York City will take on Accrington Stanley hoping to extend their impressive recent record in Easter Monday fixtures.

The Minstermen have lost just twice on the religious holiday since 1983, winning six and drawing nine of the other 15 matches.

Chester City were the last team to beat City on Easter Monday five years ago, securing a 2-0 home victory in 2000 before dropping into the Conference.

And Grimsby Town were the only other team in the last 22 years to leave Minstermen supporters choking on their chocolate eggs.

The Mariners won 2-0 at Bootham Crescent in 1988 and Bobby Saxton's men were later relegated from the old Third Division.

Ironically, Accrington were City's Easter Monday hosts 50 years ago when the all-conquering Happy Wanderers FA Cup team fought out a 2-2 draw thanks to Arthur Bottom and Norman Wilkinson goals.

City's new national heroes also attracted a crowd of 15,598 which is still a record for the Lancashire club.

That figure, of course, will not be threatened on Monday and it is unlikely City will better their record victory for an Easter Monday match either.

A 5-2 Division Four home win against Darlington in 1979, clinched with goals from Gordon Staniforth, Gary Ford, David Loggie, Peter Stronach and Ian McDonald, claims that honour.

Another notable Easter Monday victory came 40 years ago when Wilkinson, William Rudd and Andy Provan netted in a 3-0 victory over Lincoln City which clinched promotion to the old Third Division in 1965.

Easter Monday also saw the biggest league attendance at City's Fulfordgate home when 10,120 turned up in 1930 to provide the club with their first five-figure league crowd.

They witnessed a 2-0 Division Three North defeat against Port Vale, however.

Bootham Crescent's biggest Easter Monday crowd enjoyed better fortunes, with 12,414 watching a 2-0 home victory over Grimsby Town in 1953 thanks to Billy Hughes and Robert Warrender goals.

And Minstermen supporters have never had a happier Easter than 1932 when their supporters were treated to 13 goals and three wins from their team in four busy days.

A Good Friday 5-2 home victory over Rochdale, secured by Matthew Jenkinson (2), Reg Baines (2) and Ollie Thompson, was followed the next day by a 3-1 triumph against Chester at Fulfordgate when Peter Spooner, Jenkinson and Baines netted.

Then, two days later, the indefatigable Minstermen travelled to Lancashire to win 5-3 at Rochdale. Baines hit a hat-trick, with Spooner and Tommy Fenoughty joining him on the scoresheet.

Interestingly, City played just two matches in the next 19 days and lost both while shipping 11 goals, going down 7-1 at Hartlepool and 4-1 at Darlington.

Pots of cash for reserves

YORK Minstermen have once more proved that City supporters are the best bar none.

The fans' group, only formed in August, have donated their second £1,000 cheque in seven months to the club to help manager Billy McEwan save the reserve team.

Dave Potter, Ian Tyssen, Frank Ormston and Carol Abel are pictured at the Social Club, which has been utilised more since the Minstermen's formation.

A total of £5,300 has been raised towards the £10,000 reserve appeal target.

Meanwhile, Tyssen is calling on volunteers to help sell the remaining tickets for the supporters' group's spring raffle.

Just under £1,000 has already been raised and willing volunteers should call Ian on 01904 703763 or e-mail ian.tyssen@btinternet.com

The draw will be made in the Social Club on April 11 and all money, stubs and unused tickets must be returned by April 2 when Ian will be in the club shop before and after the Gravesend and Northfleet game.

Fanzine 'Ginner' making a final bow

THE tenth and final edition of York City fanzine 'Ginner's Left Foot' will be on sale at the club's last three home games.

It includes a 12-page 50th anniversary tribute to City's 1954/55 FA Cup side and interviews with the men behind Yorkie the Lion.

Former Evening Press sports editor and York City writer Malcolm Huntington will be York Minstermen's guest at their latest monthly meeting on Thursday night.

Malcolm, who now works as a freelance journalist, has reported on more than 1,800 Minstermen matches over the last 40 years and first started watching the club in 1941.

The meeting starts at 7.30pm with the doors opening half-an-hour earlier.

I WOULD like to thank Graham Bradbury, Denise Ainscow, Hugh Kitchin and all the surviving Happy Wanderers players for their much-appreciated help in producing the 1955 FA Cup semi-final features that have proved so popular with our readers.

Graham has worked tirelessly organising the dinner and providing me with useful contacts while Denise was our crucial go-between in securing a rare interview with Arthur Bottom.

It has been fascinating speaking to the City legends and hearing their tales of football 50 years ago and I am looking forward to meeting them all at the golden anniversary dinner on Wednesday night at York racecourse.

More than 300 tickets have been sold for what promises to be an excellent evening, with the Lord Mayor and council leaders among those attending.

Rule of Law for Graeme

GRAEME Law received his first Evening Press man-of-the-match award this season with a solid display at Tamworth.

The former Scottish youth international was our choice during a poor team display and collected three points towards the Player of the Year and Player of the Month contests.

Chris Porter (two) and Steve Davis (one) picked up points as our second and third-highest rated players and they also received an extra Player of the Month point each having shared the readers' vote for man of the match against Tamworth.

To be in with a chance of presenting next month's award and winning a Tissot watch, don't forget to e-mail your top man in any of City's games throughout March to dave.flett@ycp.co.uk or you can drop in your selection at our 76-86 Walmgate offices.

Current Evening Press Player of the Year standings: Merris 25 points, Groves 20, Bishop 17, Donovan 17, Dunning 17, Maloney 17, Stockdale 16, Porter 15, Paul D Robinson 14, Pearson 10, Brass 8, Davies 7, McGurk 7, Paul Robinson 7, Stewart 6, Yalcin 6, Law 5, Davis 4, Grant 4, Nogan 3, Smith 3, Webster 3, Arthur 1, Crichton 1, Staley 1.

Preston and Duckworth Jewellers and Evening Press Player of the Month for March latest standings: Donovan 8, Maloney 7, Law 3, Merris 3, Porter 3, Smith 3, Davis 2, Dunning 2, Groves 1.

Stats attack

GOALS: Andy Bishop 10, Darren Dunning 4, Paul Groves 3, Jon Maloney 3, Lee Nogan 3, Kevin Donovan 2, Lee Grant 2, Dave Merris 2, Paul Robinson 2, Chris Brass 1, Paul D Robinson 1, Byron Webster 1, Lev Yalcin 1.

GOAL ASSISTS: Andy Bishop 4, Dave Merris 4, Paul D Robinson 4, Bryan Stewart 4, Lev Yalcin 4, Darren Dunning 3, Chris Brass 2, Kevin Donovan 2, Steve Davis 1, Paul Groves 1, Lee Nogan 1, Gary Pearson 1, Michael Staley 1, Byron Webster 1.

BAD BOYS: Darren Dunning 1 red card, 7 yellow cards; Sean Davies 5 yellows; Shaun Smith 1 red, 2 yellows; Dave Merris 5 yellows; Gary Pearson 1 red, 1 yellow; Andy Bishop, Chris Brass, Chris Clarke, Rob Constable, Steve Davis, Paul Groves, Paul D Robinson, Paul Robinson, Michael Staley 2 yellows; Chris Porter 1 red, 0 yellow; Kevin Donovan, Lee Grant, Gerry Harrison, Lee Nogan, David Stockdale and Byron Webster all 1 yellow.

Five to come

YORK City will make their second visit to Accrington Stanley this season on Monday hoping to avenge the 2-1 Conference Cup extra-time defeat in January.

Here are City's next five fixtures:

Mon, Mar 28: Accrington Stanley (A); Sat, Apr 2: Gravesend & Northfleet (H); Sat, Apr 9: Hereford United (A); Tue, Apr 12: Carlisle United (A); Sat, Apr 16: Dagenham and Redbridge (H).

Updated: 09:19 Saturday, March 26, 2005