IT has been a long time since a York City fan exited Bootham Crescent (as it is still known) and uttered the words: "Sheer poetry".

Arch rivals Scarborough FC, meanwhile, have been playing with far more rhythm, hence their loftier position in the Conference table. To provide further inspiration, the Seagulls have now appointed their first poet-in-residence, Susan Roome from... York.

City should take a leaf out of Scarborough's book. A pre-match poem might inspire the team to higher things. They couldn't get much verse. Altogether "Half a league, half a league, half a league onward..."

Updated: 11:49 Friday, January 28, 2005