CREATING a Home Guard at Huntington Stadium seems to be paying dividends for York City Knights.

The number of locally-based players in the team is remarkably high at present, with no fewer than nine York born and bred stars donning the Knights jersey in the last two games.

Mark Cain, Alex Godfrey, Darren Callaghan, Craig Forysth, Mick Ramsden, Leigh Deakin, Scott Rhodes and captain Richie Hayes all hail from York, while Chris Smith, who is from Cawood, a few miles south of the city, can also be included in that list.

Add to that Aussie Trevor Krause, who is quickly becoming an honorary 'Yorkie' after moving to the city from down under, and the number of York-based players in the 17 goes into double figures.

Now, this is not a blinkered 'local club for local people' motto in the comically regio-xenophobic style of TV programme 'The League Of Gentlemen', but rather a policy that benefits the club and the players now and provides accessible role models for York youngsters.

Indeed, the advantages of buying local were outlined by the Knights at the start of the season. For the players there is the added pride in playing for your local club, and for the fans it makes it easier to bond with the team in the knowledge they are all 'Yorkies' in it together. There are also wise 'home economics' in the policy as players don't have to travel far, while many of the fans personally know the squad members, which increases the community spirit within and without the club.

Knights chief executive Steve Ferres told the Evening Press: "It is tremendous that we've got a nucleus of the side all from York and we hope it will long continue.

"It's good for the game that there is available talent within the city. It's important for now and for what we're trying to do in the future."

Ferres reiterated the club's desire to produce an Academy system in order to provide a conveyor belt of talent that keeps the home fires burning.

"The ideal scenario, as I've said all along, would be to put a totally home-grown side out and win the championship with that, but it is a long time before we get the infrastructure in and get near that goal," he explained.

"I feel that the way the game is going outside Super League and probably within Super League as well, the salary cap will dictate that people won't be able to afford to pay higher wages at a lower level. The Rugby Football League is trying to make sure clubs don't spend more than they've got, and we subscribe to that, and that will filter through even to Super League, as we can already see with the likes of Wigan, Castleford, Leeds and Hull all promoting their own youngsters.

"We're not in a position to do that now but we want to be able to do that in the future."

CARL Barrow, who played as a trialist for York Wasps in their final season last year, has been taken on trial by Hull FC's Academy side.

Barrow, a player with Heworth ARLC, is another of those upcoming young players in York who have had to try their luck elsewhere as there is not yet an Academy side at Huntington Stadium.

As previously reported by this column, the Knights are hoping to have an Under-21 set-up in place next season which would help the club tap into all this young local talent.

TALKING of development, the Knights' programme of rugby league in the community has taken another step forward with the news they are to hold a series of training sessions for school children throughout the summer holidays.

The sessions, run in conjunction with the city's amateur clubs and City of York Council, will include rugby league practices, drills and games with the Knights for all eight to 12-year-olds. They are open to boys and girls of all abilities.

Dates and venues are: Huntington Stadium, Thursday, July 24; York Acorn ARLC, Thursday, July 31; New Earswick All Blacks ARLC, Thursday, August 7; and Heworth ARLC, Thursday, August 14.

The sessions will take place from 10am to 3pm and tickets cost £5 per day per person. A packed lunch will be needed on the day and anyone attending will need to wear suitable clothing and footwear.

To purchase a ticket or receive an application form, call Leanne Cooper or Kylie Krause at the club office on 01904 656105. There are only 40 places available per session, so people are advised to book early. Bookings are on a first come, first served basis.

Updated: 10:49 Saturday, July 05, 2003