RUGBY fans are going to have to pay for parking at Huntington Stadium for the first time since the venue was opened 16 years ago.

It has been announced ahead of York City Knights' first home match of 2005, against Doncaster tomorrow (kick off 3pm), that supporters will have to pay £2 to park in the new overspill car park in front of the ground or £3 to use the adjoining Park & Ride facility.

The problems first arose when City of York Council, already criticised for new car parking charges imposed across the city centre, put double yellow lines along roads around the ground.

As reported by the Press when these restrictions were introduced in November, it means fans would be forced to find alternative places to park on match-days once the new season starts.

Previously, the other option was to park in the stadium car park, the lease of which is owned by Cannon Leisure, which run Courtney's gym at the site, but with that already packed on match-days, fans could struggle to find a space - with a possible knock-on effect on attendances.

The Knights immediately began seeking a solution and the new arrangements were reached after agreement with both Courtney's, which has developed the wasteland at the back of the car park into a new 180-capacity parking area, and First York bus company, which runs the Park & Ride site. However both these solutions mean fans forking out.

Park & Ride offers free parking for people catching a bus into town but normally imposes a £5 charge for parking only, while the Press understands that the club are likely to come to an "amicable agreement" with Courtney's regarding the revenue from parking at the new overspill car park.

A council spokeswoman explained in November that the new yellow lines had been put down to assist access for vehicles and especially emergency services along those roads. The council, though, offered no alternatives for parking.

Supporters could otherwise park at the nearby shopping centre but, with that area being reserved for shoppers, would run the risk of having their cars clamped.

The official parking will be on a first come, first served basis, though spaces will be reserved for fans with a season parking permit, which are available from the Knights. The club can be contacted on 01904 656105 or at their new head office at Rowland Court, Huntington Road, on 01904 758234.

The other alternative is to use the free bus services put on by First York, which takes fans to and from the game from various areas of the city.

Updated: 12:04 Saturday, January 15, 2005