York City are forging a strong relationship with York College to ensure talented local youngsters don't escape the club's attention.

Last season's York College Player of the Year Neale Holmes recently joined the KitKat Crescent club as a third-year trainee and City's new youth coach Ian Kerr is committed to promoting links with the Tadcaster Road site.

Kerr said: "I am impressed with the calibre of teams and players within the English Colleges League and plan to keep in touch with York College about any future players who could step up to youth team football."

In 2004, York College player Brian Dutton signed a professional contract with Cambridge United and has since moved on to Conference South outfit Weymouth.

Carl Cook, the son of Scarborough coach Mitch Cook, has also been given a year's contract at his home-town club on the North Yorkshire coast.

The College is entering its sixth year as a football development centre and finished third in their league behind Gateshead and Middlesbrough last season.

Director of coaching and former York City striker Gordon Staniforth said: "It doesn't surprise me that professional clubs are watching more colleges in the English Colleges League. The standard is improving each year and some of these players, who have been released from clubs at under 16, just need another chance."

CLASS ACTS: York College's 2005-06 football squad, back row, from left to right: Magnus Knutson, Aron Stoker, Ben Norriss, Liam Stilgoe, Lawrence Hunter, Lee Bunce, Shane Laverick, Ben King, Dale Lumley, Mitchell Dixon, Craig Logan, Jamie Illing.

Middle row: Gordon Fee (therapist), Shaun Blenkinsopp, Zacery Lovely, Steve Brown, Martin Knowles, Michael Hick, Ben Sheehan, Carl Blundell, Sam Slocombe, Darren Todd, Alex Rhodes, Dan Barwick, Ben Webster, Gareth Singleton, Andy Battersby (fitness coach).

Front row: Scott Backhouse, Luke Agar, Matthew Wright, Luke Baines, Jamie Rank (coach), Adam Ryan, Gordon Staniforth (coach), Matty Lightowler, Joel Ramm, Matthew Suggitt, Chris Pratt.

Updated: 11:15 Wednesday, October 05, 2005