MARK CAIN has been granted a three-month testimonial by York City Knights after admitting defeat in his latest injury battle.

The Huntington Stadium favourite - who was the first player to publicly sign for the Knights when they were launched in 2002 - has retired from rugby league on the advice of specialists.

And the first major fundraising event as part of his testimonial will be a friendly between the current Knights first team and a York Old Boys side, on Sunday, January 14.

Former Great Britain hooker Lee Jackson has already confirmed he will play, while the Old Boys side could also feature the likes of ex-Wales winger Chris Smith and Aussie veteran Brad Davis, along with local legends such as Mick Ramsden, Craig Forsyth, Richie Hayes and Darren Callaghan.

It is also hoped current Castleford scrum-half Danny Brough will be granted permission by the Tigers to turn out.

Cain's career was effectively ended when he damaged a knee so badly in the opening game of the 2006 season, against Hull KR, that he still cannot walk properly. Surgery so far has not fixed the problem and the 30-year-old will now undergo a full knee reconstruction, the first part of which is pencilled in for January 30.

The injury has also cost him a lot of money through missing work - he is a builder by trade - and he will be unable to work for several more months after the operation.

Players are normally granted testimonials only after ten years' consecutive service to, or 300 appearances for, a club.

Cain, born and bred in York, meets neither criterion but has been given a three-month award due to his sterling service to his home-town club, which amounts to 12 separate seasons, 207 games, 76 tries, 18 goals and nine drop goals.

He has also had to overcome several injuries, including a shoulder reconstruction in 2005 which ruled him out for ten months - with his first competitive game back being the fateful match against Hull KR.

Cain (pictured above) had three spells at Huntington Stadium, first signing for York Wasps from local amateurs New Earswick All Blacks. He made his debut in 1995 and was the only ever-present in the Wasps' Division Two promotion season of 1998.

He signed for Dewsbury in June 2000 - the year the Rams won the Northern Ford Premiership Grand Final - but rejoined York for the 2001-02 season, only for the Wasps to go bust.

He moved to Hull KR, helping them to the Buddies Cup final, but returned to Huntington Stadium when the Knights started, playing in various positions for the team, including full-back, half-back, centre, back-row and loose-forward, and helping them to the National League Two title in 2005.

He was the first player to score a hat-trick for the new club, at London Skolars in 2003, and he bagged a club record five tries - as a substitute - in the 70-10 play-off conquest of Workington in 2004.

Knights chief executive John Guildford, who has arranged the testimonial, described him as a "godsend".

"Those five tries off the bench just about sums him up," he added. "The lad could play.

"He's given a lot of service to York and always gave 100 per cent.

"Hopefully a lot of people will turn out and show him their appreciation. He deserves a big attendance."

Admission for the match costs £10 adults, £5 children. Kick-off is 3pm.