WHERE else can we start this week's column other than on that great Challenge Cup win at Featherstone on Sunday.

It's not often throughout your career where you're under such adversity and come up with a result like that. Again there was marvellous support from the fans and it must have been awesome for them.

I thought we showed a lot of self belief, even when we fell behind with three or four minutes to go, and the changing room afterwards was a fantastic place to be.

We all went to a pub called the Junction in Featherstone, players and supporters alike, and the atmosphere in there was brilliant.

I would hope that result and that kind of atmosphere afterwards will carry us a long way this season.

We've got Huddersfield away in the next round, which isn't the best draw - but I don't think the draw has been kind to us all the way through. We had a tough one to start with against Villeneuve and then we had Sheffield away and then Featherstone away and for any National League Two club that is a hard passage.

If I had a preference I would have liked to have been rewarded with a trip to Hull. It would have been excellent for us - not too far to travel for the fans, a great stadium and a big crowd. But we weren't expecting any great favours and Huddersfield it is.

That's the one we've got and so the fans will have to go there and out-shout them instead.

As for our chances, we should not win - it's that simple. The fact Huddersfield were shocked by Hunslet last year has probably made it even harder as some of their players still have that in their minds.

Nevertheless, it will be an exciting time for us and the players have earned the chance to play on the big stage in a great stadium.

I would hope a lot of York people will go to the McAlpine Stadium - they've shown good form up to now so I'm pretty sure there will be plenty of Knights fans there.

Sunday's victory of course completed a wonderful week for me personally as I became a dad for the first time on Wednesday, and I want to give my thanks to my partner, Jennie, and to my little son, James Alex.

Contrary to popular belief, he was not named after my alleged two favourite players.

Both Jim Elston and Alex Godfrey were over the moon when they heard the name and, in fact, Jim has offered to take him in the back garden to scoot around like his does from acting-half. However, we're having one or two communication problems with him at the moment (James, that is, not Jim Elston).

Funnily enough, there was one player in particular who, although he wished us well, was very disappointed we didn't name our son after him, and that was Yusuf Sozi. Sorry, Yusuf, but we didn't think it suited him.

The chances of keeping James away from the oval ball in the future are probably quite remote. There's a lot of rugby league on my side, of course, and Jennie's great uncle is Mal Dixon, who played for Great Britain and won the Challenge Cup at Wembley with Featherstone in 1967. He also coached York for two years in the late 1970s.

We'll have to see who James supports - but he has already got his own little York City Knights ball and shirt so there's a bit of clue.

Lastly - but not least - I would like to pass on our thanks to everyone who has sent good wishes and cards to us. It's much appreciated.

Updated: 10:44 Wednesday, March 17, 2004