YORK City have been given the chance to grab their first silverware just four days into the new season - and on home turf too.

City's North Riding Senior Cup final duel with Premiership Middlesbrough has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 14 at Bootham Crescent shortly after the Nationwide Division Three start at home to newcomers Rushden and Diamonds.

The NRSC showdown was switched from Boro's Riverside Stadium because of work to a stand roof. It is understood the Teesside outfit are battling to have the work done in time for their Premiership opener against big-spending Arsenal on Saturday, August 18.

Club secretary Keith Usher confirmed the switch to the Evening Press today, adding that the NRSC final - kicking off at 7.45pm - had forced the postponement of City's first reserves match of the new campaign at home to Shrewsbury on August 15 to a new date still to be arranged.

The cup switch could net a healthy crowd boost to City, especially if Boro's York-born manager Steve McClaren opts to use the game as his last senior preparation ahead of their Premiership kick-off against the Gunners.

That could mean fielding at Bootham Crescent a Boro side, including new record £6.5million signing Gareth Southgate, with the possibility too of City's ex-starlet Jonathan Greening returning 'home' should his projected £3m move from champions Manchester United to Boro eventually go through.

One NRSC issue is definite. This will be the last time that the century-plus old competition will be started in the pre-season.

From the 2002-03 term the knockout event will be initiated during the season rather than before, explained Usher.

Updated: 12:24 Friday, July 27, 2001