The men with a mission

Now in his second year as York coach, having led the side to seventh in the second division last season. Ex-Wakefield Trinity player who has coached the British Police side for the last three and a half years, leading successful tours to Australia and Russia. Works as a detective sergeant with the York police crime unit and became York's eighth coach in 10 years when he replaced Stewart Horton on December 30, 1996.

John Paterson - 46, assistant coach.

Last year's joint Academy coach, Paterson has stepped up to become the 'link man' between the first team squad and head coach Robinson. Paterson played professional rugby league with Oldham, York, Dewsbury and Huddersfield, where he enjoyed a spell as a player coach. Sons Carl and Lee were members of the Wasps Academy squad last season.

Brian Kellett - 38, assistant coach.

Former Featherstone Rovers and Bradford Northern player who joined the Wasps in January 1997 as 'A' team coach after turning down the job of coaching the BARLA Under-23 GB squad. With the club disbanding their Alliance team for 1998, Kellett assumes responsibility for the Wasps Academy side this season.

Tony Gargan - 38, youth development officer.

Gargan has enjoyed a successful start to his work as North Yorkshire's first youth development officer and will continue to assist in the running of the Wasps Academy team. The former Southlands ARL coach was first appointed Academy coach in 1993 and has since worked with the professional club in various capacities.

Shaun Austerfield - 22, centre. (App: 2, Tries: 1, Goals: 0)

Wasps coach Dean Robinson ended a nine-month chase when he signed Austerfield from Dewsbury on Challenge Cup deadline day, with Damian Ball heading in the opposite direction. The Selby-based centre made a try-scoring start to his York career with a first half score against Norland in January.

Craig Booth - 27, second row forward. (A: 1)

Booth joined the growing band of former Hunslet Hawks players assembled by York coach Dean Robinson in January. The former Rochdale Hornets second row forward could be vying with Andy Precious to be the Wasps number one goalkicker this season. Marred his pre-season build up with a sending off against Leeds Rhinos and will miss the Bramley opener.

David Brook - 26, scrum-half. (A: 3)

Brook was one of four close season signings from Hunslet Hawks having made 12 appearances, scoring nine tries, for the Hawks last year. The half-back previously joined York on loan from the Hawks in the 1993/4 season, playing one game at stand-off against Huddersfield before returning to the West Yorkshire side.

Mark Cain - 21, full-back. (A: 51+8 T: 14, G: 2)

Cain, a former New Earswick All Blacks ARL player, signed in April 1995 and impressed in a number of positions during his second full season at Huntington Stadium. The 21-year-old showed his versatility at stand-off, loose forward, centre and full-back, but looked at his most comfortable in the number one shirt.

Paul Darley - 24, forward. (A: 1+1)

The 24-year-old was signed from Hull Sharks during the close season and first appeared in the pre-season friendlies with Doncaster Dragons and Hunslet Hawks. Darley, a former Kippax Welfare ARL player, made only a handful of substitute appearances at the Boulevard after signing from Castleford Tigers in June 1996.

Leigh Deakin - 25, winger. (A: 61+2, T: 45)

The prolific and pacy winger returned to the club midway through last season after a spell with Hull Sharks and scored five tries in his 14 appearances. Started 1998 in fine style with two injury time tries in the 37-5 victory over amateurs Norland in the Challenge Cup.

Stuart Flowers - 26, prop forward. (A: 0)

Wasps fans will be expecting great things from Flowers, widely recognised as one of the leading forwards in the second division. The close season signing from Hunslet Hawks, in a swap deal for Rich Hayes, missed the first competitive games of the season with a thigh muscle injury. However, he suffered no reaction in his comeback game against Heworth last week.

Alex Godfrey - 19, full-back. (A: 1+1, T: 1)

On loan from Hull Sharks, Godfrey's pace ensured he made an immediate impact when coming on as a substitute in the friendly against Hunslet and the Challenge Cup tie with Norland. The former New Earswick All Blacks ARL player headed for Hull in a four-year deal when he was aged 15. Signed a season-long deal with his hometown club early in March.

Mick Hagan - 19, forward. (A: 1+2)

The luckless teenager was dealt a crushing injury blow just days after signing professional terms with his hometown club. Hagan, son of former York player Mick, broke his shoulder in a freak training accident in January. Hagan junior followed in his father's footsteps with a first team debut against Hunslet Hawks last season.

Lee Hanlan - 26, stand-off. (A: 2, DG: 2)

Hanlan was due to arrive at Huntington Stadium on loan in 1997 but the deal did not go through. The stand-off went on loan to Halifax Blue Sox instead and made a substitute appearance against Brisbane Broncos, the best club side in the world. However, York coach Dean Robinson swooped to sign him from Hunslet Hawks in the close season.

Spencer Hargrave - 19, second row forward. (A: 0)

Replaced full-back Jamie Benn as the Wasps third loan signing from Castleford Tigers. The second rower put pen to paper an hour before Stewart Horton's testimonial game and made his debut as a substitute in the same match. The former Kippax ARL player made just one appearance from the bench for the Tigers last season.

Rich Harrison - 26, prop forward. (A: 7+8)

Harrison, who made one appearance for York in 1996, rejoined the club from New Earswick All Blacks ARL, last term to feature in six of the Wasps' eight Divisional Premiership games. A knee injury, which required a close season operation, has kept him out of action so far.

Andy Hill - 21, forward. (A: 1+1)

One of three signings from Castleford Tigers under the partnering agreement, Hill made his debut in the second row against Norland in the Challenge Cup. Hill, not related to team-mate Steve, signed for the Tigers from Kippax ARL and is hoping his spell with the Wasps will earn him a full-time contract at Wheldon Road.

Steve Hill - 22, prop forward. (A: 2)

The prop forward has impressed with his power and work-rate since joining the club under the historic partnering agreement with Super League side Castleford Tigers. One of 11 new signings to make their Wasps debut in the 37-5 victory over Norland in the Challenge Cup. A broken hand in the friendly at Barrow interrupted his promising progress.

Chris Hopcutt - 28, winger. (A: 115+7, T: 44, G: 24, DG: 1)

Hopcutt, signed from Scarborough Pirates in 1991, passed the 200-points mark for the Wasps in the first game of 1997 and made his 100th first team appearance in the 72-8 defeat of Barrow last April. The long-serving, ever-reliable winger spent the close season playing rugby union for Pocklington.

Matt Lambert - 26, utility. (A: 1+1, T: 1)

The Australian signed from Featherstone Rovers on Silk Cut Challenge Cup deadline day and made his debut as a substitute in the third round against Norland the following Sunday. The former Hunslet Hawks player is at home is a variety of positions, including centre, prop forward and second row, but performed brilliantly in the back row at Swinton in the Challenge Cup.

Scott Limb - 24, centre. (A: 12+1, T: 7)

A mid-season signing from Hunslet Hawks in 1997, Limb made a try-scoring debut in the 56-10 home victory over Bramley last May. The former Featherstone Rovers player continued that impressive start with five tries in his first four games but a loss of form saw him left out towards the end of the season.

Craig Moore - 23, centre/winger (A: 8+3, T: 2)

Moore enjoyed a loan spell at York midway through the 1996 season and he returned to the club last night, signed on a month's loan from Dewsbury Rams. The utility back failed to break into the Dewsbury side after signing in December 1995 from the Bradford Bulls Academy. He scored two tries in his previous Wasps stint, which spanned 11 appearances.

Alan Pallister - 27, hooker. (A: 82+7, T: 24)

Pallister signed from New Earswick All Blacks in 1990 and was once again the club's regular hooker in 1997. Pally, now the club captain, scored nine tries last season, the majority with his effective trademark dash for the line from acting half. The local lad started 1998 with a bang, scoring two tries in three minutes to turn the Norland cup tie in York's favour.

Andy Precious - 27, second row/loose forward. (A: 57+13, T: 6, G: 147, DG: 10)

Precious missed the majority of last season with a series of injuries and suspensions. He returned to the side in June after a knee injury and broken thumb, only to receive a five-match ban for his sending off at Barrow four games later. He returned to amateur side New Earswick All Blacks for a spell during the close season.

Andy Preston - 19, utility back. (A: 9+4, T: 2)

The former Heworth junior was coach Dean Robinson's first signing and showed glimpses of his potential in the first half of the season, despite not getting an opportunity in his favoured position of stand-off. Playing either on the wing or at centre, the younger brother of Steve scored tries against Lancashire Lynx and the now disbanded Prescot Panthers. Started against Swinton at full-back.

Mick Ramsden - 26, forward. (A: 77+26, T: 26, G: 2)

The former York favourite returned to the club in the close season from first division Wakefield Trinity and made his second 'debut' for the Wasps against Norland in the Challenge Cup third round. The loose forward was confined to the Trinity substitute's bench for the majority of 1997 but scored a try against York in the Divisional Premiership.

John Strange - 23, full-back. (A:0)

The signing of Strange owed as much to the course of his love life as to the lure of a second division season with the Wasps. After leaving Featherstone Rovers at the end of last season, John was preparing to resume his career Down Under. However, he fell for Leeds University student Adele North and returned to the country to find Rovers had filled their overseas quota. Their loss was a gain for York - and Adele.

Lea Tichener - 27, prop forward. (A: 29+18, T: 2)

Tichener will be hoping to shake off his tag as the club's most injured player with a sustained run in the team this season. The forward, now combining playing with his job as Wasps' commercial manager, was not graced with luck last term, with sustained absences caused by a broken arm, concussion and suspension. And this season started with a knock-out blow against Swinton - seconds after he came on as a sub.

Geoff Woodward - 26, winger. (A: 1, T: 1)

The Queenslander rejoined York in the close season following his brief first spell with the Wasps just over four years ago. Appeared in the pre-season friendly against Hunslet and made his competitive debut in the Challenge Cup against Swinton Lions, scoring a magnificent length of the field interception try. Put pen to paper for a one-season contract early in March.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.