YOU read it here first: the York City club shop is now taking orders for the club's new navy blue shirt.

The previously unseen alternative second kit was first worn in City's first round second leg Worthington Cup clash at Stoke. It was also worn last Saturday at Exeter.

As reported in this column earlier this month, the club was in talks with kit manufacturers Admiral as to the possibility of producing a limited number of the shirt, complete with red trim, on sale.

The club this week confirmed it has now ordered just 100 of the limited edition shirts, which are sure to become something of a collector's item.

Orders can be placed by telephoning the club shop on 01904-624447 extension 4, or priority orders can be made during an upcoming sales night on October 4 when the Bootham Crescent club shop will offer a 25 per cent discount on stock between 5pm and 7pm.

The offer will coincide with the next City Reds' night and the home reserve fixture against Shrewsbury Town.

TALKING of getting shirty, good to see all the backroom staff at Bootham Crescent doing their bit for the Strip 4 Shelter fundraising drive.

York City shirts were order of the day in the club office and shop as staff donated £2 to the homeless charity so they could wear their favourite team's strip.

Even the players coughed up the cash, and that was just for the privilege of wearing their usual training kit.

AFTER hammering Stoke City 17-1 in the first round of the competition, the York City Worthington Fives Team travel to Nottingham tomorrow to face opponents Newcastle United.

The squad from South Bank in York will be the same that conquered the less-than-mighty Potters, comprising goalkeeper Steve Lynn, ex-York City reserve Graham Bootland in defence, midfielders Nik Shaw, Mark Willoughby and Simon Kehoe, and striker Shaun Turner.

Hotshot Kehoe, South Bank's very own 'Ginner', will be hoping to add to his personal goal tally of 13 scored against Stoke - following on from the 47 goals he netted in the league last season.

Victory over the Magpies tomorrow will see 'York City' progress to the third round of the competition on October 29.

The Worthington Fives tournament gives amateur players the chance to compete in a national five-a-side competition, climaxing in a final to be played as the curtain-raiser to this season's Worthington Cup final.

THE name of Portuguese trialist Phillipe Serauri is unlikely to feature prominently in the Bootham Crescent annals.

City's interest in the 22-year-old ended even before the first hurdle when international clearance could not be obtained for the striker to appear for City's reserves and he packed his bags.

But perhaps Serauri's name should be remembered because his was probably one of the shortest City 'careers' on record.

I understand Serauri had to drop out of his first City training session after just TEN minutes. The luckless forward picked up an injury in pretty much his first tackle that later required four stitches.

YORKIE - probably sports' most infamous mascot at the moment - could have a rival for his crown.

The fun and frolics of the nation's over-sized furry friends is starting to get serious judging by the decision of Super League outfit Leeds Rhinos to let their talisman go full-time.

Ronnie Rhino, who even stood for Parliament in the last General Election, will be the first-ever 'professional' club mascot in British sport.

City's loveable lion rarely gets chance to put his paws up at the moment but I understand there are no plans for Yorkie to follow Ronnie's lead.

Which is probably just as well. With all the havoc and headlines Yorkie manages to create already I shudder to think what could happen if he went full-time!