ALREADY we have seen we are beginning to bear the fruits of what Jason Ramshaw is doing at the club.

The family fun day on Sunday was an unqualified success and they are now looking at ways of keeping them coming. We are hoping to make some of the features like the bouncy castle and the face painting a regular fixture.

The overall effect was that we have had a really good gate at a game where we otherwise would have been quite low on numbers. We have now played Gateshead twice in front of big crowds and it makes a real difference.

It's true, also, that kids will always love a winning team so part of our job now is to keep on winning to keep them interested.

People want to support winning teams. If you're losing every week the supporters will tell you the support will drop off, however dedicated the fans, so it's up to us to keep on winning.

If we can do that, we hope we can keep them there and keep building on the crowds. Then if we can convert enough, the long term future for the club will be looking good.

Certainly, the more new supporters we can get involved, the better the chance the club has of going places.

I can only speak from my own experience. I was brought up on the game and I started playing at six - which was the same age as a lot of my friends. And even though they might not play anymore, they always keep in touch with what's going on and now take their own children to games.

I very much agree that the more people you get at the bottom of the pyramid, the more you will have at the top both playing and watching.

I was watching from my pushchair because of my dad's involvement in the game. My first baby photos at home are of me sitting next to the championship trophy just after I was born.

I can still remember the first game I played. I was playing for Traveller Saints against Pontefract Rovers and I don't remember the score but I bet Paul Newlove - who started at the same time as me - scored a load like he always did.

He announced his retirement this week after an illustrious history and I'd like to just take this opportunity to wish him all the best and congratulate him on a great career.

AS for what Steve Ferres said earlier this week about the fact that I should be given a chance to work with the Great Britain team, I don't really think Steve is pushing me or anyone towards a Great Britain job.

I think he's simply highlighting the fact that there could be some young coaches out there that are possibly not in the Super League that could have a chance at making it to the top.

He believes there should be some sort of system in place to give these coaches an opportunity to learn more about the way it all works.

When I hear my name mentioned I just shake my head and laugh, to be honest. It's always nice to be noticed and talked about but I've only just got here and I'm not looking beyond anything I'm doing at York at the moment.

ONE last thing, it was great to see some of the York City fans finishing the season off on a high. A group of them appeared in the Luther Blissett Stand on Soccer AM and they gave a really good account of themselves.

And if any of them got the soccerette's phone number, please could they give it to me!

Updated: 11:26 Wednesday, May 26, 2004