IF York City Knights do not win promotion this season, there will be a silver lining - the weekend trips away.

Last week's jolly down in London was another fun-filled affair by all accounts and the Knights fans have another one coming up in August at much-loved seaside resort Blackpool.

Promotion is undoubtedly what everyone wants - but it is unlikely that the Supporters Club will arrange weekend jaunts to the likes of Doncaster, Rochdale or Hull in National League One.

Still, as NL2 will feature more clubs in further-flung places - especially if Bridgend-based new club Celtic Crusaders are as expected granted a place in the league next year - promotion will mean a big reduction in travelling costs.

There was plenty of fun and games last week.

Firstly, the hotel the fans on the Supporters Club trip stayed in was out of hot water because of an earlier gas mains problem.

The bigger concern for some, however, was that the bar was nearly out of beer.

An insider added: "There were a few who needed a cold shower in the morning due to hangovers, so having no hot water wasn't a problem."

On the Saturday night, some of the fans went to the dogs - and others went to the dog racing (b-boom!) - and then, of course, there was the Little Britain carry-on before the match, in which the vocal York fans added to the mirth.

For those who weren't there (and haven't seen snippets in national newspapers), the Little Britain sketch involved much-loved characters Lou and Andy, with the latter sneaking out of his wheelchair to score a try for fictional team Herby Town. He then celebrated by running towards the fans, who naturally had to play their part in the sketch.

Twas humorous when a take of the rugby action went wrong and the Knights fans launched into a chorus of "Super League, you're having a laugh".

Then later on when the real match action started, they noticed comedy duo David Walliams (Lou) and Matt Lucas (Andy) near the exits, and chanted, "We can see you sneaking out."

By the way, did anyone else notice that Herby Town's kit looked rather similar to the old York Wasps strip?

WHAT a great sight it was down in London to see all the rugby league action going on.

The Skolars staged a bit of a junior rugby festival before the main match, with games taking place on pitches over the road from the main stand, on a pitch adjacent to the ground and on the main pitch in the stadium.

It all helped the young club get a record crowd, more than doubling their average and just topping the four-figure mark, which beat the previous best of 900-plus set at a friendly against Super League neighbours London Broncos.

Of course, the mighty Knights army had a big part to play in that, but take nothing away from the Skolars' development work and their efforts, with limited resources, to promote the game there.

All power to them - and perhaps some of the traditional clubs could take note.

AND weren't those cheerleaders good? Sorry, Boogie Knights, but you've got a lot to live up to now. The Skolars' lot were like something out of the film 'Bring It On' (has anyone else seen that?)

THE Knights team had a little hiccup on the way down to London on the Saturday when an accident on the M1 kept them stuck in traffic for an hour or so. Never mind.

SUBSTITUTE props David Bates and Yusuf Sozi took top honours in the latest Evening Press/ Collier Plant Hire Player of the Year round.

Bates was man of the match in the win at London Skolars so picks up three points, while Sozi, who also had a good impact, collected two. The remaining point went to consistent loose-forward Lee Paterson.

Latest standings: Sullivan 20pts, Blaymire 10, Smith 9, Fox 9, Kirke 7, Potter 5, Rhodes 5, Jackson 5, Law 5, Buckenham 5, Levy 4, Elston 4, Paterson 4, Bates 3, Sozi 3, Ross 3, Ramsden 2, Liddell 2, Cain 2, Friend 2, McDowell 2, Watson 2, Callaghan 1.

THE Knights' own much-acclaimed development programme will again host Summer Roadshows this year.

Development coaches and star players will be leading the sessions, which are open for youngsters of all abilities aged eight to 13 years.

The sessions will be held on consecutive Wednesdays from August 10 to August 31, then one on Friday, September 2, all from 10am to 1pm. Each session costs £5 per child.

They are at New Earswick All Blacks ARLC (August 10), York Acorn ARLC (August 17); Brayton Community Centre, Selby (August 24), Heworth ARLC (August 31) and Pindar School, Scar-borough (September 2).

To reserve a place and order a consent form, email claire@ ycknights.co.uk or leanne@ycknights.co.uk or telephone the club on tel 01904 758234.

Knights' fte is in fans' hands

THE Knights might be having another week off due to this blasted fixture list, but don't forget the Supporters Club Gala Day tomorrow.

The event, sponsored by the GMB, will be held at the Huntington Sports and Social Club and loads of attractions are planned.

The day starts at noon and is likely to continue well into the evening.

Attractions include a car boot sale, tug of war (if you want to enter a team, call Tony on 01904 769861), children's rides, various games, tombola stall (if you can donate a prize, call Tony), pub games, barbecue and disco.

All dosh raised will go to the Knights' Scholarship scheme.

FOR those that don't know, the kick-off time for next Sunday's game at Workington has been brought forward to 2pm.

This is so that fans don't miss the eagerly-awaited televised Challenge Cup tie between St Helens and Wigan and Ian Millward, which kicks off at 4pm-ish and will be shown in the bar at Derwent Park after the big NL2 game.

KNIGHTS half-back Paul Thorman lost one of his Gateshead club records last week when the Thunder did York a huge favour by beating Swinton.

Thorman had held the Tynesiders' goals and points in a match records with nine and 22 respectively, set in Thunder's 50-20 defeat of London Skolars in 2003, which was a club record score.

But scrum-half Chris Birch equalled that goals record and beat the points record when he kicked nine goals, including one drop goal, and scored two tries for a total of 25 points in the 57-32 win at Swinton, a new highest score for the club.

BIT of nightmarish goings-on at troubled Blackpool Panthers this week, as they reportedly sacked star player Glen Godbee for turning up late for the match at Hunslet.

It was reported that full-back Godbee didn't travel on the team bus and instead made his own way to South Leeds Stadium but got there ten minutes after kick-off having got lost for two hours.

The Aussie had scored 14 tries in ten games for the National League Two bottom club.

GOOD luck to Oldham who have so far won their battle against liquidation.

The NL1 club have been given a reprieve after coming close to being wound up by the Inland Revenue.

The Roughyeds owe £180,000 in taxes and had had a repayment plan rejected by the Revenue this week before a revised proposal was accepted.

The Knights did their bit to help them earlier in the season. Although they denied the Roughyeds a possible pay-day by knocking them out of the Challenge Cup - a thrilling tie which helped kick-start York's season - fans and board members dipped into their pockets to offer a substantial donation.

Updated: 11:02 Saturday, June 18, 2005