YOUNG, gifted and ready to attack - fresh faces have changed the complexion of York City.

In keeping with a club that has the youngest manager in the English game, the Minstermen possess very probably the youngest squad in the Football League.

Only three players, player-coach Lee Nogan, Mitch Ward and skipper Darren Edmondson, are over the age of 30.

Including trainees David Stockdale, Graeme Law and Levent Yalcin, 16 players of the 22-man squad are aged under 25 with nine aged 21 or under.

The average age of the first-team squad is just 23 years of age, a remarkable turnaround from three years ago when the average age of the City squad was 27 and contained ten players aged 30 or over.

Indeed, in September 1999 City played Peterborough United with just three players, Christian Fox, Barry Conlon and Matt Hocking, under the age of 30 in the starting line-up.

The team included no less than three players aged 35 in goalkeeper Bobby Mimms, player-manager Neil Thompson and centre-back Chris Fairclough.

It is believed the oldest side to turn out for City was the one which lost 3-1 at New Brighton on May 6, 1950 when goalkeeper Matt Middleton became the oldest York City player at the age of 42 years and 194 days.