SUMMER signing Wes York has admitted that the Bootham Crescent atmosphere for his home York City debut was “unbelievable.”

York grabbed that 77th-minute winning goal during Tuesday night’s 1-0 triumph over National League North title favourites Stockport and reckoned that the noise from the supporters served as a 12th man.

The 25-year-old attacker added that it was the best crowd he has played in front of for “quite a while,” having ended last season at Gateshead when just 411 fans turned up for a 5-2 home defeat to Ebbsfleet, despite operating a level higher than the Minstermen.

In fact, during the whole of last season, York played in front of only one four-figured attendance at the International Athletics Stadium – the severely-swollen Boxing Day clash against neighbours Hartlepool that attracted 3,538 spectators.

Otherwise, only fixtures at Tranmere (4,328), Wrexham (4,097) and Hartlepool (3,241) saw York enjoy bigger gates with the Heed than the 3,218 that attended the Minstermen’s midweek battle against former Football League foes Stockport.

On experiencing the Bootham roar, during what is scheduled to be the final midweek fixture at the 86-year-old stadium prior to the move to Monks Cross, York enthused: “The atmosphere was unbelievable, and it’s been quite a while since I played in front of a crowd like that.

“It was very, very different to Gateshead and it really helps when you’re doing well because, hearing that kind of backing, does feel like an extra man.”

Having beaten early table-toppers Stockport on Tuesday, the Minstermen’s opening-day conquerors Chorley now head the standings two games in and York believes the difference between sixth-tier football and the division above has been negligible so far.

“They’ve been two solid, athletic teams and I’ve seen no difference,” the former Wrexham and Nuneaton forward declared.

After opening his account against the Hatters, York has now been set a double-figured challenge by manager Martin Gray.

He managed that feat at Wrexham in 2015/16 and Gateshead in 2016/17 with ten and 11 goals during those respective seasons.

But his return dropped to six last term when he was only given 31 games, with 12 coming off the bench, and York reasoned that meeting Gray’s target could rest on regular selection and maintaining his new boss’ belief in him.

“I’ll need to stay fit, and in the team,” York explained. “Most seasons I’ve seemed to end up being dropped or somebody comes in that the gaffer prefers, so it’s good having a gaffer that wants you and I can perform with no pressure.”

Despite York scoring the only goal in City’s opening two fixtures, Jake Wright, Sean Newton and Jon Parkin have all been denied by the woodwork and Jordan Burrow has seen a penalty saved, with this term’s sole marksman arguing that he feels the squad packs potency.

“We’re creating chances, which is very good because, if we keep clean sheets, we know we can end up with a win,” York said.

Tuesday’s goal hero also scooped the man-of-the-match honours, but was modest when assessing his contribution, suggesting: “I thought there were good and bad bits in my game, like every player, but I felt good and I was a bit higher up the pitch, where I can be more of threat. It was also a great relief to get the goal, because we needed to get that first three points as soon as we could to take that bit of pressure off.”

York went on to confess that the presence of former team-mates Burrow, Russ Penn, Macaulay Langstaff, Simon Heslop, Adriano Moke, Sean Newton and Jake Wright has helped with the sometimes, problematic settling-in process, explaining: “It takes me a while to get to know people’s names. I’m really bad like that, so it’s helped having a few that I already know!”

One person, outside that group of old friends, he immediately hit it off with, though, is former Spennymoor full-back Kallum Griffiths – his right-sided partner in Gray’s preferred 4-4-2 formation.

On that already blossoming relationship, York revealed: “We had a connection straight away before I even knew where he played. Then, I found out he was a right back and, getting on really well, should make us a force to be reckoned with during the season hopefully.

“We’re not afraid to get things off each other’s chest and, while normally it might take a few months to know the way people play, with him it’s felt instant, which is good.”