YORK Acorn's bid to build on last season's improvement has been underlined by the signing of former Redhill captain and assistant boss Dave Kay as player-coach.

Kay, 31, takes the reigns from Alan Hebblethwaite and Mick Calam, who stood down at the end of last season.

He has joined Acorn after a successful 21-year association with Castleford-based Redhill, who play in National Conference League division one.

He joined Redhill Juniors in 1981 and gained numerous district and county honours before advancing to open age in 1988. Success continued there as Redhill reached round three of the Challenge Cup three times, won the BARLA National Cup and topped the NCL division two and division one tables.

He was appointed assistant coach in 2000 following a string of individual club honours, including young player of the year, clubman of the year, top try-scorer, players' player of the yea (three times) and player of the year, twice.

He was also the 1999 NCL division one players' player of the year and player of the year runner-up, and a year later was named Castleford and District player of the year. He also has a number of coaching badges.

Kay, who lives in Poppleton, said: "I've enjoyed a good number of seasons at Redhill and achieved plenty as a player and in recent years as an assistant coach.

"During last season, I decided I'd like to try my hand as a head coach and preferably with a NCL second division side, so when this vacancy came up, a combination of the fact I live closer to York than Castleford and that my ambitions could be fulfilled meant this was the ideal opportunity."

As regards his aims for next season, he said: "I'm not one for predictions but more a coach who sets himself ambitions.

"I'd like to mirror my success as a player and gain promotion from the second to the first and then to the premier division over the next three to five years, while also enjoying a sprinkling of cup success."

Kay began his career in the backs before moving into the forwards, more recently at loose forward, and feels he still has much to offer on the pitch.

He will take his first training on Tuesday, June 11, at the club (6.45pm meet for 7pm start), with sessions held every Thursday and Tuesday thereafter

The club reckon they have the right man. Spokesman Paul Lumby said: "We feel we've made a real coup as we've not only gained a player of the highest quality, who is experienced and still young enough to make an impact on the park, but also a coach who comes with the qualities needed to get the best out of what is still a young team.

"He's worked with experienced coaches and also been captain at Redhill where he gained the respect of his team-mates.

"We are a progressive club and believe Dave Kay will ensure we will continue to move forward on the field and build on the excellent work achieved by Alan Hebblethwaite and Mick Calam.

"We think he will be able to bring the club the kind of success we now feel is overdue."

Acorn are still looking to increase the first and second team pool of coaching assistants, and, as reported by the Evening Press, are still on the lookout for a second team coach. Any interested parties should contact the club (01904 330351) for further details.

Updated: 11:37 Friday, June 07, 2002