YORK City supremo John Batchelor has issued a rallying cry to supporters ahead of the Minstermen's first home game of the season against Shrewsbury Town tonight.

Tantalisingly for fans, Batchelor has hinted that bigger gates could also mean more cash to spend on players.

Speaking ahead of the Bootham Crescent opener, the City chairman pleaded: "I would appeal to everyone in York to either be at the match tonight or on Saturday when we are at home to Torquay, or preferably both.

"One of the difficulties brought about by the ITV Digital fiasco means clubs' anticipated incomes have been substantially reduced.

"We have made some changes in terms of playing personnel but we would like to make a lot more.

"In order to do that we need fans coming through the gate."

As well as improving the club's finances, Batchelor, who is wanting gates of more than 5,000 this season, insisted bigger crowds ensured a better match-day atmosphere which could only spur the team on.

"We are all in this together and it would be great to have the sort of support we saw at some of the games last year," said the City chairman, who yesterday went into the city centre to drum up support.

"It would then be up to the team to give them the biggest thank you possible by winning the games."

As part of the bid to improve the match-day atmosphere at City, Bootham Crescent has undergone a dramatic face-lift with a new entrance, signage and change of colour.

Supporters at tonight's game will also enjoy improved pre-match and half-time entertainment, led by new announcer Alan Hyde.

"It is all part of our desire to create a great atmosphere," explained Batchelor.

"We will be trying things over the course of season so it will be a gradual process.

"But Alan has masses of experience with this kind of thing and it will almost be like having our own radio station.

"He will be like a roving reporter, carrying out interviews interspersed with music with the help of a high-tech computer system."

Home match-days will also see fans get a chance to win a car in a half-time penalty shoot-out competition, although that may not start tonight.

"We will be running the competition at 23 games, League or Cup, whichever we chose although we haven't quite decided whether to start it tonight," said Batchelor.

"We will pick someone out of the crowd, bring them on to the pitch and they will be given the chance to win the car. What exactly happens, you will have to wait and see. It won't be easy, but it won't be impossible."

A new-look programme will also be on sale tonight, still priced at £2 but with only 28 pages initially.

"It will be sold just at the ground but we hope to be able to sell it more widely throughout the city before too long," said Batchelor.

"It will contain all the necessary details about the match but we also want it to have a broader appeal. Although it is only 28 pages initially, ultimately we hope it will be 56 pages."

Batchelor, buoyed by record season-ticket sales of more than 1500, said he was also greatly encouraged by sales of the new club shirt.

"We've sold out twice and I think we have now sold between 700 and 800 shirts.

"We will be wearing the red shirt as much as possible this season because we want to promote the new image.

"When we wear our change strip it will be done only to avoid a clash."

This Thursday City chairman John Batchelor kicks-off a new column in the Evening Press looking at life inside Bootham Crescent.

Each week someone from the club will get the chance to air their views.

Updated: 08:51 Tuesday, August 13, 2002