FORMER York City Knights favourite Ross Divorty was taking the next big step on the road back to first-grade rugby league this weekend following his freak – and potentially disastrous – gym accident.

Divorty, York born and bred and still living in this fair city, was to make his long-awaited debut for Halifax in their under-23s reserves fixture last night, coincidentally against the club he had left at the end of last season, Featherstone.

The 23-year-old helped Rovers to the 2011 Co-operative Championship title before then playing every game of Wales’ Four Nations campaign against England, New Zealand and Australia. He then signed for Fax – the Knights’ opponents at Huntington Stadium tomorrow – but, for those that don’t know, broke a vertebrae in an awful gym accident before Christmas.

The former Archbishop Holgate’s School pupil finally returned to training two weeks ago.

“Ross is ready to go and will definitely play some part,” said Fax boss Karl Harrison prior to last night’s reserves match and indeed his club’s first-team trip to take on Divorty’s home-town outfit tomorrow.

“It was a nasty injury, but he’s healthy, he’s looking really good in training and we’re all looking forward to seeing him on the field.

“If things go to plan for him this week, we’ll look to involve him in the first team for the Challenge Cup tie against Myton next weekend and take things from there.”

Divorty, son of York-based former Great Britain star Gary, fractured his back when crushed underneath 350 kilos of weights in the gym at The Shay in the off-season.

He actually resumed training after Christmas before pain in his back prompted Fax’s medical staff to reassess hospital X-rays, which had initially found no major damage.

Such an accident could have ended his career and indeed left him with permanent damage, but he is now returning to action after coming through intense rehab and getting the all-clear to play.

“The specialist told me that if I was going to break my back, this is about the best outcome I could have had,” he said. “It could certainly have been a lot worse.”

• THERE will be a minute’s applause before the Knights’ match against Halfaix tomorrow, in memory of Dave Gorwood.

Tributes flooded in for the former Knights director following his death, aged 67, ten days ago.

The life-long York RL fan, who was on the board from the club’s outset in 2002 until 2007 and remained a vice-president and sponsor, passed away after a battle with cancer.

His funeral was held on Wednesday at York Crematorium, attended by Knights representatives past and present.

Knights assistant-coach Mick Ramsden wrote in his blog on the Knights’ website: “I attended Dave Gorwood’s funeral yesterday which was a nice service for a great man, and it was nice to see (former chief executive) Steve Ferres and (former chairman) Roger Dixon there to also pay their respects.”

• THE Knights’ third round Carnegie Challenge Cup match at home to Hull Dockers has been confirmed as a 3pm kick off on Sunday, March 25. Knights fans are also urged to go to Gateshead 24 hours earlier to cheer on York Acorn ARLC in their bid for giant-killing glory.

The draw for the fourth round will take place on Monday, March 26, at 8.50pm in the Club Lounge at DW Stadium, Wigan. The draw will be centrepiece of an hour-long rugby league special on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra.

Thorman lauds enthusiasm in U23 reserve ranks

CHRIS THORMAN again hailed the enthusiasm in the Knights reserves side as they were edged 28-26 by a strong Sheffield 17 on Thursday night.

The Knights’ under-23s, beaten by Halifax in their Reserve Team Championship opener a week earlier, were without hooker John Gay on Thursday due to late work commitments and suffered injuries to an already depleted squad during the game.

As reported on thepress.co.uk yesterday, they had led 10-8 at half-time, with tries by Kris Brining and George Elliott, plus an Elliott conversion, but trailed by 14 points later on before staging a comeback. Elliott got his second try, plus two more goals, and Adam Howard and Gareth Poutney also crossed.

“We were good,” said first-team player-boss Thorman, who withdrew Brett Turner at half-time – suggesting the half-back might be involved in tomorrow’s Championship clash with Halifax.

“Their enthusiasm is infectious. We were down to 13 fit players for most of the second half which meant the likes of (forwards) Adam Howard, Jack Stearman and Joe Hemmings didn’t get a rest. Brett Turner gave us a very good half, and we asked George Elliott to play in a couple of positions to get his hands on the ball more and he had his best game of the season for us.

“They had a committed, positive attitude against a very strong Sheffield side.”

Elliott is also in the 19-man squad for tomorrow’s first-team match.

Former winner Sully gets onto Player of Year leaderboard

ADAM SULLIVAN, the 2005 Evening Press Player of the Year, got on the leaderboard in this year’s standings thanks to his man-of-the-match display in the otherwise disappointing defeat at Dewsbury.

Sullivan wasn’t spectacular but did his job effectively and so picks up three player-of-the-year points.

Dave Sutton also joins the leaderboard. The winger, who played for a spell in the second half in the back row, worked hard and was error-free in probably his best performance of the year, while Ben Hellewell continued his solid early season form at full-back, and they pick up two and one points respectively.

Press Player of the Year standings: Clarke 5pts, Bush 4, Aldous 3, King 3, Thorman 3, Garside 3, Lee 3, Hellewell 3, Sullivan 3, Sutton 1, Ford 1.

By the way, apologies to Rhys Clarke for putting a year on him when reporting his Player of the Month award in last week’s diary column. We said he turned 22 on Monday, when it fact it was 21.

• NICK FOZZARD, the former Super League stalwart who retired on Monday, will start a new job as commercial manager at Castleford Tigers on Monday. Fozzard had signed for the Knights’ Championship rivals Dewsbury in the off-season but the shoulder injury that ruled him out of the last Sunday’s game against York forced him to formally hang up his boots 24 hours later.

• THE Knights are looking to recruit work experience youngsters for both the club and their Foundation.

Candidates must be aged 18 and over, not currently in full or part-time employment, and able to dedicate 20 hours per week for three months.

Successful candidates who pass the placement will receive a paid-for level one coaching course. The placement is aimed at individuals looking to gain work experience, knowledge of the leisure industry and qualifications to coach youngsters in sport.

For more information, phone Emma Scaling on 01904 767404 or email emma@ycknights.co.uk.