Sven signs up for City (From York Press)

Sven signs up for City

12:07pm Saturday 6th February 2010 in

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FORMER England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has joined ex-Liverpool legend Jan Molby in the campaign to save York City’s under-18 side.

Molby was an entertaining guest speaker during Thursday night’s youth team dinner at Manor School, while current Notts County director of football Eriksson learned of the players’ parents fundraising efforts when Steve Torpey’s teenagers took on the Magpies’ juniors last weekend.

The accommodating Swede was more than happy to be pictured with a City scarf that he also signed to be used as an auction item.

Bids are now being accepted via a link on the www.yorkcityyouthteam.co.uk website.

The auction will close on Wednesday night with £26 the current highest bid.

On an evening when an estimated £3,500 to £4,000 was raised towards the £38,000 two-year shortfall for youth team funding, Sven’s fellow Scandinavian Molby was impressed by the commitment shown by the apprentices’ families.

He said: “It’s vital to a club like York City to have a vibrant youth team. It’s the only way forward for clubs operating at their level.”

Pryers Solicitors were generous donators, pledging £50 each time their company was mentioned by organisers and guests to a maximum of £500.

The parents of the players have thanked everybody who supported and attended the dinner.

Sand pit rescues Crescent surface

IT was likened to Barry Island beach by sarcastic members of the Newport County media pack.

York City manager Martin Foyle also apologised to the Welsh visitors for the state of the sandy Bootham Crescent pitch following last month’s FA Trophy replay victory.

But groundsman Mark Hurst, whilst admitting recent treatment might have been excessive, has pointed out that the playing surface will reap the benefits of his remedial work during the crucial, final three months of the season.

It will, he explains, ensure a level base for the Minstermen to play football on.

After recent criticism, Hurst told the Diary: “Because we don’t have frost sheets, taking the snow off the pitch for the clearance operations before the Mansfield and Hayes and Yeading caused a lot of damage to the top surface.

“It left a kind of corrugated iron effect – a very uneven surface which is dangerous and it is always stressed to me that we need a pitch to try to play football on.

“The surface cut up to shreds against Hayes and it became a bit of a mud bath.

“We’ve tried to maintain a level surface but it’s come in for some criticism because it’s apparently become too heavy.

“Maybe we put down too much sand down in certain areas but it’s a learning curve.

The surface isn’t as muddy now though and we’ve kept what little grass we had left.

“Sometimes you have to take one step backwards to take two forward. The pitch has been struggling for two months because we have had a hell of a lot of home games and it hasn’t had time to recover.

“It was a shame we had the replay against Newport because that came too soon but the sand is bedding down now.”

YORK City manager Martin Foyle has offered one fan the rare opportunity to join him on the bench for a first-team match.

The prize of a unique matchday experience with the Minstermen is now open to the highest bidder from visitors to the www.yorkcityyouthteam.co.uk website.

All proceeds will go towards the youth team fund and the day will involve meeting up with the management team and players at 1.30pm before assisting with the pre-match warm-up.

The winner would then take their place in the dugout for the match and experience half-time and full-time in the dressing room.

Bids will be accepted until Monday at 7pm with £225 the current highest offer. The prize is only open to people aged 16 and over.

Duo’s delight

York Minstermen will host an evening with Michael Gash and Neil Barrett on Thursday, February 25 at Bootham Crescent Social Club.

The pair will be available to answer questions from 8pm with doors opening an hour earlier and admission free.