CITY of York MP Hugh Bayley is calling for a revision of the country’s Football Youth Development programme to help save York City’s under-18 team.

The Minstermen’s juniors currently lead the likes of Hull City, Scunthorpe United and Doncaster Rovers at the top of the Puma Youth Alliance North East Conference table but their future remains in jeopardy due to a “lack of consistent funding” according to chairman Jason McGill.

City considered abandoning their youth policy last summer before the apprentices’ parents agreed to meet a two-year shortfall of £38,000 through fundraising.

But that could only prove a stay of execution as the Bootham Crescent club attempt to sustain an under-18 programme which benefited from an annual injection of £180,000 prior to City’s relegation from the Football League in 2004.

That figure, donated by the Football Youth Development programme, was halved during the Minstermen’s first two years in the Conference and has been reduced to nothing since 2006.

From the club’s 15 scholars, ten live and grew up in York and a supportive Bayley said: “It is ridiculous that rich clubs like Manchester United receive funding from the Football Youth Development programme while clubs like York City receive nothing.

“The York City youth scholars work hard on and off the field and their position in the league shows they have the talent to go on and make successful careers in football. It would be a travesty if these young men were unable to achieve their ambitions and dreams of becoming professional footballers.

“I congratulate York City for raising money to keep their youth team, but I want the Football Youth Development programme to start funding youth development by Conference clubs like York, who are serious about training talented players for the future.”

Bayley recently raised the issue in Parliament of how much money the Government and National Lottery have contributed towards sport in York since the mid-1990s.

City chief McGill welcomed his lobbying, adding: “We are very pleased Hugh Bayley has chosen to champion the financial plight of York City’s youth development programme and has raised the issue in Parliament.

“Through sponsorship and the fundraising efforts of the youth team parents, we have been able to keep the youth policy going but we need to look forward and require consistent funding to ensure it has a future. Surely, it is beneficial to English football that clubs like York City outside the Football League are committed to developing home-grown talent in this way.

“We are very proud of our young players and their achievements this season.”