YORK City Knights are doing their bit to boost the gate for Thursday’s crucial TV clash – and grant Gary Thornton’s wish for a 14th man to spur his side on to a vital victory.

The Knights are offering various discounts in a bid to bolster the attendance, with Thornton reiterating that a big, noisy crowd can play its part in securing three crucial Kingstone Press Championship points.

The Knights host bottom team Barrow at Huntington Stadium in front of the Premier Sports cameras needing a maximum haul to keep clear of the drop zone and head towards the play-offs.

“It’s massive,” said Thornton. “We’re in a situation where every game we go into is the most important. We have to go game by game, until we can get breathing space between us and other teams.

“We’ve got ten games and 30 points up for grabs and we have to get as many as we can.”

He added: “I’ve spoken to other clubs who have held TV games and it seems crowds are generally down for those matches. We need it to be different. The crowd at York can be outstanding in generating lots of noise and atmosphere and being the proverbial 14th man. We want that again.”

All under-16s get into Knights home games for free already. Additionally, the club are giving away 1,000 family tickets for £5 each, providing admission for two adults and two children.

There will also be no extra charge for seating on Thursday, meaning admission is the flat £14 (or £10 for over-65s and students) whether for the Main Stand or the Popular Stand.

“Fans can also get £1 discount if they buy their tickets early from the club’s Roland Court office off Huntington Road.

Additionally, there will be a girls’ tag tournament as a curtain-raiser on Thursday evening, while girls’ teams from Huntington School have also been invited to go to the game as guests of the club to mark their successes this year.

By way of promoting the game, the club also offered to take training sessions for juniors at local amateur clubs. New Earswick All Blacks and Heworth took up the offer, with star players Jason Golden and Matt Nicholson giving coaching tips.

Thornton said: “From the players’ perspective, you always like to play in front of big, enthusiastic crowds. It lifts you. I don’t know what impact having the TV cameras will have on the crowd but I urge the people of York to get down and help us come away with a win. The club is trying hard to get people here. The more the better.”

• South Wales Scorpions have withdrawn from the Under-20s Championship.