March 2007 in time for their play-off push. Purkiss had been considering a move to the club for some time and eventually agreed a deal that included a loan period and a four-figure sum for Gainsborough despite there being only five weeks remaining on his contract. Prior to signing, he had made 35 appearances for Gainsborough that season. Once at York Purkiss went straight into the first-team, making his debut as a substitute in York's 1–1 draw with Exeter City. He was offered a permanent contract with York at the end of the season after making eight appearances on loan. He finished 2007–08 with 46 appearances for York. Purkiss played in the 2009 FA Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium on 9 May 2009, which York lost 2–0 to Stevenage Borough. He finished 2008–09 with 47 appearances and two goals for York and was offered a new contract by the club. He delayed signing as he wanted to see if the club would retain their key players and he eventually signed a new one-year contract on 8 June. He meanwhile continued his studies, and graduated from the College of Law in 2009, and represented Great Britain at the 2009 Summer Universiade in Serbia. He started in the 2010 Conference Premier play-off Final at Wembley on 16 May 2010, which was lost 3–1 to Oxford United. He finished 2009–10 with 47 appearances and one goal for York and was offered a new contract by the club, which he rejected. Oxford United He signed for Oxford on a two-year contract on 21 May following their promotion to League Two. He made his debut in a 0–0 draw with Wycombe Wanderers as an 11th-minute substitute on 21 August and his first start came in a 1–0 defeat away to West Ham United of the Premier League in the League Cup on 24 August. He was made available for loan by Oxford in March 2011, and told he could leave the club permanently in the summer. He eventually signed for Conference Premier club Darlington on one-month loan on 5 August, and after making seven appearances the loan was extended for a further two months in September. He returned to Oxford in November following the expiry of his loan at Darlington. Hereford United Purkiss left Oxford on 24 January 2012 after being released from his contract and subsequently signed for League Two rivals Hereford United. He