Hotshot Lee Nogan is raring to fire York City to greater heights as the Minstermen get set for lift-off.

City kick off the new Division Three campaign tomorrow with an eye-catching encounter against Football League debutants Rushden and Diamonds.

And the twice-capped former Wales international is determined to help set the Minstermen off to a confidence-boosting start to the campaign.

"We've been counting the days all this week and can't wait to get started," he told the Evening Press.

"Once you start playing pre-season games you kind of think you are into the season but you're not.

"The pre-season games are always to help improve fitness and we enjoyed a good break in Scotland which started it all off. Most of the boys came back fit and the fact they all looked after themselves is a good sign.

"Now we're ready for the big kick off."

City have struggled to find the net consistently over the last few seasons, and Nogan, with more than 100 League goals in around 400 appearances, has been given the task of boosting those scoring statistics.

Updated: 09:01 Friday, August 10, 2001