YOU can’t beat a bit of FA Cup romance and Curzon Ashton press officer Aaron Flanagan loved it when the Manchester part-timers were paired against his second club York City in the fourth qualifying round draw.

Flanagan, 24, has been a regular visitor to Bootham Crescent in recent years after a friend from home became a student in the city and was quickly absorbed into the Minstermen faithful.

A group of City supporters now watch both clubs every season and Flanagan, who is the son of Curzon’s manager John, never thought the day would come when the two teams met each other in a competitive contest.

Flanagan, who works for the Daily Mirror’s sports desk having previously been employed by the Manchester Evening News, watched several City fixtures as Nigel Worthington’s 2013/14 play-off qualifiers almost won promotion to League One at a time, just over two years ago, when Curzon were winning the Evo-Stik Northern League’s first division north title five tiers below.

Taking up the story, Flanagan said: “I’ve watched York every now and again for a few years now. I followed them when they got to the League Two play-offs and it’s ridiculous really that the two clubs are now just one division apart.

“We got in touch with the club during pre-season to see if they would play us in a friendly. Nobody got back to us, but now we’re playing them in a competitive fixture, which is great.

“I first started following York because one of my best mates went to university there and started going to games. When I went to visit him, I went with him and have got to know quite a few of the lads now.

“We all get on really well. There was a supporters’ game against Altrincham recently and, because we don’t have many fans at Curzon, we didn’t have enough players, but a few York fans played for our team and one of them scored both of our goals.

“Last season, we also planned all year to do a big Easter weekend and it started with York against Crawley and then I went to Harrogate v Curzon with six or seven York fans. We supported each others’ games.

“We were having a drink in the social club after the Crawley game and met quite a few other York fans who came to support Curzon at Harrogate as well. Since then, we’ve had a York fan at every Curzon game and I go to Bootham Crescent regularly.

“I was also at Guiseley the other week and had planned to go there before the Cup draw was made. It was quite an entertaining game for me, but not for the friends I was with!”

Elsewhere, Kyle Letheren has moved up to second in The Press Player of the Year standings.

The City keeper has leapfrogged above Richard Brodie in the standings and is now just a point behind leader Aidan Connolly following a second consecutive Press man-of-the-match display during last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Braintree.

That accolade earned him three points towards the contest while Simon Heslop (two) and Lanre Oyebanjo (one) were also recognised for their efforts as our second and third-highest rated performers respectively in Essex.

Letheren heads The Press Player of the Month competition too by a sizeable six points.

He extended his advantage at the top after receiving the two bonus points available to the player who won the most votes in our online, man-of-the-match poll.

The Press Player of the Year standings: Connolly 14, Letheren 13, Brodie 12, Heslop 11, Whittle 9, Higgins 7, Kamdjo 6, Felix 5, Fry 3, Dixon 2, Galbraith 2, Rooney 2, Wright 2, Oyebanjo 1, Walton 1.

The October Press Player of the Month standings: Letheren 10, Heslop 4, Kamdjo 3, Fry 2, Galbraith 2, Brodie 1, Felix 1, Oyebanjo 1.

Goals: Brodie 5, Connolly 3, Heslop 2, Fenwick 1, Fry 1, Kamdjo 1, Klukowski 1, Own Goal 1, Wright 1.

Assists: Connolly 6, Felix 2, Wright 2, Fry 1, Galbraith 1, Heslop 1, Klukowski 1, Rooney 1, Whittle 1.

Bad boys: Rooney seven yellow cards; Brodie six yellow; Higgins, Wright both three yellow; Fry two yellow; Heslop one red; Clappison, Connolly, Dixon, Fenwick, Johnson, Kamdjo, Klukowski, Letheren, Nti, Thompson, Whittle all one yellow.