YORK City are calling for volunteers to help ensure the club’s Boxing Day home clash with Mansfield Town goes ahead.

The Minstermen estimate that an army of 60 to 70 supporters will be needed to clear a potentially snow-covered pitch, with work starting from 8am in readiness for kick off seven hours later.

Depending on conditions, two inspections are due to be made on the surface at 9am and noon with club secretary Nick Bassett believing there is a “realistic chance” that the game will be played.

He said: “Having reviewed the situation with the match referee and taken the forecast into account, we have agreed to leave the covering of snow on the pitch until Saturday morning. The referee will be at the ground at 9am to take an early look at the pitch and stadium and, providing that the pitch appears playable underneath the snow and the stadium surrounds are safe, then we will clear the pitch in readiness for a final decision around lunchtime.

“However, we will need the help of our supporters in fairly large numbers. We are appealing to supporters to arrive at the ground as early as they can from 8am onwards to assist the groundstaff in clearing the pitch and terracing.

“We recommend warm clothing, hot flasks of tea, shovels and snow pushers and would estimate we need at least 60 to 70 fans to complete the task with time to spare. It would be a great way to burn off all the excesses of Christmas Day.”