KITKAT Crescent is to look spick and span next season thanks to the efforts of York City's loyal supporters.

Boss Billy McEwan and the cash-strapped club pleaded for volunteers to give City's home a makeover during the summer.

About ten volunteers have been working on the club's new-look including Mike Kettlewell, 47, who has travelled from Nottingham to help out.

York-born Kettlewell and Frank Ormston, 46, from the Groves, have been City fans for more than 35 years and have been brightening up the changing rooms.

Kettlewell said: "We are here for the week, and it's nice that Billy McEwan is noticing these things. He clearly hasn't been happy with things behind the scenes and knows that when he begins to bring new players in, the ground needs to look at its best."

Ormston added: "We're here to clear the dirt and grime from the changing rooms and to just generally brighten the place up. I had the week off work and have no problems helping out the club."

Alex Bedingham, who also helps out in the guise of club mascot 'Yorkie the Lion', has been painting the Shipton Street end.

"The work is coming along well and then the club will hopefully rebuild well," said Bedingham.

George Tingle, a turnstile operator in the GrosvenorRoad end and whose daughter Sue Chappell works as the club lottery officer, has also been painting.

He said: "Both the home and away supporters will see that the ground is nice and clean. The manager appreciates that we are here to put the time in trying to tidy the place up and then hopefully he can put together a team that looks just as good."

Head groundsman Jez Milner and assistant Kevin Russell are working on the Crescent pitch and the 18-acre Wigginton Road training ground for the new campaign.

Russell said : "Compared to other Conference grounds this is one of the best, but it was beginning to deteriorate."

Updated: 12:05 Saturday, May 28, 2005