GEORGE Westerman cycled from his home in Bubwith to Fulford and from there caught the tram to Clarence Street to watch his first-ever rugby league match. He was 15 years old.

Now, 70 years later, he is still a keen fan of York and to mark his seven full decades of loyal support, the City Knights have made him an honorary vice-president of the new club.

George, who will be 86 on May 16, has followed York home and away since his first match, now travelling to games with his grandson.

And so impressed is club chairman Roger Dixon that he has asked George to join the VIP club.

Dixon explained: "The Knights are in the process of establishing a vice-presidents' club and in the course of that exercise it has come to our attention that Mr Westerman is this year celebrating his 70th anniversary of active support of rugby league in York.

"We have therefore invited George to become an honorary vice-president and I'm delighted to say he has accepted."

George said: "I thought it was really nice that they asked me, I was a bit chuffed. Roger Dixon was very kind. He said it was amazing that I've supported them this long and naturally I was delighted to accept the offer.

"I went to my first match with an old school friend called George Craven - the Evening Press coincidentally wrote an article about George Craven after he became the oldest supporter to sign up to the membership scheme last year, but my friend was a different George Craven.

"Anyway, we cycled to Fulford, left our bikes in Duffield's garage then caught the tram to Clarence Street. I enjoyed it and it went on from there.

"I moved to York when I was 18 and I went to games regularly. I went with my dad before he died and got to know a lot of people there, players and supporters, and I joined the supporters' organisation.

"I've been all over following York's matches. I've been to every ground in the league (barring new club London Skolars) and I've been to the Wembley cup final three or four times.

"I've been a season ticket holder since I retired and I usually go now with my grandson."

As for the form of the team, he reckoned promotion was not out of the question.

"They're doing all right, they will be okay once they get settled in," said George. "They've got good management and some good lads. They want one or two extra players, if they can afford it, and then they will be away. They've had lapses and need a bit more consistency but I would not give promotion up, though maybe another year is needed."

AS regards the vice-presidents' club, the Knights are contacting all club members asking if they would like to join.

Members of the new club receive preferential access to the Vice-Presidents' Lounge, priority access to the bar in the hospitality suite, a reserved seat and a club tie/badge.

The cost of joining the club for the 2004 season onwards is £250 per year.

As reported by the Press, the Knights have offered everyone who purchased club membership at the start of this season a free season ticket for 2004. Vice-presidency would supplement that.

SEVERAL Knights players took advantage of last weekend's free time to go on holiday to Magaluf, and a good break - and a well-behaved one at that - was had by all.

The septet of first-teamers, namely Mark Cain, Darren Callaghan, Scott Rhodes, Gareth Lloyd, Alex Godfrey, Mick Embleton and Carl Stannard, plus former player Chris Hopcutt flew to the Spanish island holiday hot-spot for a few days over the Challenge Cup weekend.

Godfrey said: "It was brilliant, the weather was great, we watched the Cup final on Sky over there and we had a good time."

He added: "We were all professional about it, looked after ourselves and did the right thing. It was a good break."

Cain added: "We've had solid rugby for six months so it was good to recharge the batteries."

FIRST York bus company are again putting on free buses for Knights fans for tomorrow's home game against London Skolars (3pm).

Times and pick-up points are:

- Depart Thanet Road baths 2pm, then Stonebow Job Centre 2.15pm;

- Depart Burton Stone Lane (Corner House) 2pm then Lowther St (shops) 2.15pm;

- To wait at York Railway Station forecourt to meet potential trains from London, departing 2.20pm;

All buses return to pick-up points after the match, leaving Huntington Stadium at 5pm.

FORMER York Wasps boss Lee Crooks' son has followed in his father's footsteps by signing for Hull. Prop Stuart Crooks, 18, was one of 13 players from Hull's Under-18 team to be handed professional contracts.

Updated: 10:23 Saturday, May 03, 2003