YORK City were having the backing of a real Red Army in today's crunch relegation clash with Exeter City.
Eleven military officers from the former Soviet Union were attending the match at Bootham Crescent - their first taste of English football.
The party are studying English for 12 weeks at the College of Ripon and York St John as part of programme funded by the British government.
The Ministry of Defence have introduced the initiative to help promote greater understanding between Britain and the former Soviet Republics.
City's match-day guests come from Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and are all staying with host families in York.
Updated: 14:24 Saturday, February 17, 2001
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