A MOMENTOUS week for York City FC as the club's fairy godfather waves his magic wand again. It was 1991 when the prayers of the City faithful were answered by the arrival of Saint Douglas of Craig.

At that time City were languishing in an uncomfortable position in the equivalent of Division Three. After ten years of divine intervention, St Doug handed over the club in "a comfortable position in Division Three". A remarkable legacy.

But this was not enough for our selfless Scot. The man Tony Blair might have dubbed "the people's chairman" has done yet more.

In an act of magnanimity Mother Teresa would have saluted, he has sold his share of Bootham Crescent back to the club for a mere million quid or so.

Is this the moment to resurrect the Diary's subscription appeal to pay for a statue of the great man?

ST Doug has certainly set us hacks thinking. Exhibiting the carefree banter which typified his City reign, St Doug said yesterday that anyone who had written for the Evening Press for the past three years had to be "malevolent, evil or thick".

Journalists here are having to decide which one they are. It's a tricky choice, made easier by the fact that malevolent and evil are practically the same thing (even thickos such as your Diarist knows that).

NO wonder there is a real buzz around Bootham Crescent. As she arrived for the York City Reserves v Lincoln City Reserves match on Monday night, Evening Press sports reporter Claire Hughes discovered absolute chaos in the car park.

One harassed-looking steward demanded to know what she was doing there. When Claire explained she had come to watch the match, the steward was visibly relieved.

Apparently the parking snarl-up was caused not by the throng heading to watch City's second finest, but by the two Weight Watchers meetings taking place in the stadium that night.

To further emphasise the club's commitment to a fit and healthy new year, the steward ushered Claire through the turnstile - and handed her two free KitKats.

Luscious Lime and Blood Orange flavours, if you must know.

It was a gift almost as remarkable as the result. York won.

COULD York's "magic roundabout" soon feature in a cult bestseller?

Not an easy question to answer without the relevant facts so here they are.

York councillor Andy D'Agorne's Christmas was enlivened when he unwrapped a copy of Roundabouts Of Great Britain (New Holland, £7.99). Filled with colour pictures and background notes, it was the perfect gift for the Green Party stalwart.

However, he was dismayed to note the omission of York's finest circular junction. So Andy emailed the author, Kevin Beresford. "As a keen cyclist," he wrote, "I was disappointed that you didn't feature any planners' attempts to cater for the cyclist - an example may be the Heworth 'magic roundabout' in York where the numerous green cycle lanes around it seem to confuse motorists to the point of allowing cyclists priority."

Traffic island fanatic Kevin was excited by the news.

"Thanks for your interest in my roundabout book," he wrote to Andy. "It has sold a remarkable 30,000 copies to date. My publishers love me so much they have commissioned me to write another. I've taken on board your comments and will travel to York in the spring for a photo shoot of your amazing green circled magic roundabout... I can't wait." Neither can York.

Updated: 09:21 Wednesday, January 12, 2005