YORK City might not have had the best of seasons but Knights boss Gary Thornton is hoping the city’s rugby league followers can at least take a leaf out of their football counterparts’ book.

Thornton has often outlined his desire to make Huntington Stadium a fortress and, while that goal was being realised earlier in the season, two indifferent performances in the last two outings there have brought some home truths to what had been a home sweet home.

That needs to change quickly, starting tomorrow against Doncaster, and Thornton hopes supporters can play their part – much like the City fans did in the Minstermen’s hour of need, when the team were threatened with relegation back to non-League football.

“York City got a fantastic response when they really needed the fans behind them,” said Thornton, whose son has been on the youth books at Bury, one of City’s opponents in League Two next season.

“They were struggling for points and 6,000 people turned out. That’s fantastic support and obviously they got the results.

“We’re not in that situation just yet where it’s do or die but we need to pick up points very quickly and we need to do it at home for definite. I would love to see us get a similar response because these are very important league games for us.”

The club are doing their bit to try to get more people through the gates, announcing this week that all under-16s can get into games for free for the rest of the season, when accompanied by an adult.

They have also offered free admission tomorrow to anyone taking part in the Race For Life on Knavesmire in the morning – runners need only to bring their race badge number as proof.

Bigger crowds have long been needed anyway, with attendances continuing to fall since the heyday of the mid-2000s, even though the club are now playing at a higher standard.

Thornton again outlined York’s Catch-22 – some fans won’t go unless they think the team will win, but without fans there is less money from gate receipts and therefore less chance of affording the top team they crave. He insists, though, that crowds and atmospheres really can have a positive effect on the pitch.

“There’s nothing better as a player or a coach than to play in front of decent crowds making noise,” he said.

“It adds to the atmosphere and the enthusiasm when you play in front of big home crowds. That environment helps to create the ‘fortress’ we’re trying to build.

“We’d like the crowds to be bigger than they have been but there are reasons behind it. It’s obviously a case of the more the merrier and we’re hoping we can attract a good following tomorrow.

“The crowd wasn’t great for the previous game against Doncaster in the Northern Rail Cup (two weeks ago), but this one is a lot more important.

“The league is our priority – that’s always been the case. We have to make sure we stay in this division and finish as high as we can, and the crowd can play their part.”

He added: “When we’ve been playing well it’s been tremendous. I’ve been impressed by them. When there’s been little for them to cheer, however, it’s a tough ask. I know it’s a two-way thing and we have to do our bit on the pitch to get them through the door and get them behind us.

“In the Halifax game and the Featherstone game, they were tremendous in doing their bit. We can all do a bit more – the players, coaches and fans – all together to make York successful.”

 

THE decision to let under-16s in for free for the rest of the Knights’ home campaign (when accompanied by an adult) was taken this week.

A club statement said: “The decision was made to help make it easier for families in York to watch top sporting entertainment throughout the summer during these tough economical times.

“The Knights know how important fans of the future are to the club, and with many enjoying themselves at the Knights Foundation holiday camp this half-term, it is hoped they and many more come and join us to have fun with their families on a match day too.”

 

THE idea to let Race For Life runners in for free tomorrow came from community development chief Jack Stearman.

That mass participation event, in which more than 3,000 women will run five or ten kilometres, is on Knavesmire tomorrow morning.

Stearman said: “Rugby league is a family game with an ever-increasing number of female followers.

“We see this as a good way to maybe get some new supporters through the door as well as reward the runners for their efforts.”

 

TALKING of Jack Stearman, it seems the Knights’ injury curse has also now affected him, even though he is currently without a rugby league team.

As reported by The Press, the 25- year-old former Knights front-rower has left Gateshead and is currently getting his sporting fix playing cricket for Ovington seconds in the HPH York Vale League.

He made 65 (retired) against a team from Leicester in a friendly last Sunday and took two catches at wicketkeeper (insert your own jokes about dropping the ball here), but he then took a corker on a foot and, with a bruise the size of a balloon, has spent the week limping around.