No let up is the rallying call of York City's head of youth development Paul Stancliffe as the club's brat pack took centre stage this week.

JUST CHAMPION: York City's title-winning youngsters. Back row, left to right: Adam Russell, Pete Vasey, John Fielding, John Collinson, John Keegan, Leigh Wood, Kieran Darlow, Marc Thompson. Front: Chris Marshall, Marc Salvati, Darren Hakami, Ben Rhodes, Scott Emerson, Chris Gowan, Richard Whitfield.

City's young guns sealed the Football League Youth Alliance North East Conference championship last weekend with a 2-1 win at Halifax to hand them an unassailable 14 point lead at the top.

But with still two games to go and their reward of a place in the upcoming Merit League, former City defensive colossus Stancliffe insists there is still everything to play for - including a place in the first team ranks.

"Even though we have got the League title there is no reason to let up.

"We are determined to carry on and keep it to just two defeats in the League so that we go into the next stage in good form," said the one-time City skipper.

The 'untouchables' have Hartlepool on February 5 and Hull City on February 12 left to play before beginning their challenge for the Merit League title.

In that competition, City will be joined by the two teams who finish immediately below them in the North East Conference and the top three sides from both the North West and North Central Conference divisions.

They will play each side once, with an added incentive that some of the matches will be played at Football League grounds.

Despite his insistence that there would be no time out, Stancliffe and assistant Brian Neaves were full of praise for the youngsters' progress.

"They have done brilliantly," enthused Stancliffe. "From the moment they first came back in July they have knuckled down and listened to most things that Brian and I have had to say and they have then gone and put it into practice."

Especially pleasing, said Stancliffe, was the fact that ten of the 16 man squad - it was 17 until the elevation of 'keeper Russ Howarth to the first team ranks - were first year trainees.

"You are usually stronger for having more second years but the first years have come in and done really exceptionally," explained Stancliffe.

"Sometimes the second years have to play more because they are up for professional terms next but everyone has played their part."

The impact of players like Christian Fox, Lee Bullock and James Turley in the first team this season, coming less than a year after they helped steer City's youth team to the FA Youth Cup fifth round, showed the current young players what could be achieved, said Stancliffe.

"We have already had John Keegan go through this year and he has had a little sniff of first team football and there are two or three more who are almost there.

"Neil Thompson has said he is not afraid to use them if the need arises and they know if they are good enough they will get their chance, whereas if they were at a really big club they could easily get lost with all staff that they have got."

And another reason for City to take pride in the youngsters' achievements is the fact that six of the first years have progressed through the club's centre of excellence, having been with the club four years or more. Only two joined the club post under-14 level with Adam Russell, the longest server, having joined the club at nine-years-old.

City manager Thompson was also full of praise for the teenagers, and Stancliffe and Neaves too.

"They have done a terrific job," said the City chief.

"The second years are a strong set and the first years are big strong lads who can play a bit as well.

"Their record this year speaks for itself and Paul and Brian deserve a lot of credit

"The carrot is there for them to get into the first team at the earliest opportunity. They have seen Chris Fox, Lee Bullock, James Turley, Russell Howarth, Andrew Dawson, Martin Garratt and even John Keegan make the progression.

"The opportunities are there for people and they know very well at a club like this that if you show promise you get your chance.

"It is a great learning situation to go into a Division Three game. This level is a great learning curve for anyone."

See Sunday's match report

Dave's Diary

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.