YORK City supporters can save £10 on admission if they attend all five of the club's pre-season friendlies at Bootham Crescent.

A package deal has been offered to loyal fans who intend to watch City entertain Doncaster Rovers, Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds United and Newcastle United.

Members of the Minstermen faithful who take up the offer will also benefit from a voucher that will guarantee first priority for any all-ticket clashes next season.

The price for each friendly is £12 for adults and £6 for concessions in the Main Stand with David Longhurst Stand entrance £10 and £5.

But any fans who buy all five tickets in advance will receive a £10 discount with a package price of £50 in the Main Stand and £40 in the Popular Stand for adults and £25 and £20 for concessions.

City's finance director Terry Doyle said: "We have once more organised an attractive package of pre-season games and recognise that many of our fans will wish to attend all games. We also considered at Wednesday's board meeting the fact that if, for example, we have a successful FA Trophy run we could be faced with away ties which are all-ticket at smaller grounds.

"We want to ensure that our loyal regulars obtain priority in this event and we hope that the voucher scheme will provide such priority for tickets."

Individual programmes will be produced for each of the five games and Doyle added: "The programmes produced for last season's pre-season games brought many favourable comments from our supporters. We plan to reveal this season's new cover design with our first programme against Doncaster Rovers."

City kick off their pre-season campaign four weeks tonight against South Yorkshire neighbours Doncaster Rovers on Friday, July 16.

Middlesbrough then visit on Wednesday, July 21.

Second Division Sheffield Wednesday are the opponents on Saturday, July 24 and newly-relegated Leeds United make the short trip on Tuesday, August 3.

The Minstermen's final warm-up match is against Newcastle United on Friday, August 6 with the Conference season kicking off eight days later.

City have also agreed to admit under-18s at a concession prices in the Family Stand only.

The club had originally decided to lower the concession age to 16 and this will still apply to all other areas of the ground.

Doyle said: "We have reduced the prices to try to urge the youngsters to go into the Family Stand and be part of the family atmosphere."

Boro wanted Groves

YORK City's new signing Paul Groves, revealed in late editions of last night's Evening Press, is believed to have been interviewed for the managerial position at Scarborough before deciding to join the Minstermen.

Groves was player manager at Grimsby after succeeding Lennie Lawrence in December 2001 but was relieved of his Blundell Park duties in February.

He joined Scunthorpe on loan at the end of last season and helped them avoid relegation and has also signed for City on solely a playing basis.

Updated: 10:43 Friday, June 18, 2004