YORK Acorn have added a wealth of ability and experience to their squad as they bid to be in the Arriva Trains Conference division two promotion shake-up.

Leading the way is former Featherstone, Doncaster and York Wasps half-back Paddy Handley, while ex-Wasps Darren Crake and Chris Hopcutt are also in the Acorn ranks ahead of the seasonal kick-off on Saturday.

Mick Embleton, Lee McTigue and Carl Stannard have all gone back to Thanet Road, too, after spells with York City Knights, while Johnny Waldron, who has been shining in the Hull KR Under-21s, also returns.

The clutch of players who have helped Teesside Steelers to reach the National League Three play-off grand final - including Stannard, Dave Norman, Mick Hagan, Lee Frank and Paul Dosworth - are all likely to be Blue and Golds again this season, returning to Teesside only for that final.

Paul Lumby, who carries on as assistant to coach Dave Kay, said: "Paddy Handley has already shown in training and one friendly that his experience will help our younger half-backs.

"He's a very good organiser on the park and the lads are listening to him and he seems to be gelling well with them. We have high hopes of him.

"Darren Crake is an experienced forward and we're glad to have him. We're looking strong in the forwards, and if Chris Hopcutt gets fit he could be a great addition to boost us in the centres."

Crake is getting married this weekend and so is unavailable, as is Handley (work experience) and McTigue, but Lumby reckons the squad of 24 is big enough and good enough to compensate this.

He said: "We had a lot of turmoil at the beginning of last season with players leaving but that meant several fringe players came through and they've been helped by that.

"With their promise and with the more experienced players added, we are hoping for a reasonable start and, after more games, to pull towards the top.

"We need a big squad and it's important players realise they will get their chance even if they're not in the first team to start with."

He added: "Our main aim is to get out of this division. It's one of the hardest divisions to get out of but this season is probably our best chance yet.

"We won't be foolish enough to say we'll definitely get promoted but we're aiming for it. You never know what will happen but we've got a squad which, if it pulls together and shows the same commitment as in the summer, then we've got a good chance of being in the shake-up."

Acorn, who have had one win and one defeat in pre-season, entertain Cumbrian outfit Millom in the league opener tomorrow (ko 2.30pm).

Lumby added: "Things have gone reasonably well. We got what we wanted to get out of the friendlies and we'll be looking for a good start."

Updated: 10:51 Thursday, August 21, 2003