YORK City could not have asked for a tougher and more unappetising start to their FA Cup campaign.

An away tie at Colchester United is hardly one to get the mouth watering and the fact The Us are riding high in Division Two serves to make City's sizeable task only harder.

And yet if ever there was a time and a need for City to enjoy another Cup run then this is it, not only for morale, but for the coffers too.

Of course, a decent cup run, like that witnessed by City last season when they reached the third round before going out to Leicester City, has always provided a welcome shot in the arm for the club's finances.

However, in the wake of the £30 million cash boost the FA Cup has received this year City have more reason than ever to chase a prolonged Cup run.

After some troubled seasons for the FA Cup, most notably the season before last when Manchester United withdrew, the powers that be have taken steps to restore the good name of the event with boodles of cash giving the tournament fresh sheen.

A first round victory for City will earn them £20,000 and if they manage to go one better than last season and make it to the fourth round they could stand to earn £100,000 in prize money.

For a club of City's stature, that is a considerable sum and added to that would be the added financial spin-offs garnered from attendances and possible television revenue.

As such, the FA Cup road and particularly the long haul south to face Colchester on November 17 is a trip well worth undertaking.

It must be hoped the road runs and runs.

First round: £20,000; second round: £30,000; third round: £50,000; fourth round: £75,000; fifth round: £150,000; sixth round proper: £400,000; runners-up: £1million; winners: £2million.

THE signing of Michael Proctor until the end of the season provided a double cause for City celebration this week.

Of course, the securing of the potent poacher's services for the remainder of the campaign should prove a massive boost to the Minstermen in their bid for success.

With six goals, Proctor is the club's top scorer and it hasn't gone unnoticed that every time the on-loan Sunderland striker scores City win.

But the securing of Proctor on a season-long deal has also freed up manager Terry Dolan's options should he wish to draft in another short-term loan.

Clubs are only allowed two short-term and two-long term loanees at any one time in the season.

Prior to Proctor committing himself long-term to the City cause Dolan's short-term options were filled by the striker and his Sunderland team-mate Mark Maley.

But it wasn't just City fans who were left smiling by the news. Black Cats' boss Peter Reid was also a happy man after Proctor committed himself to the Minstermen for another six months.

"Michael has done very well at York by all accounts and it has been valuable experience for a good young player," he said.

"It has given him an extended period of strong competition and spending a year there can only help his education in the game.

"It's good that a club of our size can help York and they are helping us and Michael by giving him this experience."

PITY former City loan star Chris Iwelumo.

The Dion Dublin look-a-like never really convinced the City faithful of his worth during his three-month stint at Bootham Crescent last season.

But having worked his way into the first team at Second Division promotion chasers Stoke City no doubt he was anxious to prove his doubters at the Britannia Stadium wrong.

However, while the Potters have won both the games Iwelumo has started, the unfortunate target man has suffered an implausible bout of offside blues.

Three times the gangly Scot has netted - once against Chesterfield in a 2-1 win and twice against Bristol City in a 1-0 triumph - only for an assistant referee to raise his flag and rule each 'goal' out.

Meanwhile, Hull City's ex-Minsterman Rodney Rowe has denied he is a diver after earning the Tigers' decisive penalty in last Saturday's 1-0 win at Darlington.

Rowe faces a four-week lay-off with a dislocated shoulder as a result of the first-half challenge by Quakers' captain Craig Liddle that led to the penalty but Rowe has blasted claims that he is a cheat.

"I've never dived in my life," said the 26-year-old. "Their player definitely caught me. I don't know whether he meant it but there was contact.

"It wasn't my decision to award the penalty. The ref was in a good position and he had no doubts. He pointed to the spot and as far as I'm concerned, he got it right."

FORMER York city junior Nick Culkin is certainly enjoying life mixing shoulders with the high-rollers of the Scottish Premier League.

Goalkeeper Culkin, on loan at surprise package Livingston, had the nation's gaze focused upon him last Saturday in the clash with the mighty Rangers.

Broadcast live on Sky TV, there was certainly no disgrace as the Livvy Lions went down 2-0.

It could have been 3-0 but for Culkin's penalty save from Norwegian international Tore Andre Flo and the ex-City starlet is clearly enjoying life across the border.

Afterwards, Culkin, on loan from Manchester United, offered a wry smile.

"My last penalty save was for United's reserves against Bournemouth reserves, but there wasn't quite the same interest," he admitted.

THE Sportsman's Dinner, organised by City and scheduled to take place on Wednesday, December 5, has been postponed.

The event, at York Racecourse, will now take place on Thursday, February 7, next year and will feature the same special guest, Frank Worthington.

Mike Farrell will continue to provide the comedy and the MC for the evening will still be David Kendall.

A FREAK second-half goal denied the Yorkie Bars a much sought-after victory as they lost 3-2 to Macclesfield.

The Bars, made up of City fans brought together by the Internet, were 2-1 up against their Silkmen counterparts at half-time thanks to an own-goal and a Peter George strike.

However, a swift second-half equaliser and a goal direct from a corner turned the scoreline on its head.

The Bars will be looking for better luck against Scunthorpe next Saturday.

IT may be a long haul but the City Travel Club are running a bus to City's FA Cup clash with Colchester United on November 17.

The bus will depart Bootham Crescent at 9.15am and seats cost £17 for travel club members, £19 for non-travel club members.