Midfielder Oliver Banks joins York City on trial (From York Press)

Midfielder Oliver Banks joins York City on trial

12:00pm Saturday 14th July 2012 in Sport

FORMER Rotherham United midfielder Oliver Banks has been handed a trial by York City manager Gary Mills.

Banks played in the second half of City’s 8-0 victory at Huntington Rovers last night having been released by the Millers at the end of last season.

The Rotherham-born, 19-year-old scored in his only appearance for his home-town club in May 2011 but was loaned to Stalybridge Celtic last season.

Mills is a former team-mate of Banks’ father Ian and, after last night’s opening pre-season friendly in which Reece Kelly (2), Paddy McLaughlin, Michael Coulson, John McReady, a Dave Hartas own goal, Jamie Reed and Liam Henderson were all on the scoresheet, the City boss said: “I know Ollie’s dad Ian from playing with him at Leicester and we’ve got him in to have a look at him.

“He’s certainly a footballer so we will see how it goes and whether it goes any further.”

Mills has also added former Southampton centre-back Richard Dryden to his backroom staff working alongside Steve Torpey with the youth team.

Along with Mills, Torpey and new first-team coach Des Lyttle, Dryden enjoyed a cameo substitute outing last night and the City chief added: “Richard is somebody I’ve known for a lot of years and somebody who I can trust and knows how I work.”

The friendly saw York Minster Engineering League side Huntington hold City at bay for the first 20 minutes and Mills admitted the game was a worthy exercise – most importantly to raise money in memory of former Rovers goalkeeper Steve Myers, who died last year at the age of 29 from a brain tumour.

Mills said: “The first half was a good workout for us and, while the second half was a bit easier, we came here for the right reasons – to get a good turnout for a worthy cause. It also gave us the chance to get among our supporters and let them see some of our new signings.

“We are still getting our fitness and sharpness but it was nice to see two of the new lads on the scoresheet.”

A brace for second-year apprentice Kelly, who made his senior debut against Forest Green last season, also caught the eye.

Kelly was the only youth-team player involved and Mills said: “He’s a good little talent who has a good future if he continues to listen and learn.

“We are bringing him on in the right way. He had a taste with the first team in the last league game last season and it’s all about him growing up now.”