VICTORY tomorrow could well see York City Knights make a financial loss on the day – but, don’t worry, they should still end up quids in.

Toulouse Olympique may bring an interesting French flavour to Huntington Stadium (augmented by some Aussie spice of course), but they will hardly bring any fans with them for obvious reasons.

With season tickets also not counting for Tetley’s Challenge Cup ties, and with Knights chiefs deciding against lowering admission prices for this fourth-round game, there may be a drop in the number of home supporters turning up to pay on the day too (even if they should have every encouragement to attend given the home form of Gary Thornton’s men this term).

As such, a sizeable crowd is not anticipated, and even then, gate receipts are shared.

A defeat on the day – and this game really is a tough one to call given that Toulouse are presently an unknown entity – would mean the Knights saving on winning pay, so, even with a small gate, costs should be covered.

However, there is a high chance that shelling out winning pay would create a negative balance on the income and expenditure books tomorrow.

But, before anyone suggests the club would therefore not want to win, victory wouldn’t by any means leave the club worse off.

For a start there’s prize money. Getting knocked out in round four brings a £5,000 prize from the Rugby Football League, whereas playing in round five brings a £10,000 reward. On top of that, there’s a decent chance of drawing a Super League club.

Said Knights general manager Ian Wilson: “It’s an extra £5,000 in prize money and it could be an extra £20,000 in revenue if you play a top side, depending on who you get in the draw.

“For a club like us, £5,000 is not insignificant, and there’s a better chance of drawing a big club in round five than there is in round four.”

Some fans have suggested the club should reduce admission prices tomorrow, but they have remained at the usual rate (£14 for an adult, £10 concessions, £3 under-16s). It was something the Knights have tried in the past in third round ties, and Championship rivals Hunslet Hawks are doing it this weekend for their tie against Catalan Dragons, cutting prices to £10.

Wilson explained the Knights’ thinking. “I understand the argument, but it’s a risk. If, for example, 400 people pay £14, that brings in £5,600. If you cut the price to £10, 400 people bring in £4,000, so you would need 160 more people to come to break even. It’s a rise of 40 per cent in the attendance and it’s a bit risky to think that would happen.

“We tried something similar against Swinton Lions in the league, when we said season ticket holders could bring a friend for £10. It brought some more support but it was minimal.

“Also, the club don’t see this game as a lesser game than any other, so in that sense the prices for this tie should be the same as for any other game.

“Our pricing structure is very competitive. Compared to other clubs at our level, it’s extremely favourable.”

Wilson did say, however, that the Knights would check the effect the Hawks’ price cut has on the gate at South Leeds Stadium this weekend.

“I believe they’re charging £10 rather than £15 and it will be interesting to see if it makes a difference there,” he added.

“It’s obviously better to have more people in, but you’re risking losing money.”


Lee lays down award marker

JACK LEE, who lifted The Press Player of the Year award in 2010, has put himself right in the running for this season’s accolade thanks to his second man-of-the-match award in two weeks.

Lee was our standout player in last week’s win over Dewsbury and the three player of the year points that garners lifts him to second in the standings, behind current holder Jack Aldous.

Another former winner, Adam Sullivan, was our second-best player, providing go-forward off the bench, and collects two points. Simon Brown, ever influential, collected one point.

If anyone would like to sponsor the Player of the Year or Player of the Month awards, email peter.martini@thepress.co.uk or phone 01904 567137.

The Press Player of the Year standings: Aldous 10pts, Lee 9, Nicholson 8, Carr 7, Sullivan 6, Scott 5, Brown 5, Presley 4, Briscoe 4, Hadley 3, Lineham 3, Smith 2, Golden 2, Bowden 2, Elliott 1, Ford 1.


Joe’s helping hand for our forces heroes

Joe Arundel, a dual-reg player at York earlier this season, was among some of rugby league’s biggest names who put club loyalties aside on a visit to the Help For Heroes Phoenix House Recovery Centre in Catterick ahead of this weekend’s Tetley’s Challenge Cup ties.

Adrian Morley, captain of holders Warrington, Leeds coach Brian McDermott, Hep Cahill of Widnes, Wakefield full-back Richard Mathers, Jason Chan of Huddersfield and Castleford’s Jake Webster, along with Hull centre Arundel, all took time out to look around the centre, which provides vital support to those who have suffered life-changing injuries or become sick while serving their country.

They also saw the new buildings, which will fully open in September, which rugby league’s fundraising is supporting.

Help For Heroes is Tetley’s official charity partner as part of their title sponsorship of the Challenge Cup and as the official beer of Super League, and, as part of this fundraising effort, every round of the cup will have a designated Help For Heroes match, with bucket collections, merchandise sales and man-of-the-match awards presentations by the charity.

Today’s televised (BBC1, 2.30pm) clash between Hull KR and St Helens is the first of these designated matches.

Mo Usman, Phoenix House Recovery Centre manager, said: “We’re delighted Tetley’s has chosen Help For Heroes as its charity partner for a second year and we’re really thrilled to see the work they are doing with the rugby league to raise much-needed funds for our wounded.”


THE draw for the fifth round of the Tetley’s Challenge Cup will take place on Monday, on the Richard Bacon Show on BBC Radio 5Live, at 3.30pm.

Rugby League legend Billy Boston, who played in six Wembley finals for Wigan between 1953 and 1968, will help conduct the draw.


ON THE subject of draws, the last-16 draw in the Northern Rail Cup will take place at The Shay, Halifax, on the evening of Wednesday, May 1.