ONE statistic perhaps more than any other puts into context the size of York City Knights' achievement this year.

York's rugby league club in its various guises stretching back more than a century has lifted a major trophy on only four previous occasions.

That's four trophies since their first Northern Union season in 1901. That's one every 26 years.

The last success was 25 years ago in 1980-81 when John Crossley's club record 35 tries helped York to the old Division Two title (in the days of two divisions). But before then, the Minster city had to wait 44 years for a trophy, the club's previous successes being in the Yorkshire Cup, in 1923, 1934 and 1937.

To add further umph to this 2005 accomplishment is the fact, lest we forget, that the Knights are, as an outfit, only three years old. The new club, therefore, has provided York rugby fans with arguably unprecedented success.

Yes, York won two Yorkshire Cups in four seasons back in the Thirties, while their 1981 title came two years after their last appearance in the county cup final, then a major competition of course.

But the Knights' roll of honour now reads one title, one divisional grand final, one Arriva Cup semi-final and one Challenge Cup quarter-final in just three years.

CENTRAL to this success are two men who have shied away from the limelight and whose names are not always the first on fans' lips when it comes to lauding those at the forefront of the club's success.

John Guildford, the club's majority shareholder from the outset and now acting chief executive, and fellow director Dave Gorwood have worked tirelessly behind the scenes for three years turning the club from a mere dream into a rugby league force, a thriving business and a professional sporting entity the city can be proud of.

Most of what they do - on top of running their own businesses - is not seen by the fans but without them or their input, there would be no success and, probably, there would be no club at all.

Chairman Roger Dixon, former chief executive Steve Ferres, fan Gary Hall, who set the ball rolling with that first crisis meeting in 2002, and, of course, coach Mick Cook and his heroes have all received due praise aplenty.

Guildford and Gorwood, though, have done more than their fair share, and their contributions towards the club's current success should not be under-estimated.

They have put the systems in place which make the club run as professionally as any outside Super League, they have attracted the staff and players, they have marketed the club so their attendances and merchandise sales are envied by rivals, and they have managed the club with the right brand of business acumen in a sporting sector to so far succeed in the modern game.

I'll shut up now in case they blush.

GOING back to Sunday's game at Hunslet, you know how the 'Russian Linesman' has entered into English football folklore?

Well, do you think the 'South Leeds Touch Judge' will be thought of in similar vein by Knights supporters in years to come after he ruled out Hunslet's match-winning stoppage-time try for a forward pass.

By the way, his name is Mr Mick Leach. Good on yer, sir.

HOW about this for coincidence - that 1980-81 Division Two success saw York beat Hunslet in the third-last game of the season.

Let's hope history doesn't repeat itself next season as just 12 months after York's last title, they were relegated back down to Division Two.

FURTHER to our stories about young fan Jordan Martin, from Malton, who lost his father, Gary, in a road accident in May, we can reveal the Knights-mad six-year-old had a day to remember last Sunday.

After witnessing his team win the title at Hunslet, he was "kidnapped" - with the permission of his mum, Jacqui, of course - by his hero, Darren Callaghan, and a few other players.

They took him with them on the players' bus so he could join in the post-match celebrations.

For anyone wondering, the young lad in the picture of the players celebrating in the changing room, which appeared on the front cover of the Press' Monday Sports supplement, was Paul Broadbent's son, Blake.

THE players' after-match celebrations began at the White Bear pub on the other side of Leeds - which has become a bit of a regular stop-off point for away matches - and continued in York, ending up in the Gallery nightclub.

Full marks to the doormen there, by the way. Knowing the result from Hunslet, they relaxed their dress code allowing fans in Knights tops to continue partying in club colours.

Birthday 'bash' for hero Jonny

KNIGHTS star Jonny Liddell admitted the drinks might be on him in his birthday celebrations this week.

The York born-and-bred utility ace turned 23 on Thursday, just days after the Knights secured the NL2 crown with that comeback at his former club, Hunslet.

And while that gave cause for double celebration, he joked his contribution to the title-claiming victory probably left him indebted to his team-mates.

"I was on the pitch for about 30 seconds," regretted Liddell, who had gone on as a substitute.

"I must have got my head in the wrong position in a tackle and I got kneed in the head. I was out for the count. Apparently Ian Kirke stepped back at marker and stepped on my face, which didn't help - he's got big feet too.

"I wish I could have played a bit more of a part in it but it's one of those things. There was no chance of going back on. I was back round for the celebrations, though. I was still a bit groggy but it was great."

As for post-match festivities, he added: "I walked in and all the lads were saying, 'Give him a clap, he played his full part.'"

Liddell and team-mate Dan Potter had further cause to splash out - they both had four winners at York Races last week.

PLAYER of the Year updates will be made next week. Please send in Player of the Month for August votes asap to peter.martini@ycp.co.uk or on a postcard to Sportsdesk, Evening Press, 76-86 Walmgate York, YO1 9YN.

THE Knights have secured a limited number of additional tickets for the black tie end-of-season presentation evening and dinner dance on Friday, September 23 at York Racecourse.

Tickets, priced £45 per person, will be sold first come, first served. Contact Adele Claxton at the club on 01904 758234 or on 767404.

MICK Cook was improving the Knights' links with the Army this week when he and Jason Ramshaw led a coaching session with a side from an Edinburgh battalion. The session took place at York Acorn's Thanet Road ground on Wednesday.

Leeds Rhinos have benefited from fitness training camps with the Army before and Cook was keen to extend those links to the Knights.

Updated: 10:31 Saturday, August 27, 2005