THE new-look York City Knights are going back to the future - by reinstating a high-class scholarship system.

The move, effectively a massive shot in the arm for junior rugby league in North Yorkshire, will see representative squads for under-12s through to U16s set up this year, with a view to feeding a new academy structure and in turn the first team.

The decision also fulfils head coach James Ford's wish to bring back a structured player pathway for young players eager to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Kriss Brining and Greg Minikin, who now play in Super League having coming through the Knights' old youth set-up.

Current club captain Ed Smith, 24, is a former scholarship star, too, who made his first-team debut in 2010 not long after progressing through that old junior pathway.

Perhaps crucially for the soon-to-be-introduced scholarship, it is being run in conjunction with York & District ARL's five community clubs - York Acorn, Heworth, New Earswick All Blacks, York Lokomotive and Selby Warriors.

Moreover, it is also an "open access" scholarship, which means any junior can attend if they wish.

The scholarship will see juniors receive training and coaching from the Knights, with age-level teams then playing representative fixtures.

Ford, formerly the academy and reserves coach before taking the top job, has always advocated the need for a player pathway and held talks with new Knights owner Jon Flatman and benefactor Mark Campbell specifically about this issue even before their takeover of the club was complete.

Flatman likewise believes it is key for the Knights' future to have a new conveyor belt of talent from the region, saying it is one of the new-look club's four key objectives.

Other current and recent first-teamers to have come through the old system, in addition to Brining, Minikin and Smith, include Harry Carter, Ben Dent, Tyler Craig, James Morland and Adam Dent.

Flatman said: "The pathway, which will very much engage community clubs, will create a route through from junior rugby to the York first team.

"We've had really positive meetings with the chairmen and secretaries of the community clubs and we'll continue to work together to build an excellent talent pathway that will benefit everyone, not least the players.

"I think it's a really big step forward for the club and a big boost for junior players in this region to be able to pull on the York shirt and have some representative rugby league.

"It is also a step towards having an U18s academy and thereafter being able to feed through to the first team.

"Furthermore, the retention and improvement of players within the community clubs is key to the development of the sport away from the professional club.

"The integration of the scholarship programme between the community clubs and the pro club will focus on strengthening the strong community rugby league present in our area."

York's old scholarship - and those of various other clubs below Super League - ended in 2012 after a change in Rugby Football League rules made it unfeasible, while an elite development programme which the Knights' later created to take its place had to be scrapped after a year due to issues over training facilities once the club's old Huntington Stadium ground closed.

The club have also had U18s, U20s and U23s reserves teams in recent years but they ultimately ended due to league funding issues, ground issues upon leaving Huntington and a lack of regular fixtures.

THE decision to create a new scholarship was announced at the Knights' open day and fans' forum this week.

The event allowed supporters to have a look around the team's state-of-the-art training facilities at York St John University's sports centre, where the club have also opened new offices, thereby making the Haxby Road site their headquarters away from match-days.

The forum heard Flatman reiterate his belief that the growth potential of the Knights was "enormous", while he also outlined short-term and long-term aims of the club, ticking off some of their achievements off the field in the four and a half months since the takeover.

These included opening these offices, creating a new website, improvements in the matchday experience, new improved links to ex-players groups and senior management appointments.

He added that work was well underway regarding marketing and media plans, membership offers, and formal links with the supporters' club.

The open day also saw an excellent presentation by Professor Andy Smith from York St John, who spoke about the university's shared values with the Knights, how they can work together to get more people active across the city, and how their research into sports science can specifically benefit the rugby league team.

Knights Foundation manager Neil Gulliver likewise outlined the charity's latest work in the community and in schools, including their progress on the ever-expanding heritage project which will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the rugby club next year.

Head coach James Ford also gave an insight into team tactics via a video review session normally reserved for the playing squad.

IN another boost for junior rugby league in York, the new Knights board have come to agreement with landlords York City to stage a curtain-raiser at Bootham Crescent ahead of the League One match against Coventry on May 14.

The Knights will have use of the pitch from 12.30pm and be able to stage junior matches before and during half-time of the main event. Teams interested in taking part can email n.gulliver@yorkcityknights.com.

Juniors from all four of York's community clubs have already been involved on matchdays this year as mascots, flag bearers and ball boys.