York St John Boat Club (YSJBC) has a history beginning in 1852, eleven years after the founding of the institution where it is based. The university was originally called the "York Diocesan College" and then for most of its history "St John's College" (before becoming "Ripon and York St John" from 1974–2002), which now bears the name York St John University. YSJBC is the longest standing club of the university and has an affiliation to the Amateur Rowing Association.

The club has 50 members and is one of the clubs of the York St John Students' Union. The club is in a significant development phase, with the vast majority of our members learning to row on arrival at university. YSJBC values its links with club alumni and welcomes them, students and staff participate in the club.

The YSJBC boathouse is based beside the River Ouse, opposite York City Rowing Club between Lendal Bridge and the Scarborough Railway Bridge next to the Museum Gardens. Vehicle access is via Marygate.

The club competes at a number of regattas and head races throughout the academic year (September - August). Prior to Christmas the club's main focus is BUCS competition and the York Small Boats Head. These events provide developing crews with the academic year's first taste of inter-university competition and the beginner crews with the first chance to apply what they have learnt in race conditions. The club also sends its athletes to the National Indoor Rowing Championships.

York St John University (formerly known variously as York St John University College (2004), York St John College (2001), Ripon and York St John: a College of the University of Leeds (c. 1996), University College of Ripon and York St John (c. 1990), College of Ripon and York St John (1974), St John's College, York (c. 1900) and York Diocesan College (1841)) is located in York, England. It is one of several higher education institutions which have religious foundations; others include Canterbury Christ Church University, Liverpool Hope University, St. Mary's University College (Twickenham), University of Chester, University of Chichester, University of Cumbria, University of Derby, University of Gloucestershire, University of Winchester, and Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln. It occupies an eleven-acre city centre campus on Lord Mayor's Walk, close to York Minster and the city walls. As of July 2011, there were 6,057 students, reading a wide variety of subjects, in four faculties: Arts; Education and Theology; York St John Business School and Health and Life Sciences.

York (local ⁱ/ˈjɔːk/) is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence. The city offers a wealth of historic attractions, of which York Minster is the most prominent, and a variety of cultural and sporting activities.

The city was founded by the Romans in 71 AD, under the name of Eboracum. It became in turn the capital of the Roman province of Britannia Inferior, and of the kingdoms of Northumbria and Jorvik. In the Middle Ages, York grew as a major wool trading centre and became the capital of the northern ecclesiastical province of the Church of England, a role it has retained.

In the 19th century York became a hub of the railway network and a confectionery manufacturing centre. In recent decades, the economy of York has moved from being dominated by its confectionery and railway-related industries to one that provides services. The University of York and health services have become major employers, whilst tourism has become an important element of the local economy.

A rowing club is a club for people interested in the sport of Rowing. Rowing clubs are usually located near a body of water, whether natural or artificial, that is large enough for manoeuvering of the shells (rowing boats). Clubs usually have racks to store boats and a dock to put them in the water. Many clubs host rowing competitions, known as regattas, on a certain weekend every year, and send a competitive team to other regattas.

There are also "indoor rowing" clubs which only have rowing machines; most often one of the models manufactured by Concept 2. People who belong to these clubs only race at "indoor rowing regattas", such as CRASH-B Sprints, which take place every winter in Boston.

Finally, there are rowing clubs which are not physical entities at all. For example, many competitive high schools and universities maintain an alumni "club". Members of these clubs usually train on their own and meet up with their fellow club members only to race. The club status must be maintained in order to participate in USRowing (or other governing body)-sanctioned events and also helps with other administrative tasks, such as applying for insurance.