York City's need to attract a new generation of younger supporters has been cited as a major reason for the scheduling of Sunday fixtures in the 2005/2006 calendar.

The Minstermen have Sabbath home dates against Aldershot Town (February 12) and Kidderminster Harriers (April 9) this season and, with the average age of a City season-ticket holder now standing at 58, finance director Terry Doyle is hoping such matches will help make KitKat Crescent more appealing to families.

Doyle said: "Sunday games have proven more successful than Saturday matches in the past, taking into consideration the opposition played. We set out to be a community club and there's a lot of people who want to watch York City who can't come on a Saturday.

"Matches tend to attract more families on a Sunday and that's important in terms of future support."

Communications director Sophie McGill has also re-emphasised what a difference 500 new spectators would make to the club.

Making an appeal to existing supporters, McGill said: "If anybody can bring a friend, a lapsed fan or a relative to any game it really does make a difference. Five hundred more people through the gates would be an extra £125,000 towards Billy McEwan's budget."

Updated: 11:44 Friday, August 19, 2005