KNIGHTS fever is all set to sweep through York.

The Evening Press can reveal today that the full name of the city's new professional rugby league club is York City Knights RLFC.

Chief executive Steve Ferres disclosed the name exclusively to this award-winning newspaper today, after club bosses decided last night which nickname to adopt.

The name was chosen by club chiefs following the competition run through the Evening Press, which asked readers to suggest the best name for the new club.

More than 50 replies flooded into the sportsdesk, while suggestions made in fans' questionnaires distributed at previous supporters' meetings were also taken into account.

Several fans suggested using 'Knights' as a nickname and, as part of the competition, all those people were entered into a draw for a replica shirt for the forthcoming season. The winner of the shirt is Paul Wake of Harcourt Close, Bishopthorpe.

Ferres said the name 'Knights' was apt as it emphasised York's regal status and a sense of its glorious history. Significantly, it was also a permanent reminder that the fans had proved to be the club's 'white knights'.

The name had also been used successfully by Australian RL giants, the Newcastle Knights, for marketing, promotional and commercial activities, and Ferres said there every chance it could work likewise with York. Coincidentally, the rugby league club based in New York is also nicknamed the Knights.

"The name Knights has links with York being a medieval city," said Ferres. "We can market it a lot and the name will appeal to young and old alike. It's a break from the animal names that are often used for rugby clubs and it's more relevant to the city.

"It is also very appropriate because the fans have proven to be the club's 'white knights'.

"The people who have come forward and paid their money for membership are the 'knights' and this name is testament to them."

Ferres' first role as chief executive of the new Knights club was to adorn a medieval knight's headgear for an Evening Press photo shoot outside York Castle Museum. The helmet and sword were donated for the shoot by the Museum, 'the original story of everyday life'. The ball was donated by Rawcliffe's Intersport.

Ferres added: "We will also incorporate 'City' into the title as we want to be perceived as a club moving forward in and from a city rather than a small town or suburb."

Ferres added: "We can now go forward with marketing the new club as we look to raise the £250,000 we are aiming at."

York RLFC - now York City Knights RLFC - have been accepted to play in the Rugby Football League's National League division two next season, which starts in early March. Home games will take place at Huntington Stadium, where the club will soon have a new office set up.

In the meantime, anyone wanting to purchase club memberships or season tickets, or get further details on available sponsorship packages, should contact Steve Ferres on 07976 155345.

Updated: 11:54 Wednesday, September 11, 2002