THE links between fans of the Knights and York City FC grew last week when members of the London and the South Branch of the York City Supporters' Club turned out to see the Knights' game at London Skolars.

Spokesman Martin Morgan said: "During football's closed season we try to do things to keep the group together over the summer, and as York Knights were playing in London we thought we'd go along.

"When City were in trouble they gave us coverage and this was like a show of solidarity. There were some of us from the London Branch and a few City fans who aren't members but who took it upon themselves to go as well."

Morgan added that they enjoyed it. "I will definitely go again," he said. "If they make the play-offs we will get behind them and come up for those games."

IT was interesting to note last weekend at the London Skolars v Knights match just how many players the struggling Skolars have used this season.

Debutant Roger Teau became, remarkably, the 65th player to have been used by coach Mark Croston in their 22 games since turning professional.

That figure compares unfavourably even with the number of players used by York Wasps in their disastrous 2001 season. In that year - when the then coach Lee Crooks was forced to come out of a four-year retirement and kitman Steve Harris and physio Pat Howdle were called on a few times to make up the numbers on the bench - the Wasps used 68 players in total.

The Knights have used a fair few players themselves this year, which was always likely to be the way for a new club still building its player-base, but their figure of 40 remains some way short of those tallies.

THE Skolars have become the latest club to praise the support shown by the Knights travelling army.

About 250 went to New River Stadium last week, with a club official saying, "I reckon that's the biggest travelling contingent we've had all season (in both the league and Arriva Trains Cup) and it is definitely the noisiest."

THERE were several contenders for sight of the day at New River Stadium last Sunday.

Danny Brough's delight at scoring after just 15 seconds; Rob Kama's joy at getting his first Knights try, which was a stunner; and Mark Cain's satisfaction when completing the first hat-trick by any Knights player were all up there.

The winner, though, had to be the sight of the chief executive Steve Ferres - who rarely sits still during games - lying down on a high-jump mat behind one of the goal areas, soaking up the sun seemingly without a care in the world as his team ran in try after try.

FUNNIEST moment of the day came after the match when the hordes of Knights fans had gathered inside and outside the nearby Skolars pub.

As soon as they spotted the players' coach heading towards the pub, they rose as one to give them a loud standing ovation. However, it was only as the bus was pulling up that they realised no-one other than the driver was actually on it.

The players were instead walking up to the pub, receiving more ovations as they arrived.

Updated: 10:41 Saturday, July 26, 2003