YORK CITY goalkeeper Ethan Ross has declared he felt ‘honoured’ to wear the captain’s armband in Saturday’s victory over Chelmsford City.

Ross captained the side as they defeated Chelmsford through a penalty shootout in the Isuzu FA Trophy.

But with usual captain Lenell John-Lewis out for just over a week with a grade two groin injury, Ross was trusted to lead the Minstermen out at the weekend. 

“Obviously Lenny has got an injury and there was squad rotation, so the gaffer pulled me yesterday and said ‘how do you feel about being the skipper tomorrow’.” Ross enthused.

“And first of all I’d like to say thanks to the gaffer for thinking of me. 

“It’s a real honour, it is a real, real honour for me. To be able to lead this club out with so much history, it’s a really proud day for me and my family. 

“But to be able to lead that set of lads out, and it’s a great set of lads. It’s probably the best dressing room I’ve played in, and to be able to lead them out onto the pitch today it’s a real honour and a privilege.”

“I think in the last couple of years, I wouldn’t say I’ve mellowed, but I’ve found a clearer head. 

“I think when I was a bit younger I would never have been right to be the captain because at time I might get a little bit too emotional but the more football you play the closer you get to the group of lads around you, you learn a lot. 

“The inspiration today for being captain for me is Lenny. He’s been brilliant with the lads all year, there’s a reason why he’s the skipper and all the lads take a lot of inspiration from him and you’ve seen it today I’ve tried it as well.

“It’s a nice feeling, I think that most of being a goalkeeper you’ve always got to shout at play so even out of play I’ve always been acting in a captain’s role and acting as a captain anyways.

“To be honest I’ve completely forgotten I’m on loan! I forget all the time, but yes, I am on loan so I suppose it is a bit strange (being captain). 

“But I’ve been here since day one of pre-season, so for me I’m playing football here, I love everything about it, I love the lads and I love the club. I’m really, really happy to be here so to be given that opportunity to lead the team out, it’s brilliant for me.”

Ross made a crucial last-gasp stop to deny Liam Trotter from firing Chelmsford into the league, but was unlucky to concede to an audacious strike from Eduino Vaz in the first half.

“To be honest looking at it back I thought I might have been a bit poor, but I’m going to say it’s a good finish.” Admitted Ross. 

“It was a tough game today with the wind, until you’re on the pitch you don’t realise how tough of a wind it actually is. Especially late on in the second half it really did pick up. I hate the wind it ruins football and it was a tough game because of the conditions today. 

“But I think we managed it at times really well, we got the ball down and played it when we needed to and if we went route one we miss out the midfield and it probably would’ve been an eye bleed of a performance! 

“We’ve been saying it all week, would we like a performance as well as a win, yes we would because the standards of the group are very, very high.

“And day-to-day in training as well they are very high. So of course we would’ve liked a performance to go with it, it was good in parts today and there are other parts that we know need to be better. 

“But the important thing was just getting through today and we’ve done that, however it happens so it’s a good result. 

“I don’t think they really threatened loads in the second half, but it’s one of those things as a goalkeeper you’ve just got to be switched on until the last minute.”

In the end it would prove that Ross was switched on until the last minute, as his penalty save on Simeon Jackson’s over-confident free-kick proved to be match-winning alongside City’s 100% record from the spot in the shootout. 

“I wanted a couple, to be honest!” Laughed Ross.

“I thought they took their penalties quite well to be fair bar the one, and I saved that. But a good feeling! 

“A really good feeling, I’m over the moon you know this competition can give out some weird results, like you saw last night (Friday) with Alty (Altrincham) beating Wrexham on penalties. 

“But the important thing for us to do was just getting through and we’ve done that, so I’m really happy.”