FORMER Bootham Crescent favourite Gordon Staniforth finds it “amazing” that York City are preparing for a vital festive double-header against another one of his old clubs, North Ferriby United.

Such was the disparity between the two teams 29 years ago that Staniforth was given permission to play for both at the same time with then Third Division City plying their trade six tiers above Northern Counties East League outfit Ferriby.

But the Humberside villagers now sit two places above bottom-of-the-table City at the foot of the National League, placing huge significance on the Boxing Day and New Year’s Day meetings between the clubs.

Staniforth is astonished by that prospect, but the two-time winner of the Billy Fenton Clubman of the Year Memorial Trophy has no mixed emotions concerning who he wants to prevail.

“I didn’t really realise the two clubs would be playing at the same level until it was written down in front of me because I look at the fixture lists of all my old clubs before the season kicks off,” Staniforth explained.

“I find it amazing, because I’d never have thought that possible.

“I’ve watched Ferriby over the years and they’ve done really, really well on a limited budget. They’re punching above their weight and will forever be in the shadow of Hull City, so it was always going to be really difficult for them this season, but good luck to them.

“There will be no divided loyalties for me though. I will be looking for a York City win, because that’s where my heart lies.

“I spent more time there, even though North Ferriby was a fantastic experience for me and a well-run club with good facilities.”

Staniforth combined a relegation battle under Bobby Saxton in 1987/88 with a bid for FA Vase glory at Ferriby and, on the punishing schedule that presented him with at the age of 30, he said: “Over the Easter period, I played four games in five days – two for York and two for Ferriby.

“The way I was contracted I could play for both part-time and I wanted to do that. I remember playing at Southend and coming back for a game the next day for Ferriby and I fell asleep in the car park, because I got there a bit too early.

“I thought I’d just have five minutes, but I was that tired it ended up being an hour’s nap. My career was coming to an end though and I thought I’m going to go for it.

“I really wanted to play for York City again and the agreement I signed with Ferriby allowed me to do that. We got to the FA Vase semi-finals but blew it, and I remember feeling ever so nervous in the second leg at Ferriby.

“I had played at Wembley for England Schoolboys, but never as a professional and I was always looking to tick off my next target.”

Staniforth, meanwhile, is hoping City can overcome Ferriby in Monday’s match at Grange Lane to avoid breaking a record that dates back to his time with the Minstermen under Saxton.

Back then, the side went 35 matches without an away win before bagging a 2-1 FA Cup victory at Burton with a side featuring the likes of Staniforth, Steve Tutill and Derek Hood.

The club’s current run on the road has emulated that sorry sequence, but Staniforth added: “They were very dark days.

“I remember going on the Knavesmire and the training was trying to smack the ball as far away from our goal as possible, so I think we can let Bobby Saxton keep that record.”

Meanwhile, Staniforth, who witnessed the first spells of striker Jon Parkin and manager Gary Mills in his previous work for the Press Association at Bootham Crescent, is pleased to see both combining to try to pull his old club out of trouble.

“I’ve known Jon from his under-14 days as part of my scouting missions for the FA and it has been great to see his progress since those early days at Barnsley,” he said. “He’s an honest lad and it’s great for him to come back.

“I’ve always liked Gary Mills as a manager too in terms of his philosophy and how he wants to play. I hope he gets time to get the results right.

“The pressure is on, no doubt about that, but he seems to be enjoying being back and I think he sees it as his spiritual home. I think it will be all about nerves from now on.

“They’re difficult to overcome, but some people can and some people can’t.”

In his current job as the North Riding FA’s county coach developer, Staniforth is also willing the club to stave off the threat of relegation to the wilderness of regionalised football, where it would seem inconceivable to run a full-time academy in its present form.

That would lead to fewer opportunities in the area for up-and-coming coaches and Staniforth said: “I was at the training ground last week, watching and supporting one of the academy coaches.

“It was an U11s game and the talent on show was fantastic. The facilities are way above National League level and there are lots of young coaches who have worked and are working there.

“If the academy was to close, that would be a big blow to the club and city.”

One of the biggest feathers in the North Yorkshire coaching cap is 18-year-old Leeds United midfielder Ronaldo Vieira, who has made 19 appearances for the Elland Road club this season, scoring one goal.

He has established himself as a Championship first-team regular after a number of clubs, including the Minstermen, didn’t take a gamble on the then student at York College’s football development centre.

Staniforth said: “He was the best student I’ve ever seen in college football and I was involved with the England set-up for 13 years.

“I had no doubts he would go on to achieve what he is doing. He’s got a 30-year-old head on his shoulders because, as a central midfielder, he puts his foot in and runs around tidying things up.

“He had it all and is a clever lad. He had a couple of days here and there at other clubs like York, Hull and the Sheffield clubs, but they couldn’t see what we could, working with him on a daily basis.

“Certain rare cases don’t need to play youth football or U21s, they’re ready straight away for proper football, and it’s brilliant for the college to get recognition for his achievements, along with anybody who played a part in his development.”

Staniforth is now looking to set up an academy for young, energetic and inspirational coaches.

Anybody interested should email Stephanie.turnbull@northridingfa.com with further details available at www.northridingfa.com/news/2016/oct/coaching-academy.

SEAN NEWTON is in with a shout of winning back-to-back Press Player of the Month awards after being named our man of the match in last weekend’s 0-0 draw with Torquay.

That accolade earned him three points towards the December standings, leaving him four behind leader Jon Parkin with one game of 2016 to play – at North Ferriby on Boxing Day.

The other Press points went to Yan Klukowski (2) and Player of the Year table-topper Kyle Letheren (1) as our second and third-highest rated players respectively.

Adriano Moke, meanwhile, won the two bonus points on offer to the player who received most man-of-the-match votes from our Twitter poll.

The Press Player of the Year standings: Letheren 22, Whittle 18, Connolly 16, Heslop 13, Brodie 12, Kamdjo 10, Flinders 8, Fry 8, Higgins 7, Klukowski 7, Newton 7, Felix 5, Galbraith 5, Rooney 5, Parkin 4, Holmes 3, Lappin 3, Murphy 3, Clappison 2, Dixon 2, Wright 2, Cooper 1, Nti 1, Oyebanjo 1, Rzonca 1, Simpson 1, Walton 1.

The December Press Player of the Month standings: Parkin 7, Klukowski 4, Moke 3, Murphy 3, Newton 3, Holmes 2, Fry 1, Letheren 1.

Goals: Brodie 7, Connolly 3, Heslop 3, Fry 2, Klukowski 2, Own Goal 2, Fenwick 1, Galbraith 1, Kamdjo 1, Murphy 1, Nti 1, Parkin 1, Rzonca 1, Wright 1.

Assists: Connolly 6, Rooney 4, Felix 2, Galbraith 2, Whittle 2, Wright 2, Cooper 1, Fry 1, Heslop 1, Higgins 1, Holmes 1, Klukowski 1, Murphy 1, Newton 1, Parkin 1.

Bad boys: Brodie nine yellow cards; Rooney eight yellow; Higgins five yellow; Heslop one red, three yellow; Fry four yellow; Nti one red, two yellow; Fenwick, Whittle, Wright all three yellow; Connolly, Kamdjo, Klukowski, Newton all two yellow; Moke one red; Clappison, Dixon, Galbraith, Johnson, Letheren, McDaid, Parkin, Murphy, Racine, Thompson all one yellow.