THE stars of ITV’s Emmerdale took to the pitch at Bootham Crescent to take on York City in a charity football match.

Almost 1,000 fans turned out yesterday to watch a game which saw the soap stars narrowly defeated 10-8, despite a plucky second half come back in which they scored four goals and, at one point, had 15 players on the pitch. Among the Emmerdale players taking part were actors Danny Miller (who plays Aaron Livesy), Adam Thomas (Adam Barton) Lyndon Ogbourne (Nathan Wylde) and director Michael Lacey.

The York City team boasted David Knight in goal, Jamal Fyfield at centre back and George Purcell up front alongside City manager Gary Mills.

York City youth coach Rob Batty, Ministermen team manager for the day, admitted the score was getting close towards the end, but said the day was not about the result.

He said: “It was all about raising money for Leeds MIND and the Archbishop’s Youth Trust. “We were trying to get as many people here as we could to raise money awareness.

Emmerdale player and director Michael Lacey said: “We did okay – with help from the referee and everyone else.

“I think we had 15 players on at one point and we needed it. We have played a few celebrity games before and we have never been beaten, but playing a professional team is a different thing. They were more organised and fitter.”

After the game, City were presented with the winner’s trophy by Emmerdale star Pauline Quirke, who plays Hazel Rhodes, then the stars of the soap signed autographs and posed for pictures with the young fans.