IT made a welcome change to be looking forward to this afternoon's big derby game at Hull City for all the right reasons.

Last season the corresponding fixture was important if only because City were still needing points to secure their Football League status.

Much of the pre-match attention focused on the fact it was also Terry Dolan's first return to Boothferry Park since he left the club in 1997.

Now, thankfully, the football is proving more important than the personalities.

But I can't help feeling three points today would be even more satisfying than usual and be a moral victory for the Minstermen.

This time last year it appeared the death knell had sounded for the then cash-strapped Tigers, who at the height of troubles, were even pleading to use Bootham Crescent after being locked out of Boothferry Park.

Matters eventually came to a head earlier this year when the club entered into a creditors voluntary agreement, whereby the majority of those owed cash agree, in essence, to forget about much of the money owed to them.

Just a few short months later and the Tigers, backed by a new chairman and club sponsor, are spending money like there's no tomorrow - almost £1million on 13 new players.

No one wants to see a club go out of existence, even if they are your biggest, fiercest rivals and in doing what they've done Hull have done nothing illegal.

Chairman Adam Pearson certainly seems a man genuinely wanting what's best for Hull and their supporters and deserves praise for taking on what has for so long seemed an impossible task.

But if I was one of the creditors, no doubt scrimping to make a living, I'd be more than miffed that the club has gambled again by splashing the cash without so much as a nod of regret in my direction.

It's rather like a smoker who steadfastly refuses to give up cigarettes but still leap-frogs the waiting list for heart bypass surgery. It just doesn't seem right.

And for City supporters and other cash-conscious clubs in Division Three it must be equally grating.

City keep tabs on their spending and don't do things they can't afford.

Yet this term, if the bookies are to be believed, Hull will be rewarded for owing thousands of pounds with promotion, while prudent City will have to be satisfied with mid-table.

City could go some way to righting that wrong today.

CITY fan Garry Beckett's unique Minstermen memoirs will soon be available to buy.

Beckett, a computer operator from West Molesey, near Kingston in Surrey, is putting the final touches to a new book, York City Memoirs, which regales City's history through the eyes of ex-players.

"I've had 24 replies so far," said Beckett, among them Minstermen legends like Jack Pinder, Alf Patrick, Sid Storey, Norman Wilkinson, Barry Jackson, Chris Topping and Keith Walwyn.

There are also contributions from Keith Houchen, Steve Tutill, Paul Stancliffe, John Ward and Paul Barnes with Beckett still hoping to add a few more names to the list before the final print.

"There are a lot of stories and memories about the FA Cup runs of the 1930s and 1950s, the Second Division days, the championship season and that day at Wembley. It will evoke a lot of memories, good and bad as well as raise a smile and a laugh," said Beckett.

He is now inviting fans to pre-order their copy for Christmas.

To pre-order York City Memoirs, send your name, address and telephone number, together with the number of copies you require, to: gjb publications, 37 Cambridge Road, West Molesey, Surrey KT8 2AU.

The book is priced at £7.50, plus £2.50 for posting and packaging (per order, not per book). Cheques should be made payable to gjb.

THE news that Michael Proctor will be at City for at least another month after today's trip to Boothferry Park was a big relief.

The on-loan Sunderland striker has certainly played a big part in City's promising start to the new campaign.

Although Proctor's initial one-month long loan agreement was not due to end until after today's game at Hull, it was important City managed to extend the 20-year-old's stay before today.

Had he signed on Monday, it would have counted as two separate loan deals for City, who are only permitted eight in a season.

As it is, the Proctor deal still counts as just one giving manager Terry Dolan plenty more scope to wheel and deal.

Communications manager James Richardson will be letting his feet do the talking again later this month when he again tackles the Great North Run.

Richardson will again be running the half-marathon, which starts in Newcastle and ends at South Shields, to raise funds for St Leonard's Hospice and the York City Youth Development Fund.

Anyone wishing to back Richardson's efforts in cash can sponsor him by filling in the form at the City club shop.

STRANGE, but true. The crowd of 1,663 that saw City lose 3-2 at Shrewsbury's Gay Meadow last month was exactly the same total that witnessed City's Worthington Cup exit to Crewe at Bootham Crescent seven days earlier.