York City goalkeeper Alan Fettis is primed for an unbroken century stand for York City.

Providing the fans' favourite came through this afternoon's clash at Macclesfield Town unscathed, Fettis will make his 100th successive League appearance for the Minstermen when Oxford United visit Bootham Crescent on Easter Monday.

In a remarkable run, Fettis has yet to miss a Division Three clash for City since he joined the club, initially on loan, just over two years ago from Blackburn Rovers.

It amounts to more than 9000 minutes of non-stop League action for the City number one.

The only senior games Fettis has missed have come when City boss Terry Dolan has chosen to rest the Northern Ireland international in LDV Vans Trophy and Worthington Cup games.

Fettis, who swept the board last season when the player of the year awards were being dished out and has a good chance of repeating the feat this time around, is rightly proud of his ever-present run.

"It's a little personal goal that I've wanted to achieve," Fettis told the Evening Press.

"When I first came here I just wanted to play as many games as possible and I've been lucky, I've not had any injuries and my form is okay, so all the hard work has paid off."

Fettis's century stand for City is all the more remarkable given the fact that the 31-year-old Hull, Nottingham Forest and Blackburn stopper maintains he had never even come close to passing the 50 mark prior to his switch to Bootham Crescent.

"I don't think I've even played a full season up to last year," he said.

"When I first went to Hull I played about 40 games but I had a couple of injuries and things like that.

"It's just luck the fact I've not had any injuries or any sendings-off.

"Like I say, it's a personal little goal that I will be quite proud of."

Despite achieving the 100 milestone, ambition still burns bright for Fettis, who after seasons of struggle with City is desperate for better times.

"I just want to be in a successful side and I've got another year left on my contract and we don't want to be at the bottom end of the Third Division again.

"I've been here two years and been involved in three relegation battles. It is not nice and it wares you down.

"But you have to think positive and the fact I'm playing and playing well keeps me happy.

"And there are more than a few signs that there could be better times around the corner.

"With the likes of Leigh Wood and Lee Bullock, who has come on leaps and bounds, and with Stephen Brackstone coming in, we have got a good crop of youngsters coming through who all like to get hold of the ball and pass it around.

"In the last few games we have looked a better side and more settled.

"If you've got a settled side and some stability that helps and if we have got that for next year it can only be a good thing."

It is appropriate Oxford United should be the club that could see Fettis reach his ton.

Back in 1994 when still a Hull player, it was in a Division Two match clash with Oxford that Fettis hit the headlines.

Summonsed from the bench and used as an emergency striker by then Tigers' boss Terry Dolan, Fettis promptly scored in a 3-1 win.

Later that season he was at it again. With injuries biting hard, Fettis started Hull's last game of the campaign against Blackpool and scored the winner in a 2-1 win.

While he enjoyed his time as an attacker, Fettis has ruled out a repeat on Monday.

"I'm glad I've done it, it's something to look back on, but I said at the time there is absolutely no chance of me doing it again.

"I was pretty rubbish to be honest and I've still no intention of doing it again."

Fettis Fact File

Position: Goalkeeper

Born: February 1, 1971, Newtonards, Northern Ireland

Other clubs: Ards, Hull City, WBA (loan), Nottingham Forest, Blackburn Rovers, Leicester City (loan)

International honours: 25 caps for Northern Ireland

York games: 112 League and Cup

Clean sheets: 33

Updated: 10:44 Saturday, March 30, 2002