GRATEFUL boss Gary Mills has thanked York City fans for passing the biggest test of their loyalty, ahead of tomorrow’s FA Trophy final at Wembley.

The Minstermen will ply their trade in the regionalised realms of National League North next season after suffering back-to-back relegations for only the second time in their 95-year history.

But, just three weekends after failing to beat the drop into English football’s sixth tier, a travelling army of more than 7,000 supporters will cheer their team on at the national stadium.

Overwhelmed by that knowledge, Mills said: “Back-to-back relegations was always going to be a test for our fans to see how much of a supporter they are and it’s one they have passed because 7,000 are coming down to support us. We’ve got fans who will have supported us for six months, six years or more than 60 years.

“Some people might think it’s their last chance to see their club at Wembley, some might not have been before and some will be going because they’re there through thick and thin. It’s their club and they want to stick in there.

“When times are tough, it’s easy to jump ship and support somebody else or nobody else, so credit to them. The good times will come back and, what we’ve been through, will make those times all the better.

“Like me and the players, I think the mindset has to now be one of looking forward.”

To encourage that outlook, Mills is insisting everybody regards the showcase clash with Macclesfield as the first match of the club’s 2017/18 campaign, rather than the concluding contest of a season everybody would rather forget following the agony of final-day relegation after a 2-2 home draw with Forest Green.

“We had ten days off after that game for the players, myself and (assistant-manager) Darren (Caskey) to stay away from the football club and get ourselves mentally and physically right and I think it’s worked wonders, because the players have been terrific since coming back in,” the City chief pointed out. “They have trained well and they’re smiling and getting on with things because you have to.

“We’ve had no talk about what happened at the end of the season and, with the game being almost in between then and when we come back again at the end of June, I think we have to treat is as the start of a new season not the end of one we’re sick to death of and want to put behind us, because I’m determined to try and keep this group of players together after they did so well for me from January onwards.”

Mills also argued that the club’s league disappointment must take none of the gloss off a fifth Wembley outing in eight years and should, instead, serve as a remedy for the trauma of April 29 when a stoppage-time Guiseley equaliser sent his team down.

“I believe this game is just as special as the others, because getting there for a final always will be,” he declared. “If it isn’t, you shouldn’t be involved in the game.

“It’s been exciting ever since we won the semi-final at Lincoln and, after what happened, I think it’s the perfect tonic for the supporters and everyone connected with the club.”