Birthday boy Chris Thorman revels in ‘fantastic’ win

The stand-off turned 30 yesterday and played a starring second-half role as the Knights dominated the Roughyeds to win promotion to the Championship.

“I’d actually forgotten about that,” he said. “More importantly, it was a play-off final and even more importantly it was my wife’s birthday as well. I have to get it in order of priorities.

“It was a fantastic day for York City Knights. It has been a long road, I have to say. It has been a bit of a rollercoaster, which is somewhat of a cliché, but it really is true.

“We have had a little bit of adversity and losing our head coach half way through the season. I have to mention James Ratcliffe.

“They have done us proud and it is not just the players. This is for everyone – the fans, the backroom staff, the people that work in the office day to day.

“You don’t realise what goes into the day to day functioning of the club. It is testament to everybody’s effort.”

Despite York having lost 41-32 at Oldham in the qualifying semi-final a fortnight ago, Thorman said he was not surprised by his side’s comprehensive display in the final. “I felt like we have had the beating of them the last couple of times we have played,” he added.

“They are a good side, don’t get me wrong, but I just felt that was brewing. I was right, it happened and panned out that way.

“I felt if we put a little bit more pressure on their kicking game, and we reacted a little bit more, we could make our own luck and that’s certainly what we did.”

Looking back at his first season as a player-coach, Thorman said: “I feel it has been pretty good. It was a bit of a shock to the system when I first rocked up in November. But I always say that if they apply themselves, and they listen to me, then I am a happy man.

“They have improved week on week and over the last two months of the season I think we have been phenomenal.

“Performance-wise, we have been really good and I think we have really deserved this.”