Midfield options are a boost for York City manager Martin Foyle

9:38am Wednesday 15th July 2009 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Dave Flett, Sports reporter

Levi Mackin playing against Leeds United Levi Mackin playing against Leeds United

NEW central-midfield quartet Neil Barrett, Andy Ferrell, Alex Lawless and Levi Mackin could all line up in the same York City side next season.

Ferrell and Mackin, signed from Kidderminster and Wrexham respectively this summer, combined together in City’s engine room for the first half of Sunday’s 3-3 friendly draw against Leeds United.

Former Ebbsfleet player Barrett then partnered Alex Lawless, recruited from Forest Green, in the middle of the park for the second period, leading to speculation as to who would become manager Martin Foyle’s first-choice pairing come the start of the season at Oxford on August 8.

Foyle, though, insisted the four players do not face a fight for just two places in the Minstermen’s first XI despite the presence of wingers Adam Smith and Craig Nelthorpe in the squad.

He also stressed that Lawless, who scored City’s second goal against Leeds, will provide full-back competition or cover for Ben Purkiss. About his midfield options, Foyle said: “I think everybody at the Leeds game will have seen that we have signed some very good footballers in there.

“Even though we have got two wingers, all four of them could line up together across the park if we wanted to and Alex Lawless can also play at right-back.

“We have a lot of options as long as everybody stays fit, which we need as we’ve got a senior squad of 18 at the moment and we are only looking to add another one or two.

“That’s why I get worried by pre-season games and injuries.”

The City chief also expressed his pleasure at seeing right-winger Smith in fine form and back on the scoresheet at the weekend after he only played a peripheral role during the second half of last season due to health concerns over his new-born baby.

Foyle added: “Adam knew he needed a good pre-season. He’s still got lots to learn, but he works very hard and his goal against Leeds was fantastic.

“He tried the same kind of thing a few times last season and he’s certainly got that in his locker. If Adam can chip in with seven goals-plus for us, that would be a great help.”

City’s home match with Chester City has been brought forward to Tuesday, November 10.

The game had originally been scheduled for February 23 but the Minstermen sought a switch to avoid having three home games in a week following the decision to move the Bootham Crescent clash with Luton to February 20.

City’s trip to Gateshead has been brought forward to Tuesday, August 25. The switch has been made to avoid a clash with the Aviva British Athletics Grand Prix on Monday, August 31.

Comments(29)

York Nomad says...
10:08am Wed 15 Jul 09

The red shorts and socks looks crap.

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alimount says...
10:10am Wed 15 Jul 09

York Nomad wrote:
The red shorts and socks looks crap.
I agree.

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Sir Alex says...
10:23am Wed 15 Jul 09

Thought we had 19 in the squad. Is it Russell or Emmerson that don't count as proper sqaud members?

Perhaps he has found a new home for Russell as he is not mentioned in the article?

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iandwightbenton says...
10:30am Wed 15 Jul 09

don't think the kit is official, they normally wear cack stuff during pre-season.

next season can we have a red kit please ?

lots of clubs offer 3/4 shirt options and the FANS vote on the kit, i think this would be a gr8 idea for next season as the FANS are the people that buy the kit and the more FANS that like it, the more FANS will buy it and wear it with pride !!!!!!!!

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York Nomad says...
10:38am Wed 15 Jul 09

iandwightbenton wrote:
don't think the kit is official, they normally wear cack stuff during pre-season.

next season can we have a red kit please ?

lots of clubs offer 3/4 shirt options and the FANS vote on the kit, i think this would be a gr8 idea for next season as the FANS are the people that buy the kit and the more FANS that like it, the more FANS will buy it and wear it with pride !!!!!!!!
The current home shirt is the smartest we've had in years, in my opinion. Red and navy blue stands out in England as being York City.

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Imp says...
10:42am Wed 15 Jul 09

Sir Alex wrote:
Thought we had 19 in the squad. Is it Russell or Emmerson that don't count as proper sqaud members? Perhaps he has found a new home for Russell as he is not mentioned in the article?
It says 18 senior players. As a 1st year pro with no first team experience, Emmerson is not a senior player. I fully expect him to head out on loan at some point.

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Turnstile_Yorkie says...
10:48am Wed 15 Jul 09

I like Ferrell, he played a very intelligent game againts Leeds and when they were getting on top just sat in front of the defence to stem the flow of passes from midfield. This allowed Levi to play his trademark 'thread through the eye of a needle' throughballs which earned him an A* in textiles A-Level. Adam Smiths toes were twinkling in the sunday sun and raised my expectations for next year to say the least!!!! Lawless was FLAWLESS and his quality through ball created our final goal it was superb!

I'd love to get Rendell he'd be the perfect player because what we need is an out and out goalscorer now ignore Gash he doesnt score enough we need 20+ not 13.

Good solid base will see us right next year with Ingham Purkiss Meridith McGurk and Parslow as reliable as anyone in the league. Flying full backs for next year is exciting aswell!

COME ON CITY!!!!

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cauliflowerpower says...
11:56am Wed 15 Jul 09

I believe the kit we had last season will be with us again but with a different sponsor (pryors i believe).

IF things were to change I would either go for wholly red shirts with navy shorts. Or even better back to the old, old, old days of maroon shirts, white shorts and black sock. Smart

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iandwightbenton says...
12:29pm Wed 15 Jul 09

I was talking about 2010-2011 season, we normally have home kit for 2 years

any news on new away kits ?

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y-front says...
12:45pm Wed 15 Jul 09

cauliflowerpower wrote:
I believe the kit we had last season will be with us again but with a different sponsor (pryors i believe). IF things were to change I would either go for wholly red shirts with navy shorts. Or even better back to the old, old, old days of maroon shirts, white shorts and black sock. Smart
Maroon & white? Gets my vote, wouldn't be seen in anything else

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clueless says...
12:58pm Wed 15 Jul 09

Turnstile_Yorkie wrote:
I like Ferrell, he played a very intelligent game againts Leeds and when they were getting on top just sat in front of the defence to stem the flow of passes from midfield. This allowed Levi to play his trademark 'thread through the eye of a needle' throughballs which earned him an A* in textiles A-Level. Adam Smiths toes were twinkling in the sunday sun and raised my expectations for next year to say the least!!!! Lawless was FLAWLESS and his quality through ball created our final goal it was superb! I'd love to get Rendell he'd be the perfect player because what we need is an out and out goalscorer now ignore Gash he doesnt score enough we need 20+ not 13. Good solid base will see us right next year with Ingham Purkiss Meridith McGurk and Parslow as reliable as anyone in the league. Flying full backs for next year is exciting aswell! COME ON CITY!!!!
Couldn't agree more Turnstile_Yorkie.

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KeithKeithKeith says...
3:43pm Wed 15 Jul 09

York Nomad wrote:
iandwightbenton wrote: don't think the kit is official, they normally wear cack stuff during pre-season. next season can we have a red kit please ? lots of clubs offer 3/4 shirt options and the FANS vote on the kit, i think this would be a gr8 idea for next season as the FANS are the people that buy the kit and the more FANS that like it, the more FANS will buy it and wear it with pride !!!!!!!!
The current home shirt is the smartest we've had in years, in my opinion. Red and navy blue stands out in England as being York City.
Unfortunately I was horrified to see Fulham play in an almost identical (away) kit last season (also made by nike). I've never been a fan of the red/blue kit as it always struck me as neither one thing or the other. Like previous postings I would love to see us return to maroon and white - now that was distinctive.
Ps I'm changing my user name-don't want anyone thinking I'm a closet Klan member!

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iandwightbenton says...
3:57pm Wed 15 Jul 09

This is why we should be able to vote on it next season, bit of fun as well as having a serious meaning - more people liek it more people buy it also !!

i sent it to TOOAB as I think some YCFC people read it....

exeter city did something similar:

http://www.footballs
hirtculture.com/2008
03111194/08/09-kits/
exeter-city-08/09-ho
me-shirt-design-vote
.html

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Monkey2 says...
4:20pm Wed 15 Jul 09

The problem is, Ian, the club don't really get that much of a say in it.
As a non-league club we pick the style from a list of styles and the colour from a list of colours, from a Nike catalogue, just like a Sunday league team (who have enough money for Nikey kits)- it's not like they're specially designed for us or anything

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Punk_Ian says...
4:43pm Wed 15 Jul 09

York Nomad wrote:
iandwightbenton wrote:
don't think the kit is official, they normally wear cack stuff during pre-season.

next season can we have a red kit please ?

lots of clubs offer 3/4 shirt options and the FANS vote on the kit, i think this would be a gr8 idea for next season as the FANS are the people that buy the kit and the more FANS that like it, the more FANS will buy it and wear it with pride !!!!!!!!
The current home shirt is the smartest we've had in years, in my opinion. Red and navy blue stands out in England as being York City.
I agree, I love the red and blue kit. 'tis best for years

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SbragiaIsOurHero says...
4:48pm Wed 15 Jul 09

Good point Monkey2, but is there a reason(financial, contractual etc.) for getting our kit made by Nike as opposed to a company such as SHO as used by Exeter? If so, then it makes sense to take an off-the-rack design and stick the crest/sponsor logos on top. If not, then there's nothing stopping us from breaking the mould (just as ECFC have done).

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newshawk says...
5:18pm Wed 15 Jul 09

SbragiaIsOurHero wrote:
Good point Monkey2, but is there a reason(financial, contractual etc.) for getting our kit made by Nike as opposed to a company such as SHO as used by Exeter? If so, then it makes sense to take an off-the-rack design and stick the crest/sponsor logos on top. If not, then there's nothing stopping us from breaking the mould (just as ECFC have done).
Well I'm for reviving the chocolate and cream stripes kit of the thirties - and rattles and rosettes and lace up footballs, and nailed on cork studs and kids who go to matches in their school caps...oh and goalies capable of downing a pie and a pint between opposition attacks.

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YORKCITYFC says...
5:28pm Wed 15 Jul 09

I see Mark Bower may be signing for Chester, would be good defensive cover for us and would add good competition to TY and Parslow.

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nudger says...
5:51pm Wed 15 Jul 09

I think Cambridge sold Rendell to Peterborough for something around 200k but he couldn't make the side even in the third div. He was loaned back to Cambridge last season but clearly has no chance of making it in the first div.where the Posh now reside.There was a lot of bad feeling between the two clubs over the deal.I also think Cambridge dropped him to the bench for the Play-off semi,which raised a lot of eye-brows.Fry will want to recoup a chunk of that 150k or so,which Cambridge presumably cannot afford.Good goal poacher but Gash has more potential and a better all-round game.And the short-term situation cannot be inspirational at Ebbsfleet.
Pity we dont need any more midfielders as the NLP reckon Salisbury are releasing their two(Dutton? and Herring)who were mighty impressive against us.Presumably the Donaldson rumour has now died.The Board would be reluctant to entertain him or his agent again but his pace could be the last piece in the jigsaw and the fee/wages etc would surely be similar to the Gash offer.

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Imp says...
6:17pm Wed 15 Jul 09

Nike have a contract with York to provide kit and merchandising, for a set fee plus a percentage of sales. So there is a very simple commercial reason to stick with them; it makes us more and costs us less.

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Imp says...
6:20pm Wed 15 Jul 09

nudger wrote:
I think Cambridge sold Rendell to Peterborough for something around 200k but he couldn't make the side even in the third div. He was loaned back to Cambridge last season but clearly has no chance of making it in the first div.where the Posh now reside.There was a lot of bad feeling between the two clubs over the deal.I also think Cambridge dropped him to the bench for the Play-off semi,which raised a lot of eye-brows.Fry will want to recoup a chunk of that 150k or so,which Cambridge presumably cannot afford.Good goal poacher but Gash has more potential and a better all-round game.And the short-term situation cannot be inspirational at Ebbsfleet.
Pity we dont need any more midfielders as the NLP reckon Salisbury are releasing their two(Dutton? and Herring)who were mighty impressive against us.Presumably the Donaldson rumour has now died.The Board would be reluctant to entertain him or his agent again but his pace could be the last piece in the jigsaw and the fee/wages etc would surely be similar to the Gash offer.
Blimey, who was your maths teacher?!

Gash:
£50k fee + £50k wage = £100k

Donaldson:
£100k fee +£100k wage = £200k

Crewe paid £150k for Donaldson, they're not going to accept a third of that.

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OLD - HEAD says...
7:13pm Wed 15 Jul 09

The Michael Gash saga is a mystery for neither Ebbsfleet or York City have commented on the supposedly revised £50,000 offer. Has it been considered and rejected by the board at Ebbsfleet?, is that why they have not put it out to a vote by MYFC members?. Certainly nothing has appeared in print. I read that Gash is now back in training after his injury. If City are really serious about wanting him, then why give up now. We could eventually have to pay more for an inferior target. If the deal is stone dead then thats fair enough, but it would be nice to know.

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nudger says...
10:00pm Wed 15 Jul 09

Imp,thanks for this update.I have never seen these figures for Donaldson(or the proposed wages for Gash). Frankly i'm amazed that a club the size of Crewe could pay this in the second or third divs.especially as CD didnt always make the starting line-up or even the bench at times.Anyway,let's hope that a resurgent City replace Crewe at the end of the season.

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HenryYork says...
10:47pm Wed 15 Jul 09

SkySports quoting Barry Fry as having accepted an offer from York for Rendell, but was rejected by the player. Disappointing

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YORKCITYFC says...
8:06am Thu 16 Jul 09

HenryYork wrote:
SkySports quoting Barry Fry as having accepted an offer from York for Rendell, but was rejected by the player. Disappointing
Not suprising though, the big challenge at this level is pursuading players to relocate and we seem to keep targeting southern based players at the moment, doubt we could offer Rendell enough in wages for him to be tempted to move

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josh@defra says...
8:15am Thu 16 Jul 09

Gomez scored for Rochadale last night, looks like were out of the running to sign him. Nothing stone cold though.

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speaks99 says...
8:35am Thu 16 Jul 09

I hate to bring up a name associated with Colin Walkers tenure, however what about Luke Beckett?? Playing well for Gainsboro with a good goal to games ratio. No relocation necessary. Good experience for a youthful York side.

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josh@defra says...
8:38am Thu 16 Jul 09

I suppose he can hold the ball up and score goals as his record suggests. I think we can go for better though. Any suggestions?

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drummer says...
9:27am Thu 16 Jul 09

i find it hard to undarstand ebbsfleet turning yorks offer down for gash. as on their web site they are appealing for the supporters to donate £10,000 or they wont be able to sign the players they need to compete next season.and thats only to pay wages.

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