YORK City boss Gary Mills has declared his team’s pre-season preparations as one of the best in his 21 years as a manager.

Mills, who has had spells in charge of Grantham, King’s Lynn, Tamworth, Notts County, Alfreton, Gateshead and Wrexham, has overseen friendly triumphs over part-time trio Farsley Celtic (4-1), Grantham (3-1) and Oakham United (9-0).

City also shared the spoils with last term’s League One play-off semi-finalists Scunthorpe (2-2), prior to defeats against Notts County (2-1) and a strong side from Blackburn Rovers (8-0).

Aside from results, the City chief has been delighted not to have picked up any fresh injuries, other than those that sidelined long-term casualties Clovis Kamdjo, Matt Fry and Aidan Connolly for the full pre-season period.

Centre-back Hamza Bencherif has shrugged off the knock that saw him withdrawn during last weekend’s final warm-up contest against Notts County, while Connolly is also close to making a full recovery following calf surgery.

Ahead of Saturday’s National League North curtain-raiser against Telford at Bootham Crescent, Mills said: “Everybody is very excited, because we’ve had enough of pre-season and the adrenalin is pumping, as it’s all about three points now.

“It’s been excellent though and one of my best, because it feels like everything has come together really well. Every player who started the pre-season has been training this week, so we’ve had no new injuries.

“Aidan Connolly will also be back with us in full training within a few days, so that’s another positive.”

City are expected to be welcomed back to action by a big home crowd despite the ignominy of back-to-back relegations, with the friendly games against Blackburn and Notts County both attracting four-figured gates and season-ticket sales up on the previous summer.

On that loyalty, Mills added: “The fans have been unbelievable with the number of season tickets that have been sold and their enthusiasm in pre-season in terms of the crowds we’ve been getting. It’s the reaction you like to see, even if it maybe isn’t the reaction you expected to see, because it’s been a difficult couple of years.

“But your football club is in your blood and, during such times, you see how much the club means to its supporters.”

Despite an overall satisfaction with his squad’s progress over the last month, the City manager will also be looking for certain improvements on last weekend’s pre-season finale.

“We conceded two goals against Notts County because we didn’t do the basics right and that’s why you have a pre-season,” he explained. “I’d rather concede those goals in pre-season than against Telford.”

Mills’ hunger to impress from the dugout also remains high.

“At 55, I still have expectations and I want to get back into the Football League as a manager,” he added.

City Supporters' Trust board member Sarah Stelling, meanwhile, has helped organise a bucket collection before Saturday's game in the memory of courageous six-year-old Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery.

Bradley touched the hearts of the nation as he battled neuroblastoma after being diagnosed with the rare form of cancer at 18 months old, becoming best friends with England striker Jermain Defoe and winning Match of the Day's Goal of the Month competition in December.

He sadly lost his fight last month but, outlining the reasons for honouring his life at Bootham Crescent, Stelling said: "Bradley was a brave, young man who really united the world, not just the world of football. 

"He was a true inspiration to all and really showed football truly has no colours." 

A banner for Bradley, produced by Ceejays, will also be unfurled on the pitch by City's players, along with the ball-boys and ball-girls, before the National League North campaign kicks off.