diff --git a/date.c b/date.c
index b5a11fc6e7..def44e6f83 100644
--- a/date.c
+++ b/date.c
@@ -116,42 +116,6 @@ Date ConvertYMDToDate(Year year, Month month, Day day)
 	return (yr >> 2) * (365 + 365 + 365 + 366) + rem;
 }
 
-/**
- * Convert a date on the form:
- * 1920 - 2090 (MAX_YEAR_END_REAL)
- * 192001 - 209012
- * 19200101 - 20901231
- * or if > 2090 and below 65536, treat it as a daycount.
- * @return -1 if no conversion was possible
- */
-Date ConvertIntDate(uint date)
-{
-	Year  year;
-	Month month = 0;
-	Day   day   = 1;
-
-	if (IS_INT_INSIDE(date, 1920, MAX_YEAR + 1)) {
-		year = date;
-	} else if (IS_INT_INSIDE(date, 192001, 209012 + 1)) {
-		month = date % 100 - 1;
-		year = date / 100;
-	} else if (IS_INT_INSIDE(date, 19200101, 20901231 + 1)) {
-		day = date % 100; date /= 100;
-		month = date % 100 - 1;
-		year = date / 100;
-	} else if (IS_INT_INSIDE(date, 2091, 65536)) {
-		return date;
-	} else {
-		return (Date)-1;
-	}
-
-	/* invalid ranges? */
-	if (month >= 12 || !IS_INT_INSIDE(day, 1, 31 + 1)) return (Date)-1;
-
-	return ConvertYMDToDate(year, month, day);
-}
-
-
 /** Functions used by the IncreaseDate function */
 
 extern void OnNewDay_Train(Vehicle *v);
diff --git a/date.h b/date.h
index cae57aaedd..8ca64ece27 100644
--- a/date.h
+++ b/date.h
@@ -32,4 +32,3 @@ extern DateFract _date_fract;
 void SetDate(Date date);
 void ConvertDateToYMD(Date date, YearMonthDay *ymd);
 Date ConvertYMDToDate(Year year, Month month, Day day);
-Date ConvertIntDate(uint date);
diff --git a/misc.c b/misc.c
index 74d620b03b..e853fc579f 100644
--- a/misc.c
+++ b/misc.c
@@ -124,9 +124,7 @@ void InitializeGame(int mode, uint size_x, uint size_y)
 	_cur_tileloop_tile = 0;
 
 	if ((mode & IG_DATE_RESET) == IG_DATE_RESET) {
-		uint starting = ConvertIntDate(_patches.starting_year);
-		if (starting == (uint)-1) starting = 10958;
-		SetDate(starting);
+		SetDate(ConvertYMDToDate(_patches.starting_year, 0, 1));
 	}
 
 	InitializeEngines();
diff --git a/network.c b/network.c
index 6426686c4b..6d68d2ef44 100644
--- a/network.c
+++ b/network.c
@@ -983,7 +983,7 @@ static void NetworkInitGameInfo(void)
 	_network_game_info.spectators_on = 0;
 
 	_network_game_info.game_date = _date;
-	_network_game_info.start_date = ConvertIntDate(_patches.starting_year);
+	_network_game_info.start_date = ConvertYMDToDate(_patches.starting_year, 0, 1);
 	_network_game_info.map_width = MapSizeX();
 	_network_game_info.map_height = MapSizeY();
 	_network_game_info.map_set = _opt.landscape;