McEwan pulls in two signings

McEwan has been frustrated by conditions at the Minstermen's Wigginton Road training ground since taking over at KitKat Crescent and has moved quickly to try and improve the facility.

The City manager will now be working closely with groundsman Jez Milner to use the new machinery to develop more suitable playing surfaces.

McEwan said: "The training ground is an issue that has to be sorted out and, as a result, I have made my best two signings for the club so far - a tractor and a draining machine. Our groundsman thinks he's won the pools now.!

"We need the water draining off the training ground because, at the minute, when it rains, it just lies on the surface, which turns into cake, while underneath that the earth's like concrete. The players have been coming off the pitch with their boots twice the size and you can't get any quality into the training like that.

"I took the groundsman with me from Sheffield United to Rotherham because he was that good and it's an important job. He knew how I wanted my pitches and the training ground.

"Now, I have been working very closely with our groundsman to tell him what we need and the machinery should inprove our facility. At least I know I'm guaranteed value for money with the tractor. You can never say that about players.

"If we got the tractor for £6,000 and it's here for ten years then it will have cost £600 a year so that's a good investment. We might be able to hire it out to other clubs as well and get our money back."

CITY'S communications director Sophie McGill recently voiced her opinions on former Minstermen chairman John Batchelor's and his attempts to buy Stockport County.

On hearing of Batchelor's interest in the struggling League One outfit, City's board member gave a frank interview to the local Stockport press detailing all of the former racing team owner's misdemeanours while at Bootham Crescent.

YORK Minstermen, meanwhile, have decided to run a second coach to Sunderland Greyhound Stadium next Saturday due to demand.

The trip to see the York Minstermen Stakes and 11 other races will cost £25 and includes coach travel, entry, a race card, four drinks and a meal.

Both coaches will leave KitKat Crescent Social Club at 5pm after the England v Northern Ireland World Cup qualifying match, which can be viewed on the big screen, and return after the last race at 10.30pm.

Anybody interested can book their place by calling 07956 237270.

The Social Club will also hold a programme fair on Sunday, April 10 from 11am to 2pm.

City supporters hitting the road

TWO groups of York City supporters will stage their own version of Wacky Races as they aim to visit all 22 Nationwide Conference grounds in just 24 hours.

From Carlisle to Canvey Island, Scarborough to Stevenage Borough, the Harrogate Minstermen and Malton Minstermen intend to stop at every stadium on a 1,250-mile round trip.

The venture aims to raise funds for the club and local businesses are being urged to offer their support.

Both cars complete with four drivers will leave KitKat Crescent at noon on Saturday, May 7 although they are free to devise their own routes.

The Harrogate Minstermen have already planned their schedule, targeting the several clubs dotted either side of the M25 overnight.

They have also left Scarborough as their final destination, meaning that if the 24-hour challenge is not met at least the fans will not have to revisit the scene of Boxing Day's 5-1 drubbing at the hands of the Minstermen's North Yorkshire rivals.

In order for the event to take place, a minimum of £400 will need to be raised to cover the costs of fuel and vehicle services beforehand.

Any sponsor, ready to provide that amount, will have their company's name added to the 24-Hour Challenge.

The supporters are also looking to attract sponsorship from companies or individuals based on each ground visited.

A four-figure sum is the intended target and Paul Outhwaite, of the Harrogate Minstermen, said: "Both branches got together and talked about how we can raise funds for the club. We are hoping that local businesses will get involved and support it and we will be having a picture taken at every ground to prove we have been there."

The Harrogate Minstermen's intended route is: York City, Carlisle United, Morecambe, Leigh RMI, Northwich Victoria, Accrington Stanley, Halifax Town, Burton Albion, Tamworth, Hereford United, Forest Green Rovers, Exeter City, Aldershot Town, Farnborough Town, Woking, Crawley Town, Gravesend and Northfleet, Dagenham and Redbridge, Canvey Island, Barnet, Stevenage Borough and Scarborough.

Anybody who would like to support the 24-Hour Challenge should call Graham Warters (07944 334707), Paul Outhwaite (07813 326243) or Stephen Gartside (07944 717398).

Alternatively, you can log on to the website www.yorkcity24hourchallenge.co.uk

The two branches also raised £170 from the first leg of the Malton Minstermen v Harrogate Minstermen football match.

Debutant Graham Phillips' strike settled a seven-goal thriller in Harrogate's favour at Flamingo Land.

Malton had earlier taken a 3-2 lead when Liam Foley, Stephen Bogg and Frazer Lumley cancelled out Mark Outhwaite and Paul Outhwaite strikes.

But Mark Outhwaite levelled for Harrogate before super-sub Phillips secured victory.

Malton will be hoping that City managing director Jason McGill, their midfield prompter, is fit for the second leg after damaging quad muscles.

Jason's sister Sophie - City's communications director - will join Independent journalist David Conn and former Chelsea and Scotland footballer Pat Nevin as guests on BBC Radio Five's Think Tank this Monday at 8pm.

The panel will be discussing footballers' behaviour.

Match points for Smith

LEFT-BACK Shaun Smith picked up his first Evening Press Player of the Year points this season with a man-of-the-match display against Halifax on Monday night.

Dave Merris' point for being our third-highest rated player at the Shay extended his lead at the top to five ahead of nearest rival Paul Groves.

Midfield schemer Kevin Donovan moved up to joint third with two points and is also the current leader of the Preston and Duckworth Jewellers and Evening Press Player of the Month award, having shared our readers' vote against Halifax.

Donovan and Jon Maloney topped the fans' poll and received an extra point each towards the March standings.

To be in with a chance of presenting next month's award and winning a Tissot watch, don't forget to email your top man in any of City's games throughout March to dave.flett@ycp.co.uk or you can drop in your selection at our 76-86 Walmgate offices.

Current Evening Press Player of the Year standings: Merris 25 points, Groves 20, Bishop 17, Donovan 17, Dunning 17, Maloney 17, Stockdale 16, Paul D Robinson 14, Porter 13, Pearson 10, Brass 8, Davies 7, McGurk 7, Paul Robinson 7, Stewart 6, Yalcin 6, Grant 4, Davis 3, Nogan 3, Smith 3, Webster 3, Law 2, Arthur 1, Crichton 1, Staley 1.

Preston and Duckworth Jewellers and Evening Press Player of the Month for March latest standings: Donovan 8, Maloney 7, Merris 3, Smith 3, Dunning 2, Groves 1.

Stats attack

GOALS: Andy Bishop 10, Darren Dunning 4, Paul Groves 3, Jon Maloney 3, Lee Nogan 3, Kevin Donovan 2, Lee Grant 2, Dave Merris 2, Paul Robinson 2, Chris Brass 1, Paul D Robinson 1, Byron Webster 1, Lev Yalcin 1.

GOAL ASSISTS: Andy Bishop 4, Dave Merris 4, Paul D Robinson 4, Bryan Stewart 4, Lev Yalcin 4, Darren Dunning 3, Chris Brass 2, Kevin Donovan 2, Steve Davis 1, Paul Groves 1, Lee Nogan 1, Gary Pearson 1, Michael Staley 1, Byron Webster 1.

BAD BOYS: Darren Dunning 1 red, 7 yellow cards; Sean Davies 5 yellows; Shaun Smith 1 red, 2 yellows; Dave Merris 5 yellows; Gary Pearson 1 red, 1 yellow; Andy Bishop, Chris Brass, Chris Clarke, Rob Constable, Paul Groves, Paul D Robinson, Michael Staley 2 yellows; Chris Porter 1 red, 0 yellow; Steve Davis, Kevin Donovan, Lee Grant, Gerry Harrison, Lee Nogan, Paul Robinson, David Stockdale and Byron Webster all 1 yellow.

Five to come

YORK City will have a quiet Easter weekend with just one fixture over the holiday period.

With the Good Friday clash against Aldershot having been brought forward to February, the Minstermen's only match will be on Easter Monday at Accrington Stanley.

City's away match at Carlisle has been put back seven days to Tuesday April 12 with the Cumbrians now playing Hereford on the original date (April 5).

Mon, Mar 28: Accrington Stanley (A); Sat, Apr 2: Gravesend & Northfleet (H); Sat, Apr 9: Hereford United (A); Tue, Apr 12: Carlisle United (A); Sat, Apr 16: Dagenham and Redbridge (H).

Updated: 10:29 Saturday, March 19, 2005