20 YEARS AGO: WE'VE all wished that matches had either kicked off earlier or later so that we could take in another fixture, and that was the dilemma facing Heworth and New Earswick All Blacks when they met in the York & District Amateur Rugby League Cup final, which was at New Earswick.

Both clubs wanted a 1pm kick-off so that they could watch the cross-code challenge match afterwards on television between Bath and Wigan Warriors.

However, the league were adamant that the kick-off could not be changed at such short notice. The All Blacks ended up winning 12-8, courtesy of a last-minute try from skipper Simon Malarkey, who also happened to be club chairman.

Full back Geoff Loftus also scored a try for the All Blacks, with Heworth's tries coming from prop Paul Egan and centre Andy Mercer.

York Rugby League centre Jason Laurence, meanwhile, joined Castleford Tigers on a month's loan.

Bottom-of-the-table Chorley were later despatched 32-4 by York, thanks to tries by winger Chris Hopcutt (3), centre Damian Ball, loose forward Dave Smith, full back Mick Johnson and his replacement Paul Brown.

Meanwhile, York City skipper Steve Tutill had a superb testimonial dinner at the York & Ainsty Suite at York Racecourse.

It attracted 320 guests, speakers were former Manchester City and England winger Mike Summerbee and comedian Kevin Connelly, and the Master of Ceremonies was former referee Neil Midgley.

50 YEARS AGO

RETAINED lists were big news about this time of year, and York City made headlines by only keeping nine full-time players and two part-timers.

Among the ten given free transfers were Norman Wilkinson and Tommy Forgan, the last two links from the team that reached the 1955 FA Cup semi-finals.

Others on the to-go list were Ken Boyes, Tom Heron, Alan Woods, George Hamstead, Ken Morton, John Pearson, Bob Cunliffe and Keith Hague.

The Minstermen started their recruitment in the same week by signing Shrewsbury Town keeper Mike Walker.

Pressure of work caused Herbert Temple to resign as secretary of Scarborough Football Club after 18 years.

Meanwhile, 30-year-old York cyclist Vin Denson had become the first Briton to win a stage of the Tour of Italy.

The Ford-France rider, whose leader was Jacques Anquetil, the first man to win the Tour de France five times, completed the 130 miles from Naples to Campabasso in 6hr 0min 40sec.

Acomb A, kings of the York & District Tennis League, lost their first match since July 4, 1962 (a 4-2 defeat at Tang Hall) when they went down 4-2 to York A.

The British Lions won the first Test against Australia in Sydney 11-8, thanks to a try by Irish hooker Ken Kennedy, while St Helens beat Halifax 35-12 in the Rugby League Championship final at Swinton to complete a league and cup double.

80 YEARS AGO

GERMAN airship Hindenburg, which was destroyed by fire just under a year later in New Jersey, was making the news after flying low over Keighley on its way from America to Germany.

A parcel was thrown overboard into the town centre, where it was picked up by two boy scouts and was found to contain a bouquet of carnations, a small silver crucifix, two photographs and a number of stamps.

The letter, on official notepaper dated May 22, 1936, read: "To the finder of this letter, please deposit these flowers and cross on the grave of my dear brother, Lt. Franz Shulte, a POW in Skipton Cemetery. Many thanks for your kindness. John P Shulte, the first flying priest, Aachen."

Some reckon, however, that the airship was on a spying mission to observe the industrial heartlands of Northern England.

I knew that newspapers gave the names of attendees at funerals in days gone by, but didn't realise that they gave the names of all those who attended York's Spring Race Meeting on Knavesmire.

It was a good meeting for Middleham trainer Matt Peacock, who had three winners – Blue Doctor, King Frost and Royal Romance – while Over Coat won the Voltigeur Handicap.

Yorkshire lost to Worcestershire for the first time since 1909 after a second-innings collapse at Stourbridge.

The Tykes needed 55 with eight wickets left but were caught on a turning and popping wicket, Len Hutton bagging a pair.

Worcestershire had earlier added 146 in 90 minutes in their first innings, including 11 sixes and eight fours.

Meanwhile, York City launched their 50,000 Shilling Fund to try and give the club a better standard of football.