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York City today kicked-off a new commercial era.

Fans can now buy goods at the club's first virtual shop on the internet.

Lots of goods that are available at the club shop at Bootham Crescent can be bought on-line at City's virtual club shop.

City have teamed up with the Evening Press' new media team to develop a shop within the www.thisisyork.co.uk web-site.

Sophie McGill, City's public relations executive said: "From the fans' survey forms we have received we have had a tremendous response from fans on the internet. It shows that York City has a diverse, international fan base.

"Launching the club shop via the internet we will be able to reach our exiled fans, both at home and abroad."

The on-going responses to the survey have come from Japan, Australia, USA, Germany, Brazil and the Falkland Islands in addition to many places in Great Britain.

New media manager Ruth Stafford said: "It will be particularly attractive for supporters who cannot get down to the club shop at the ground. City exiles, both in this country and abroad, should be able to get their gifts for Christmas."

The shop includes easy-to-follow instructions for purchasing goods with all transactions to be made by credit card.

"One of the key elements of our site is that information is sent to a secure server when you enter your credit card details."

A wide range of goods are available from replica kits to autographed footballs.

Several items will be added to the virtual shop in the build-up to Christmas.

"If other businesses within the area would like a similar shop then they should contact me," said Ruth Stafford.

Other virtual shops within Shoppers' World include York Wasps RL merchandise, a St Leonard's Hospice shop and a Yorkshire Books store.

According to the latest figures from an internet study group, it is estimated that a quarter of Britons are now regular users of the internet and that 12.5 million adults in the United Kingdom used the internet in October.

Of the people already using the internet, 44 per cent are daily users and the same percentage of all users have come on-line in the last year.

Over a quarter of internet users have bought something on line and nearly half have used the Web to window shop and compare prices. Anyone wanting to know more about the City shop or Shoppers' World can e-mail ruth.stafford@ycp.co.uk

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