OUT of the several important topics discussed at Thursday night's excellently-organised York Minstermen fans' forum with club directors Steve Beck, Terry Doyle, Jason McGill and Sophie McGill one that should not be overlooked is the current make-up of the board.

The Supporters Trust's code of conduct, drawn up when the fans body achieved the seemingly impossible and became owners of the football club, must continue to be adhered to as closely as possible.

The code states that the club's board should include at least as many Trust board members as non-elected directors at all times.

After Mike Brown's summer resignation that is no longer the case and, while the Trust and club are right not to make any rash appointments, it would be a shame if the spirit and direction of the code are to be forgotten.

The problem seems to lie with finding a suitable and, perhaps more importantly, willing candidate on the current Trust board.

Most fans and Trust members would appear to favour a former professional footballer or manager as the next addition to the board.

Unfortunately, one doesn't currently exist on the Trust board but then it is election time in October.

The beauty of community ownership is that supporters should continue to have a say in how their club is run.

Therefore, I believe that if fans want a former professional footballer or manager on the club's board then they should find a willing and suitable volunteer (ready to do the job for free), canvas for their election on to the Trust Board this autumn and then put forward his candidature as a York City director.

The existence of former footballers in the boardroom, of course, can be a thorny issue and, in my opinion, any chosen person should not interfere with the first-team manager's job but offer guidance if requested.

Their key role would be to provide an informed and experienced view on football matters in the boardroom.

A report on the make-up of the board appears on Page 30.

Other interesting issues to come out of the forum that have not been reported elsewhere by the Evening Press included admissions that the club's pre-season programme might have offered a better balance of non-League tests and money-making opportunities against more glamorous opposition.

But Graham Bradbury added that there are plans to re-arrange the postponed friendly with Newcastle and make it a 50-year commemorative match of the club's 1955 FA Cup semi-final meeting.

It was also revealed that the players now contribute financially to overnight stays and the directors continue to pay out of their own pocket while Doyle admitted he regrets making the "Arsenal of the Conference" comment which is surely now as infamous as Alan Hansen's "You can't win anything with kids" quote.

He also appealed for people to stop throwing it back at him!

Chairman Beck, meanwhile, appealed for volunteers for his Fans' Liaison Group.

Aimed at discussing ways to improve supporters' Bootham Crescent match-day experience, Steve intends to meet up with spectators from all areas of the ground before matches.

Managing director Jason McGill added that the club will press ahead with their joint planning application with Persimmon Homes to build a new stadium within the City of York as soon as the BCH deal is completed in about "four or five weeks".

McGill also assured any remaining doubters about his motives for buying a £50,000 15 per cent stake-holding in the club, saying: "I have no desire to make any profit from York City Football Club. I am a fan who lives in the town and that has always been the case.

"I was just in a fortunate position in which I could help more than most."

Christmas is coming

YORK City are already getting into the Christmas spirit.

The club's annual Christmas Dinner and Dance will take place on Wednesday, December 15 in the Dante Suite at York Racecourse (7.15 pm).

The event, which will be attended by the first team squad, is being organised by the Supporters' Trust who are encouraging fans to buy tickets early.

Trust board member and event co-ordinator Kirsten Gillies said that last seasons's event proved extremely popular and raised more than £3,000 for the Supporters' Trust. This was subsequently donated to York City FC to fund training equipment and a further training venue for the players.

Tickets are priced at £29.50 each and are available from Kirsten Gillies, c/o York City Christmas Dinner, York City Football Club, Bootham Crescent, York YO30 7AQ

Veterans say farewell to Jack

FORMER York City players Bob Ferguson, Alf Patrick and Martin Reagan, all now in their 80s, attended yesterday's funeral service for Jack Pinder at York Crematorium.

At the age of 91, Jack had been City's oldest surviving player.

All four played in the same City teams in the 1940s. Jack, who died last week, played 225 games for City between 1932 and 1948.

The club were represented by chairman Steve Beck and managing director Jason McGill, while York and District Football League and the York FA were also represented.

Former work, football and choir singing colleagues were also present in a large congregation.

Updated: 10:06 Saturday, August 28, 2004