York City fans are getting the chance to help shape football's future.

City have been chosen as one of five Division Three clubs to take part in this season's Football League National Fan Survey.

Conducted by the Sir Norman Chester Centre for Football Research at Leicester University, the data produced helps the League target marketing and promotion opportunities, giving an insight into what makes fans tick.

The prospect of more money flowing into the game can only be a good thing, helping safeguard the future of many of the country's smaller clubs.

The findings will also be made available to City, helping the club in its future work with supporters.

Last year, the club conducted its own fans' survey and the results of this new survey - to be presented before the end of the year- can only further strengthen the club's attempts to build up a profile of their fans, their wants and needs.

The survey for City fans will be distributed to non-season ticket holders on the turnstiles prior to the Minstermen's final home game of the season, against Kidderminster on May 5.

The questionnaire will also be distributed to the majority of season ticket holders during the close season.

HULL have apologised to fans who were locked out of Boothferry Park before the Easter Monday's derby clash with York City.

The game - which was not all ticket - attracted Hull's biggest attendance of the season, with almost 12,000 in the ground.

But more than 400 fans, believed to include some Minstermen supporters, were unable to get in after the gates were shut ten minutes before kick-off.

The official attendance was 2,000 less than the stadium's capacity.

Tigers chairman Adam Pearson said: "We are trying to attract as many supporters as possible, and obviously I'm sorry that some people did not get into the ground.

"Apparently, the East Stand was full 30 minutes before the game, so everyone rushed round to the area behind the South Stand.

"The South Stand quickly filled up and, apparently, the safety officer took the decision to close the gates."

The attendance of 11,820 was the third-highest in Division Three this season but was not the highest of the day.

The top-of-the-table clash between Cardiff City, who were visiting Bootham Crescent today, and Chesterfield attracted a crowd of 13,602.

HOSTS France denied City junior Chris Hogg and his England Under-15 team-mates victory in the Montaigu international tournament last week.

England's young lions, led by skipper Hogg, beat the Czech Republic 3-1, Peru 1-0 and Morocco 2-0 in the group games on their way to last weekend's final.

Unfortunately for coach Steve Rutter and his boys, France were not in the mood to see England retain the trophy and won it with an early goal.

NO wonder City had that champion feeling after last Saturday's vital victory over bottom-club Halifax Town.

Ardent City fan and Match of the Day commentator Jon Champion made his annual pilgrimage to watch his Minstermen heroes in action.

I understand Champion may be on the verge of a summer transfer switch, leaving the BBC for ITV.

WHILE Champion was enjoying his first visit to Bootham Crescent this season, Harold Hackney was enduring what was probably his last-ever.

Hackney, from Barnsley, spent 18 years as a referee and four as a linesman with the Football League but was at City on Saturday in his role as referee's assessor.

However, the League are calling time on 71-year-old Hackney's expertise at the end of the season.

THE second and final leg of the 11th David Longhurst Supporters' Challenge - a sports and general knowledge quiz - takes place on Thursday, April 26, in the York City Social Club, starting at 8pm.

The first leg saw a points tie between City supporters and their Scarborough counterparts.

Teams of four are welcome to enter.

For further details contact Robert Havercroft on 07989 720912 or log on to www.citysupporters.co.uk

THE Yorkie Bars brought their first season to a close with a 12-0 defeat by their Hull City counterparts, Tiger Chat.

Although it was another heavy defeat for the Bars - a team of City fans brought together via the Internet - it was a marked improvement for the lads.

The last time the two teams clashed earlier in the season the Bars suffered a 17-0 reverse.

And there was more than a hint of an upset with the tie still scoreless after more than half-an-hour before Hull's superior fitness told.