It's been 42 years since we beat York City in the FA Cup to earn the right to one of our finest hours in the the next round, knocking out then top-flight Birmingham City. We've not come a long way since then in terms of our progress up the pyramid - indeed we could be argued to have dropped back just a touch - but back then beating the Minstermen was very much a "giant killing". Looking at the current state of affairs at York one rather has to feel sorry for them. Next season they look nailed on to be routinely playing the likes of Rushall Olympic and Radcliffe, and when you consider that they'll be sharing that "privilege" with other ex League clubs like Chester, Southport, Darlington, Boston and the reformed Hereford and Scarborough....yes, we HAVE progressed.
I agree entirely about York who are just one of the 'bigger' clubs to drop out of the FL . When they beat us in 86 they drew with Liverpool before losing in extra time at Anfield to that seasons double winners ! The shape of the game has changed dramatically over the 40 odd years you mention and we have been overtaken by so many who were always regarded as 'smaller' clubs . Who would have thought back then that the likes of Harrogate , Salford , Forest Green , Stevenage , Crawley , Morecambe , Sutton etc etc would be in the League . With all the ups and downs that have gone on there are currently 18 teams in League 2 who have at some stage played in the National/Conf . Amazing.