A YEAR ago this week York Wasps Rugby League Club folded.

On March 19, 2002, the directors announced they were closing the club and, on March 26, their resignation from the Rugby Football League was accepted after a week of efforts to save the struggling outfit failed.

What a blessing in disguise all that has proved.

The cloud that then shrouded York RL has been replaced by a dawning sun. For all York RL's wonderful history, the last few years of crisis after crisis turned the Wasps into a laughing stock. Now, though, it is the fans who are laughing.

Gary Hall - the man who led the Keep Wasps Buzzing campaign, which ultimately transposed into the successful Kick-start York RL campaign - could not be happier.

"It's been a lot of hard work but Sunday (when the new Knights club recorded their first home win) made up for it all," he said.

"It's amazing how far we've come from those days, and the difference between then and now is incredible."

The atmosphere before, during and after games is totally different. "You can see the difference in the bar after a game," explained Hall.

"People were hanging about for ages on Sunday. In previous years when we won people just went. But on Sunday I left at 6.30pm and the bar was still full and when I went into town everyone was still talking about the game."

He added: "A year ago all I was trying to do was keep the Wasps alive, but I'm very glad it's all turned out as it has.

"When they closed the club last year I don't think anyone thought it was going to happen. It didn't look on the cards and was a complete shock. I've said it before that you couldn't have scripted what happened next.

"You would never have thought then that people like Steve Ferres and John Guildford would come in, and things have turned out great."

EVEN a year on, it appears some people haven't yet realised that York Wasps no longer exist.

Regional BBC television's early evening news programme, Look North, told the masses on Sunday that the Wasps had beaten Doncaster Dragons at Huntington Stadium that day.

The Wasps?! How many times does it have to be said? York RL has a new name, a new kit, a new outlook, a new structure, a new club. And it's all for the better.

TALKING of struggling clubs, it seems the Knights' Division Two rivals, Gateshead Thunder, aren't looking too good at the moment.

A few crisis meetings have been held after owner and chairman Mike Jeffels said he wanted to get out and at the moment it's all up in the air. The seven Aussies they recruited in the close season have all gone home, along with Bill Ryan, the consultant coach who brought them over. There are also rumours the players have not been paid.

With concerns the club won't be able to fulfil National League fixtures, the Rugby Football League are apparently to implement its Club Support Unit to assist with all aspects of Thunder's operation.

Good luck to Gateshead and I hope they get all the help they can muster in order to survive and prosper. But just one question - heartland or no heartland, where was this Club Support Unit when York needed it?

THERE was rotten luck for Knights kitman Steve Harris last week after the Yorkshire League announced the date of the White Rose Trophy final.

"Bomber" Harris plays for New Earswick All Blacks, who have made it through to the final, but the date of the big match is Bank Holiday Monday, April 21 (KO 2.30pm) - which clashes with the Knights' National League Division Two fixture at Sheffield.

Furthermore, former York Wasps forward Dean Thomas, who also now plays for All Blacks, is due to return from injury by that date but he too is set to miss the final in order to see the Knights take on Sheffield - as he is the Eagles' conditioner.

Bomber said: "I did not play in the final 15 years ago when All Blacks made it through and when All Blacks played Swinton in the Challenge Cup I missed that big game because I was kitman for the Wasps.

"When I was told about the date for this final I thought it was a wind-up."

Updated: 10:27 Saturday, March 22, 2003