GRADUATE of York City Colin Addison admits he is relishing tonight's 'emotional' homecoming.

It will be a rare return to Bootham Crescent for Addison, who started out on his long and distinguished career with the Minstermen.

Although born in the West Country, Addison and his family moved to York at the age of 11.

He joined City from junior club Cliftonville and figured in every forward position for the club.

He helped City gain promotion from division four in 1958-59 but after scoring 31 goals in 97 appearances the Minstermen banked a then club record of £12,000 when he joined Nottingham Forest.

Addison, whose brother, Murray, lives at Acaster Malbis, near York, said: "It is going to be a very emotional night for me.

"I have been to York before as a manager with Newport County and Hereford but it is a long while since I have been back.

"I started my career at York and going back to the place where you started is always very, very special.

"This was one of the trips I was looking forward to most this season."

After leaving City, Addison was top scorer at the City Ground for three seasons before spending 15 months at Arsenal and four years with Sheffield United.

A league career which bagged more than 100 goals was ended by a broken leg at Barnsley in November 1972 when he was player manager at Hereford United.

That was the start of a long managerial journey which saw him ply his trade in South Africa, Kuwait, Qatar, Newport, Derby, West Brom, Atletico Madrid, Ceta Vigo, Cadiz, Scarborough and Yeovil.

Updated: 12:04 Tuesday, November 20, 2001