SITUATED within 10 miles of Hull, the village of North Ferriby is home to under 4,000 people.

However, in the last two years, the football club has won the FA Trophy as well as promotion to the National League courtesy of a play-off final victory against AFC Fylde.

The club has strong links with Premier League neighbours Hull City club as co-owner Eman Forster is the daughter of Hull City chairman Assem Allam.

But the club was put up-for-sale earlier this year when husband Steve, who owns ground sponsors EON Visual Media, suffered a brain injury.

The pair have been running the club since late 2013 and have guided it to the highest position in its 82-year history.

Yet the heart of Ferriby's promotion winning set-up was ripped out during the summer.

Manager Billy Heath, who had won two promotions in five years, felt the time was right for a new challenge and moved to FC Halifax Town along with his assistant Mark Carroll.

The pair also took a number of players to the Shay including team captain Liam King and leading striker Tom Denton. Player of the year Ashley Palmer, meanhwhile, moved to National League strugglers Guiseley.

Heath was replaced by former Gainsborough Trinity manager Steve Housham who, inevitably, endured a difficult start to his reign.

Only last month, the Villagers looked destined for an immediate return to National League North and were bottom of the table after suffering 12 defeats in 13 games.

But the last seven games have been a different story with Ferriby taking 11 points from a possible 21 to move three points above York City and three points adrift of safety.

There are signs that the club is now finding its feet at the higher level and they will be seeking a third consecutive victory against York following wins against Gateshead and Maidstone United.

Striker Reece Thompson is no stranger to York supporters after swapping Bootham Crescent for Grange Lane just four months ago.

Former York pair Taron Hare and Simon Russell are also in the Ferriby team.

Defender Hare was released last summer while midfielder Russell made 24 appearances during his two year stay at which ended in 2010.

Housham has used his links with former club Scunthorpe United to bring striker Kyle Wootton and midfielder Levi Sutton on loan from Glanford Park

Yet apart from Thompson, only one other player has scored more than one goal for Ferriby this season; former Rotherham United midfielder Stephen Brogan.

Unlike York, who benefit from parachute payments in the region of £400,000 after entering the National League, Ferriby picked up only £1,600 for winning the play-off final. They have the smallest budget in the division.

Thompson said: "There is a mini-league of clubs down at the bottom of the table and we are looking to take as many points off those clubs around us as possible.

"We are going for three points at home but we will be happy for a point at York," he added. "Even if we lose both games, it is not as if our season is over."