BIG wigs in amateur rugby league have praised York City Knights' decision to make all home games this year free for junior fans.

Spen Allison, the York-based president of the British Amateur Rugby League Association, is confident the idea will go down well with the local community clubs and ultimately pay off for the League One outfit and the sport as a whole in the area.

The initiative starts this Sunday when the Knights host Championship big guns London Broncos (3pm) in their first friendly of pre-season, and the first match at Bootham Crescent since the new regime took over the club.

Admission this weekend is otherwise £10 for adults or £8 concessions.

"I think it's fantastic," said Allison of free admission for under-16s. "I've met with Jon Flatman (new owner) and said it would get 100 per cent support from myself.

"We had a very productive meeting, along with York & District chairman John Harrison, and some of the stuff Jon was suggesting was very positive which will assist the amateur game. Long may that continue."

He added: "One of the things we discussed was getting more people to Knights games making it much better for the players.

"If a youngster turns around and says, 'I want to go to a match for free', they'll go and their mums and dads will go. That's part of the thinking, as is getting youngsters into rugby league. It's about sowing seeds for the future.

"Whether it works we'll have to wait and see but if you don't try it, you're not going to know. I think it's a very positive initiative and that it will bear fruit in the long term."