YORK City chief Terry Dolan celebrated a notable hat-trick this week - three testing years in the Bootham Crescent hot-seat.

It is perhaps only now, as his careful dismantling and then rebuilding programme of recent seasons starts to bare fruit, the size of the task facing Dolan when he first arrived at City is being realised.

As such, his popularity among the City faithful has never been higher and rightly so.

Taking the team into the play-off zone and with promotion firmly in City sights is a feat in itself.

But when it is set against a backdrop of so many off-field problems then Dolan's achievements are all the more commendable.

It must be hoped then that all his hard work does not come crashing down around his ears because of all the club's off-field problems.

That's why it was particularly heartening to hear Jon Parkin this week follow the lead of his skipper, Chris Brass, and pledge his allegiance to the Minstermen.

It was also another ringing endorsement of Dolan and the remarkable team ethic and spirit he has managed to generate in the squad.

It also underlines his ability to not just spot a talented player but also, crucially, one with the character and desire to be a success.

The statistics too bare out the fact that under Dolan City have improved and continue to improve.

Taking just league games into consideration, Dolan has been in charge of City for 138 games, winning 47, drawing 38 and losing 53.

That record would realise 179 points, at an average of 1.30 points per game.

Spread over the course of a 46 game season, that would mean City accumulating 60 points or thereabouts. Over the previous couple of seasons, such a haul would have been enough to guarantee a respectable 11th place.

However, just taking City's last 46 games into consideration, Dolan's record reads even better with 20 wins, ten draws and 16 defeats.

That would realise a 70 point haul and in an average season that would have left the Minstermen just one or two points short of the play-off zone.

DEREK Hood, Phil Burrows and Tony Canham are the latest City legends to pledge their attendance the upcoming Supporters' Trust Dinner.

The three fan favourites will join the likes Wayne Hall and Andy McMillan, stars of City's 1993 Wembley triumph, Alf Patrick, Jack Pinder, City's oldest surviving player, Chris Topping, Graeme Crawford, Jimmy Seal and Chris Jones at next month's event.

A number of other players from yesteryear have been contacted in the hope they will be able to attend.

ITV commentator and City fan Jon Champion will host the event with David Kendall.

It will be staged in the Voltigeur Suite at York Racecourse on Wednesday, March 5, with tickets for the event, which includes a five-course meal, costing £30. All proceeds will go to the Trust, with ticket sales said to be going extremely well.

For tickets and further details contact Graham Bradbury on (01904) 708330 or email gram.bradbury@virgin.net

Any ex-players who would like to attend the event are encourage to contact Bradbury on above number.

THE bright lights of the Premiership and international football has failed to diminish the allure of City for former goalkeeper Dean Kiely.

Charlton 'keeper Kiely was on international duty for the Republic of Ireland this week, keeping a clean sheet as Brian Kerr celebrated his first game in charge with a 2-0 win over Scotland at Hampden Park.

City president John Greenway was at the game and bumped into Kiely in the car park afterwards.

"He came straight up to me and immediately asked what the current situation was at Bootham Crescent," explained the Ryedale MP. "He was genuinely concerned and asked to be remembered to everyone at the club."

You can take the boy out of the City, but you cannot take City out of the boy.

WITH the Minstermen's plight well documented, a number of fund-raising initiatives are being carried out by a variety of individuals and groups.

Joining the Minstermen Lottery Draw is another way supporters can help raise much-needed funds for the club.

A recent leaflet drop to attract more punters proved a success, but organisers are still looking for more players with a top prize of £10,000 up for grabs.

Costing just £1 a week, some £50,000 in prize money has been dished out in the last 18 months.

For further details, interested people are asked to visit the club shop at Bootham Crescent or telephone 0870 777 1922 extension five and ask to speak to lottery manager Sue Chappell.

CHRIS Brass underlined his leadership skills this week to extend his position at the top of the Evening Press player of the year rankings.

A man of the match display and three point haul from the 1-0 win over Leyton Orient was followed by another point picked up in the 2-2 draw at Shrewsbury.

Latest points: Brass 29 points, Smith 24, Duffield 22, Fettis 22, Parkin 19, Nogan 17, Cook 13, Edmondson 12, Cowan 11, Fox 7, Potter 6, Reddy 6, Beresford 5, Brackstone 5, Bullock 3, Hobson 2, Shandran 2, Ingham 1, Jones 1, Wise 1

Updated: 09:26 Saturday, February 15, 2003