THE Knights have used 32 players in total this season, compared to 37 last year and a whopping 49 in their inaugural 2003 campaign.

Of those 32, eight joined after the start of the season while three have been on loan.
Their contributions to the Knights’ 2005 season as a whole – including cup and league – are summed up below.

David Bates
 Prop
 Played 3+5 as sub, Tries 2, Goals 0, Points 8.
Minor drugs ban from his time at Halifax ruled him out for first half of season but his power and off-load game saw him make a good impact before injury ended his season early.

Matt Blaymire
 Full-back
 P22 T10 G0 Pts40
Steady-as-you-like full-back who developed into one of the most consistent performers at the club. Rarely put a foot wrong and defensively was arguably the best number one in the division.

Austin Buchanan
 Winger
 P3+1 T2 G0 Pts8
Fans favourite flyer broke his wrist and arm in first game of the season and thus missed six months. Briefly retured before being loaned to try his luck with Super League side Wakefield.

Tom Buckenham
 Prop
 P3+6 T0 G0 Pts0
Increasingly impressed on gaining match fitness during loan spell from Doncaster early in the season. Later went on loan to Sheffield.

Mark Cain
 Utility
 P1+6 T2 G1 Pts10
Bad shoulder injury ended his season back in April but no-one can doubt his ability or desire for success at home-town club.

Darren Callaghan
 Back-row/centre
 P15+9 T3 G0 Pts12
Hasn’t repeated his try-scoring exploits of past seasons but his work-rate, desire and fierce competitiveness have never waned, while his performances improved as the season wore on. Hard to leave out despite the competition for places.

Jim Elston
 Hooker
 P8+17 T9 G0 Pts36
His contribution, often off the bench, was again superb, with his pace and eye for a gap around the ruck – as well as improved decision-making – often causing defences to have kittens. Big plus when he signed on for next year despite reported Nl1 and Super League advances.

Paul Fairfield
 Three-quarter
 P2 T1 G0 Pts4
Hard to rate due to limited appearances but pacy former Hull youngster obviously has ability.

Craig Forsyth
 Prop
 P6+5 T0 G0 Pts0
Injuries hampered the veteran campaigner’s season but he came into his own in the second half of the league programme.

Peter Fox
 Winger
 P26 T25 G0 Pts100
Record-breaking year from the fleet-footed young winger, who was on loan at his home-town club from Leeds Rhinos. Scored a new Knights record 25 tries in the season and topped the NL2 scoring charts with 21.

Simon Friend
 Second-row
 P4+1 T2 G0 Pts8
The March return of the powerful, popular Aussie was much-heralded but family commitments and work issues outside of rugby meant he had to go back to Australia little over a month later. Left a big hole that the squad did well to fill.

Joe Helme
 Prop
 P3+3 T1 G0 Pts4
Young prop returned to the team after 22 months out due to fire service commitments – just at the right time, too, as the club had a clutch of injuries – and, while he initially lacked match fitness, his size, strength and all-round efforts impressed.

Shaun Ibbetson
 Second-row
 P0+1 T0 G0 Pts0
Injury minutes into his debut ended his loan spell from Hunslet early.

Lee Jackson
 Hooker
 P15+6 T3 G1 Pts14
The master. Still did the business at 36 and deserves all the accolades he gets after achieving his goal of getting the Knights promoted before hanging up his boots. His sheer class will be hard to replace.

Ian Kirke
 Second-row
 P21 T5 G0 Pts20
Tipped as a Super League player of the future, especially after going on loan to London Broncos at end of season, the 6ft 5in star was a big factor in the title win. Gave a memorable man of the match show in the April hammering of former club Dewsbury.

Neil Law
 Centre
 P23 T14 G0 Pts56
Powerful dual-code centre. Didn’t have a regular wing partner but was consistently dangerous going forward, especially when proving unstoppable from 20 yards, and hard to beat in defence.

Chris Levy
 Half-back/hooker
 P19 T11 G1+2DG Pts48
The Aussie, instilled as captain, was not an immediate hit with supporters but won most over with his honesty and hard work and some fine performances at hooker which earned him June Player of the Month award.

Jon Liddell
 Utility
 P13+4 T4 G22 Pts60
As capable at full-back as at loose-forward, the York-born youngster equalled the club’s most goals in a match record with 11 in the humiliation of Dewsbury and scored arguably the try of the season against Keighley.

Lee Lingard
 Full-back/winger
 P7 T6 G1 Pts26
Knew where the try-line was and proved he has ability to shine in the National League.

Craig McDowell
 Back-row
 P0+2 T0 G0 Pts0
Rarely got to see him as travelling/work commitments curtailed his time at the club, though he seemed to have much to offer.

Lee Paterson
 Loose-forward
 P21+1 T0 G2 Pts4
One of the most consistent performers this season who spent little time winning the admiration of the supporters. The Player of the Month for July, his nerveless late conversion and penalty won York the title in that thrilling 24-22 comeback win at Hunslet.

Dan Potter
 Centre
 P22 T17 G0 Pts68
Proved his undoubted NL1 pedigree throughout the season, most notably in the big matches when his know-how and ability was needed most. Memorably scored his 99th and 100th career tries in the title-winning victory at Hunslet. Player of Month for August.

Mick Ramsden
 Second-row
 P6+3 T3 G0 Pts12
Every fan was delighted that the York RL stalwart got to finish his career with a league winner’s medal. It was no more than he deserved for his massive contribution to York rugby down the years. Now goes into coaching.

Scott Rhodes
 Half-back
 P13+4 T5 G0 Pts20
Pacy 2004 Players’ Player of the Year was not as eye-catching this year, perhaps due to a different game-plan, but remained the crowd’s favourite half-back.

Chris Ross
 Utility
 P15 T6 G26 Pts76
Unluckily had his chances limited but was a faultless member of the team whenever he played and to say he never let anyone down would understate his contribution.

John Smith
 Prop/second-row
 P22+2 T7 G0 Pts28
Huge contribution all season from ‘Bull’. Played much of the year at prop and consistently punched above his weight, winning first Player of the Month award of the season. No less superb when reverting to second-row.

Yusuf Sozi
 Prop
 P5+20 T7 G0 Pts28
Big-hitting prop had a slow start to the season but showed why fans loved him when coming into his own during the league campaign, winning three man-of-the-match awards.

Adam Sullivan
 Prop
 P22+3 T4 G0 Pts16
Player of the year. Gave an unforgettable individual display as the Knights kick-started their campaign with that comeback win at Keighley and was consistently superb all year, winning three consecutive Player of the Months in first half of season.

Neil Thorman
 Half-back/hooker
 P2+3 T1 G0 Pts4
Youngster’s chances were restricted due to form of fellow half-backs and hookers so went on loan to former club Gateshead.

Paul Thorman
 Half-back
 P19 T1 G63+1DG Pts131
Skilful Geordie who, despite being under-rated by some for a lack of pace, was key in executing a winning game-plan. Not as eye-catching as when he played against York for Gateshead but never shirked responsibilities and his goal-kicking was at times vital.

James Ward
 Second-row
 P6+5 T1 G0 Pts4
Impressed whenever he got the chance and can only improve with more experience.

Calvin Watson
 Three-quarter
 P4+1 T2 G0 Pts8
Did not have the impact sought after in his loan stint from Leeds.