell Penn scored a consolation goal for York with a 25-yard dipping volley in the third minute of stoppage time.

[120] York were beaten 3–2 at home by Luton, Cameron McGeehan giving the visitors the lead early in the second half before Fewster equalised in the 62nd minute after rounding goalkeeper Mark Tyler.

[131] Alessandra gave York the lead 20 minutes into his debut with a shot from 10 yards after Jake Hyde hit the post, before Barnet equalised shortly before half-time through Akinde.

[142] Cameron equalised for York in first-half stoppage time with a header from Summerfield's corner, before Michael Woods scored Hartlepool's winning goal on 72 minutes.

[146] York's last match of the season was a 1–1 away draw with Morecambe, in which they took the lead after Summerfield scored in first-half stoppage time, before the home team equalised through Jamie Devitt.

[149][150] Berrett, Coulson, Hyde and Penn left to join Grimsby Town, St Johnstone, Stevenage and Carlisle respectively,[151][152][153][154] while Ingham, Summerfield and Winfield rejected new contracts.

[155][158] York's summer signings have included goalkeeper Luke Simpson from Watford,[159] defenders Ben Barber from Stoke City,[160] Ben Clappison from Hull,[161] Matt Fry from Braintree Town,[162] Jack Higgins from Stalybridge Celtic,[163] Lanre Oyebanjo from Crawley,[164] Josh Robinson from Crusaders,[165] Shaun Rooney from Dunfermline Athletic[166] and Alex Whittle from Southport,[167] midfielders Franklyn Clarke from Dorchester Town,[168] Simon Heslop from Wrexham,[169] Clovis Kamdjo from Forest Green Rovers[170] Yan Klukowski from Newport[171] and Charlie Wardle from Northwich Manchester Villa,[172] wingers Aidan Connolly from Raith Rovers,[173] Kaine Felix and Boston United[174] and Daniel Nti from Worcester City,[175] and strikers Richard Brodie from Stockport County[156] and Scott Fenwick from Hartlepool.

[176] Midfielder Tyler Walton and striker Nick Kennedy joined the first-team squad from the youth team after signing professional contracts with the club.