MICK Ramsden reckons there could be few better ways to finish your career than leading your club out on the day they are crowned champions.

But the York RL stalwart will get that chance on Sunday as the Knights end their 2005 home campaign against Workington in an expected cracker of a match.

The curtain will come down on Ramsden's 14-year professional career, most of which has been with his home-town club, after the Knights' LHF National League Two-winning campaign finishes away to Sheffield on Friday.

And to mark the moment, he will be made honorary captain for Sunday's final home match, after which the team will be presented with the NL2 trophy.

"Mick Cook (coach) mentioned it about a week ago," said Ramsden, who will be joined in retirement by team-mate Lee Jackson. "It's a great honour and something I'm looking forward to.

"The captain's role as such will probably be looked after by Chris Levy and Jacko but the main thing for me is getting the chance to lead the team out onto the pitch."

Ramsden - nicknamed Rambo - first signed for York, then called Ryedale-York, in 1991 from the old Civil Service club and, barring one-and-a-half seasons at Wakefield in the mid-90s, has spent all his career with his home-town club.

He was at the forefront when players deferred payment in an attempt, albeit in vain, to help keep the old club alive in 2002, and after briefly going into retirement after those bad days, quickly rediscovered his love for the game with amateurs New Earswick and was one of the first to sign back when the new Knights club started.

Injuries and a long-planned wedding to Louise hampered his call-ups this term and he admits he hasn't played as much as he would have liked in the last two years.

"It's hard to take at times when you don't get the call but you've got to get on with it. My season has been a bit disrupted but Cooky has kept me involved and, while I'd have liked to play more, I've felt part of it and it's been a great year.

"I've played about half the games since the Knights started and I'm proud I've played my part in where we've come."

Ramsden, who is to stay with the club in a coaching role, primarily with the Scholarship, added: "It's brilliant to finish my playing career as league champions. It's a great way for me to go out.

"Not many trophies have come my way over my career - there were a couple at Under-18s and we were runners-up in 1998 - but this year we've got the title with two games to spare.

"I can always look back and think I helped take the Knights up. Hopefully I can play a part in getting the club to Super League in the next few years."

Updated: 09:24 Saturday, September 03, 2005