THEY might prove popular with long-distance supporters but York City manager Martin Foyle has decided that showcasing match highlights on the club’s website could damage his side’s 2009/10 aspirations.

Cambridge United manager Martin Ling revealed to Foyle on Tuesday night that, without the resources to scout opposition teams, he welcomed the opportunity to surf the net for video camera coverage of City.

Ling even claimed that watching the Minstermen’s two goals against Kettering in the previous match, both scored from corners, armed his players with vital set-piece information ahead of the midweek meeting.

Since the demise of Setanta Sports, action from Blue Square Premier matches has become less accessible than in recent years and Foyle feels the highlights broadcast by the club and on video-sharing website YouTube were placing him at a disadvantage among his managerial foes.

As a result, for a trial period, he has asked YorkCity TV cameraman Phil Howden to cease making them available for public and, more importantly, rival clubs’ consumption.

The City boss explained: “The decision has nothing to do with spoiling things for our supporters or anybody else. I just don’t want to do other clubs any favours and I want to give us the best possible chance of getting promoted.

“I have to drive 200 miles quite often to do my scouting. For example, I will be going to Luton v Stevenage on Tuesday to watch them.

“Other managers can see us on YouTube but I can only watch one or two teams that way. Martin Ling told me on Tuesday Cambridge haven’t got a scouting system but that was okay because you can do your homework on us via the internet.

“He said he knew how to stop our corners by watching our goals against Kettering. Gateshead’s manager Ian Bogie also said he couldn’t believe all the goals we score and concede are on our own website.

“Other managers look at how Richard Brodie and Michael Gash score, how we concede and whether we have any weaknesses. If I had access to everybody’s information then it would be a level playing-field but I think there’s only Hayes and Yeading who provide the same service so I want to take the highlights off the internet for a trial period.”

Ironically, the highlights may have, however, inadvertently provided City with a useful tactical tool at Bootham Crescent.

Foyle believes viewing visiting teams had deduced that the Minstermen traditionally prefer kicking towards the David Longhurst Stand supporters in the second half.

Having been forced to start games in that direction, however, during a handful of home fixtures, skipper Daniel Parslow is now choosing that end first after high-tempo beginnings to those matches.

Foyle said: “I leave that kind of stuff to the players. They do what they feel is right and it’s the captain’s decision.

“I think the other clubs came here with the idea we like to kick towards our own supporters in the second half. Crawley, Histon and Kettering all won the toss and decided to kick the other way first.

“It’s quite interesting we have started all the games well but it’s not been planned by me. I’m not into superstitious, psychological nonsense and it shouldn’t matter.

“It wouldn’t have bothered me which way I was kicking here. It’s not like the old Manor Ground at Oxford where there was a massive slope.”

Foyle is, however, behind another change at Bootham Crescent this season – a well-watered pitch.

Sprinklers are being switched on before games, at half-time and, on one occasion, during a match, as he strives for a surface conducive to his new team’s playing style.

“We want to play quick football,” he explained. “It was probably a bit greasy on Tuesday night but, for the Kettering game, it was bone hard and we thought that would have suited them. We want a pitch that we can pass on.”

Jan’s the man as great Dane aids youth bid

Former Liverpool and Denmark legend Jan Molby has added his considerable weight to the bid to save York City’s youth team.

Molby has agreed to be the guest speaker at a sportsman’s dinner on February 4 as parents of City’s junior team look to raise the £19,000 needed to meet this season’s shortfall in funding for the under-18 side.

A total of £15,000 has already been attracted and Molby’s visit to Manor School should provide another cash boost with tickets costing £35.

Jed Stone will be the night’s comedian and anybody interested in tickets should phone Sarah Andrew on 07904 646670 or Phil Richardson on 07891 307369.

Half-price junior tickets for young local footballers will also be available for the Minstermen’s home match against current Blue Square Premier leaders Oxford two weeks today with all proceeds again going to the youth team fund.

Anybody interested should phone Tanya on 07807 912959 and give details of the number of junior tickets required, as well as the name of the junior club that person is associated with.

Ferrell’s Andy ascent to peak

ANDY Ferrell has taken over the leadership of the Press Player of the Year contest.

The former Kidderminster midfielder has usurped Ben Purkiss at the top after collecting two points as our second-highest rated player during Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw with Cambridge United.

Two-goal hero Michael Gash picked up a maximum three points towards the standings as our man-of-the-match while Djoumin Sangare received the remaining point as our third top performer.

The two Player of the Month bonus points on offer against Cambridge for the player who received most man-of-the-match votes from visitors to our website went to Gash, who trails leader Sangare by three points going into this afternoon’s home match with Kidderminster.

To have a chance of presenting September’s Player of the Month with a framed photograph at a City home game, nominate your man-of-the-match for any of the club’s forthcoming fixtures by reading our internet match reports at thepress.co.uk The Press Player of the Year standings: Ferrell 9 points, Purkiss 8, Sangare 8, Brodie 6, Ingham 6, Gash 5, Mackin 5, McGurk 4, Parslow 4, Rankine 4, Lawless 3, Nelthorpe 2, Smith 2.

The Press September Player of the Month standings: Sangare 8, Gash 5, Lawless 5, Purkiss 5, Ferrell 4, Brodie 3, Parslow 2.

Goals: Brodie 7, Gash 4, Smith 2, Rankine 1, Pacquette 1.

Assists: Brodie 3, Lawless 2, Meredith 2, Smith 2, Ferrell 1, Nelthorpe 1, Parslow 1, Purkiss 1, Sangare 1.

Bad boys: Ferrell 4 yellow cards; Brodie 3 yellow cards; Pacquette 1 red card; Barrett, Gash, Ingham, Lawless, Mackin, McGurk, Nelthorpe, Sangare and Smith all 1 yellow.

Minstermen’s boost

City’s centre of excellence for schoolboy footballers have enjoyed a financial fillip after York Minstermen handed over a cheque for £2,820.

A total of £2,600 was raised from the Spring Raffle, organised by Ian Tyssen, while £220 was donated from the proceeds of his summer’s Treasure Hunt, compiled by York Minstermen secretary Ruth Laird.

Duo for Pocklington

Summer signings Michael Gash and Neil Barrett will be special guests of Pocklington Minstermen on Wednesday.

The event will be held at Pocklington Town Football Club with doors open from 7.30pm for an 8pm start.