Old 'n' golden

Yes, you read it right. What do money-bags Premiership rich boy giants Chelsea have in common with the little old Minstermen.

Give up? They are only the second team in ten years to have beaten Manchester United away in the League Cup.

Chelsea's extra-time defeat of the Red Devils ended a spell of nine years, three months and six days since the last win at Old Trafford in the two-legged League Cup, then the Coca-Cola Cup.

And that last occasion still lives on in the memories of City fans as one of the greatest ever achievements.

When manager Alan Little travelled to United on Wednesday, September 20, 1995 with a team featuring several young guns promoted in the wake of injuries assembled for around £100,000, the odds of a York City win at the home of the reigning Premiership champions were 20-1.

But the bookies were left counting the cost after Paul Barnes fired in two goals, including a penalty, and Tony Barras a third to put York well and truly in the driving seat for the second leg at Bootham Crescent.

Barnes even had a hat-trick strike rules out for offside despite video evidence later showing otherwise.

Alex Ferguson, magnanimous in defeat after the first leg saying that City deserved to win, re-installed Peter Schmeichel to the United team, who had been one of just two players rested for the first leg in an otherwise full-strength line-up that included the likes of David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Lee Sharpe.

Also back in the United shirt for the return was Old Trafford idol Eric Cantona in what was his first away outing since the lengthy suspension imposed on the Frenchman for his infamous kung-fu kick on a fan at Crystal Palace's Selhurst Park.

The second leg went 3-1 in United's favour but the aggregate was York's - and they remained the last team to beat United at Old Trafford in the now Carling Cup until Chelsea.

A total of 5,000 City fans made up that 1995 29,049 crowd, 24,000 of which were taunted with cries of 'are you Scarborough in disguise?'. Happy days.

Manchester United: Pilkington, Parker, Irwin, McGibbon, Pallister, P Neville (Cooke 46), Davies (Bruce 58), Beckham, Sharpe, McClair, Giggs. Sub not used: Tomlinson.

York City: Kiely, McMillan, Hall, Pepper, Tutill, Barras, Murty, Williams, Barnes (Atkin 89), Peverell (Baker 67), Jordan. Sub not used: Warrington.

Cash penalty for tardy trio

In a week where Craig Bellamy talked his way into an £80,000 fine from Newcastle United, a handful of York City players have also been fined after arriving late to a pick-up point on the way to Accrington Stanley.

Caretaker boss Viv Busby remained tight-lipped over who the guilty parties were but said: "If you're late for the bus it's a fine.

"We got to the services to pick them up and they pulled in a minute later.

"There are times and schedules in place and if you are five minutes late it's as good as being 25 minutes late."

It is not known how much the players will be fined but we're pretty sure it won't compare to Bellamy's financial penalty.

Gloves story to lift the heart

Goalkeeping icons of the past and the future came together at the York Minstermen meeting on Thursday night and £120 was raised for the York City Supporters' Trust.

Current squad custodian David Stockdale saw the gloves he wore in his first ever England game for the non-League National Game XI against Italy in November auctioned off for £120 to boost the coffers of the Trust.

Joining him was past legend Graeme Crawford, still regarded as one of, if not the best, 'keeper ever to play in City colours.

Crawford, now 57, kept an incredible 11 consecutive clean sheets in the 1973-74 season as part of City's promotion campaign to the old Division Two - now known as the Championship.

The pair spoke about their contrasting experiences and in recognition of Stockdale's sacrifice and burgeoning future, Crawford presented his young counterpart with gloves from that 73-74 season.

York Minstermen member Frank Ormston said: "It was a great gesture of David to auction his gloves and I am sure the Trust will be delighted with the money.

"It was good to see somebody with the experience that Graeme's got alongside David Stockdale, who is hopefully on the threshold of a great career and has already shown he's absolutely committed to the City cause.

"It was also a really nice moment when Graeme Crawford gave Stocky those gloves, especially when you consider that he must have kept those gloves for more than 30 years himself."

Porter loads up top tally

Recalled goalkeeper Chris Porter has leapt up the Player of the Year standings after two more man-of-the-match performances this week.

Competition for places with young-gun David Stockdale itching to get back in the first team has clearly brought out the best in Porter to leave him 11 points ahead of the game in the current Preston and Duckworth Jewellers and Evening Press Player of the Month award and has seen him rocket to joint fifth in the season race.

He earned a maximum five points from the win against Morecambe after getting the fans' vote, before adding a further three points from Tuesday night's GLS Cup game after just edging Kevin Donovan.

Bishop's goal-scoring prowess saw him claim two points on Saturday with on-loan defender Jon Maloney getting the final point from the Morecambe match, while Donovan (two) and Merris (one) wrapped up the Accrington Stanley points with skipper Paul Groves getting the fans' bonus.

Don't forget to email dave.flett@ycp.co.uk with your man-of-the-match choice from any of City's January fixtures to stand a chance of presenting the player of the month award as well as winning a Tissot watch for yourself, courtesy of Preston and Duckworth.

You can also drop your vote in at our 76-86 Walmgate offices.

Current Preston and Duckworth Jewellers and Evening Press Player of the Month standings: Porter 17, Groves 8, Maloney 7, Merris 3, Bishop 3, Donovan 2.

Current Evening Press Player of the Year standings: Merris 20, Stockdale 16, Dunning 15, Bishop 14, Porter 11, Groves 11, Paul D Robinson 11, Donovan 11, Pearson 10, Brass 8, Davies 7, McGurk 7, Paul Robinson 7, Stewart 6, Yalcin 6, Maloney 5, Grant 4, Davis 3, Nogan 3, Law 2, Arthur 1, Crichton 1, Staley 1.

Updated: 11:03 Saturday, January 29, 2005