York City manager Terry Dolan today made another raid on the Premiership to bolster the Minstermen's climb away from the wrong end of the Division Three table.

Dolan has moved swiftly to land talented left-back Peter Hawkins from Wimbledon on a month's loan.

And the new City boss is also set to cast his eye over another defender from the top-flight in Newcastle United full back Paul Arnison.

The duo's arrival at Bootham Crescent brings the number of players recruited by Dolan from Premiership clubs to three in a matter of days, having last week landed left-sided defender Mark Bower on loan from Bradford City.

Dolan, who has been making swift use of his vast contacts in the game, admitted he was delighted to land Hawkins, 21, and ease his problems at left-back

"He is a young player who is really looking for first team football and he fits the bill in terms of what I am looking for," said Dolan, who added the Maidstone-born Hawkins had no qualms about heading north.

"He jumped at the chance," revealed the City chief.

Hawkins signed professional forms for Wimbledon in 1997 having decided to stay on at college for an extra-year before joining the fully-paid professional ranks.

A regular member of the reserve team last season, he is described as a tough-tackling player who is comfortable in bringing the ball out of defence.

Hawkins, 6ft tall, has also played at centre-back and has been a member of the first-team squad at Wimbledon on a number of occasions. However, the presence of England Under-21 international Ben Thatcher and the experienced Alan Kimble means he has found his first-team opportunities restricted under manager Egil Olsen.

Right-back Arnison arrives from St James' Park on trial and will feature for City reserves in their match at Lincoln City tomorrow night.

Hartlepool-born Arnison, 22, was one of 13 Newcastle players told last week he was not part of boss Bobby Robson's plans.

Like Hawkins, he has yet to make his Premiership bow but sources close to the Magpies said it was a surprised when it was announced that he was going to be released because he was highly rated.

He has been a regular member of Newcastle's Premier Reserve League Northern Conference side this season.

Dolan can also play Arnison in City's reserve team match at home to Shrewsbury next Wednesday before deciding whether to make his interest more concrete.

Also featuring tomorrow night at Lincoln is defender Martin Reed, who missed Saturday's trip to Plymouth with a dead leg.

And in more good news for Dolan, young midfielder Lee Bullock is expected to return to training in the next few days after making good progress from an ankle injury picked up in the defeat at Mansfield earlier this month.

However, veteran 'keeper Bobby Mimms is yet to train since suffering the thigh strain that saw him substituted at Home Park.

Ginner's dinner a big hit

Minstermen past and present turned out in force to pay tribute to York City defender Wayne Hall.

Fans' favourite Hall kicked off his testimonial year with a sportsman's dinner in the Ebor Suite of York Racecourse last night.

Top table guests included World Cup winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks, former referee Neil Midgley, North Yorkshire horse trainer Les Eyre and comedian Sean Stiles.

Included among the 300 guests were most of the current York City squad, manager Terry Dolan, chairman Douglas Craig and his fellow directors.

Among the more recent former Bootham Crescent aces to add their support were Manchester United sharp shooter Jonathan Greening, Sheffield Wednesday striker Richard Cresswell, defender Andy McMillan and winger Tony Canham.

Chris Topping, Dave Dunmore and 'keepers Mick Granger and Graeme Crawford were also among a batch of former City players from yesteryear.

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