AMATEUR rugby league clubs York Acorn and New Earswick All Blacks are both to be awarded prestigious Club Mark recognition.

Furthermore, they are likely to be presented with the accolade at one of the forthcoming matches in the Gillette Tri-Nations Series.

The two clubs, which run teams from juniors through to open age, are among only 19 clubs across the city, covering sports ranging from football and golf to gymnastics and judo, to achieve the grade.

Club Mark basically recognises clubs that are safe, effective, and child friendly, with qualified coaches, up-to-date equipment and regular assessments to make sure it maintains certain standards.

It is thought Acorn were only the second club in York and the 62nd in the country to pass the Club Mark test, while All Blacks have also since been verified.

Acorn secretary Gill Blackburn said: "We're all very happy that we've now got a foundation we can use for the future to help the club move forward."

The clubs were helped towards Club Mark by City of York Council's sports development department. It often takes over a year to make sure everything is in place to get the award, while clubs will continue to be vetted every year with the mark being renewed every three years.

Updated: 10:32 Thursday, October 20, 2005