THE three-year success story of the Knights has proved the highlight of York RL marvel Mick Ramsden's career - and he is proud to have been a part of it.

The second-row stalwart - nicknamed Rambo - hung up his boots at the end of this campaign after 15 seasons, most of which has been at his home-town club.

And while going out with an NL2 winners' medal was a "wonderful way to finish" he reckoned the entire crusade was something to cherish.

"The whole Knights story has been a big highlight," said Ramsden, whose career started in 1991 with the old York Wasps club, then called Ryedale-York. "This is a culmination of three years of hard work and I'm proud to have been a part of it.

"I've played with some great players and under fantastic coaches down the years and I've made some friends for life."

Ramsden, captain for the day on his last home match, said the trophy presentation was also fantastic. "It was great to see all the faces I've seen all these years, for Knights, Wasps or Ryedale-York," he said. "I'd looked at retirement in the past but I knew it wasn't time, but I feel it's right now. In many ways it's been my life for 14 years and I'll miss it."

Ramsden has also seen his fair share of lows, no more so than with the demise of the Wasps. "I thought that was it for me but when the Knights were created it was a chance to get rugby league back in York," he said. "The Wasps became a club used to losing but the Knights are used to winning."