SHOULD York City emerge triumphant at Wembley on May 9, then a space will need to be cleared in the no longer sparse trophy cabinet.

The sight of a 62-year-old Roger Jones lifting the distinctive Canon League Trophy above his head, surrounded by his former Minstermen team-mates, will have evoked strong memories for all 450 people present at Thursday night’s Champions and Centurions Dinner at York Racecourse. Gathered together to celebrate the 25-year anniversary of City’s record-breaking 1983/4 campaign, the surprise highlight on a great evening came with the announcement that the Football League have decided the old Fourth Division trophy should be housed at KitKat Crescent in recognition of the club becoming the first to amass 100 points in a season. It would certainly sit nicely alongside the FA Trophy that Martin Foyle’s men will be bidding to bring back to North Yorkshire when they tackle Stevenage Borough in six weeks’ time.

Other highlights on a nostalgic night included an emotional, standing ovation for the late, great Keith Walwyn after a montage of television clips and photographs of the legendary forward, put together by matchday cameraman Phil Howden, had been shown on the big screens.

Shortly afterwards, John Byrne gave an eloquent and humorous tribute to his former striking partner and minder, describing him as his “very own Terry McCann.”

Groundsman Brian Foster was also remembered fondly by Byrne, who claimed the pitchfork terrorist had been “thrown out of the Gestapo for cruelty.”

Every member of the squad, as well as managerial duo Denis Smith and Viv Busby, provided their recollections of the era on the stage with Jon Champion, Guy Mowbray and Dermot Tanner sharing microphone duties.

An auction, including items donated by Ricky Sbragia, Malcolm Crosby, Keith Houchen, Chris Evans and Andy Leaning, went on to swell the amount of money raised towards the club’s youth development fund by the evening to approximately £6,000. Countless bleary-eyed fans on Friday morning might be petitioning the club to avoid future invites for Mowbray, however.

His infuriatingly-addictive brain-teaser, designed to uncover the 32 England and City players who have shared the same surname since 1984, made sleep a virtual impossibility until well into the early hours.

City fans will be offered the chance to dine with Martin Foyle and his players if they take advantage of the club’s “South Coast Special” trip to Weymouth and Lewes at the end of the season.

A travel and accommodation deal has been announced by the club that will include a meal at the team’s hotel on the eve of the Lewes match, subject to nothing being at stake in the fixture.

Anybody interested would leave KitKat Crescent on the morning of Friday, April 24 for the match at Weymouth that night with fans accommodated for two nights on a bed and breakfast basis in a three-star hotel close to the Wessex Stadium.

Transport will then be provided for the 4pm clash at Lewes on Sunday, April 28 and back to York after the game.

The cost of the trip is £139 per person based on people sharing twin or double rooms and £149 per person based on a single room.

Supporters can reserve their place by calling 01904 624447 with a 50 per cent deposit required on booking and the remainder payable before Monday, April 20.

The trip is subject to alteration or cancellation if there is insufficient interest.

Pivot Parslow back in pole position

DANIEL Parslow has snatched back top spot in the Press Player of the Year standings from Richard Brodie.

England ‘C’ international Brodie led the contest for the first time this season after a man-of-the-match display earned him three points during last weekend’s 2-1 FA Trophy semi-final against Telford.

Parslow, though, jumped back into first place after gaining the same accolade at Tuesday night’s 0-0 home draw with Kettering.

The Welsh defender had previously shared top spot with David McGurk.

Both players also polled the most man-of-the-match votes from visitors to our website for the respective games, earning two bonus points each to our Player of the Month competition, currently headed by Parslow.

The other Player of the Year points against Telford went to our second and third-highest rated players Ben Purkiss (two) and Levi Mackin (one).

Shaun Pejic (two) and Mackin (one) were also recognised for their efforts against Kettering.

To be in with a chance of presenting the next Player of the Month with a framed photograph on the pitch before a home game, nominate your man of the match for any of City’s forthcoming fixtures by visiting thepress.co.uk Press Player of the Year latest standings: Parslow 29 points, Brodie 28, McGurk 26, Purkiss 24, Rusk 22, Ingham 20, Robinson 20, Greaves 15, McBreen 13, A Smith 10, Sodje 9, Pejic 8, Mackin 7, Critchell 5, Hogg 5, Holmes 5, Kelly 5, McWilliams 5, Russell 5, Farrell 4, Boyes 3, Dyer 3, Shepherd 2, Brown 1, Mimms 1, C Smith 1.

Press Player of the Month for March standings: Parslow 8, Brodie 5, Ingham 5, Pejic 5, Purkiss 5, Robinson 3, Rusk 3, Mackin 3, Sodje 2, McWilliams 1.

Goals: Brodie 17, McBreen 9, Sodje 7, Farrell 3, Greaves 3, own goals 2, Purkiss 2, A Smith 2, C Smith 2, Wilkinson 2, Boyes 1, Holmes 1, Robinson 1, Rusk 1, Russell 1.

Assists: Purkiss 9, Rusk 6, McBreen 5, Sodje 5, Brodie 4, Farrell 4, McWilliams 4, Brown 2, Hogg 2, McGurk 2, Shepherd 2, Bore 1, Boyes 1, Dyer 1, Greaves 1, Ingham 1, Parslow 1, Robinson 1, Russell 1, A Smith 1.

Bad boys: Brodie 1 red card, 8 yellows; Rusk 7 yellows; Greaves 6 yellows; McBreen, Robinson both 4 yellows; McWilliams, C Smith both 3 yellows; Boyes, Hogg, Holmes, Kelly, McGurk, all 2 yellows; Farrell, Parslow, Wilkinson all 1 yellow.