FORGET the figures - there is nothing average about the Bootham Crescent crowd according to finance director Terry Doyle.

After a third of the season, the York City average home crowd has exceeded the crucial 2,000 waterline and boasts the sixth best home support in the Conference despite the team's ropey start.

Doyle this week hailed the dedication of the fans for sticking with it.

He said: "We would all be pleased with the continued support we have had.

"I think that we have an incredibly loyal support and I suspect the 2,000 is around the core support that we can rely on.

"I think for the gates to have stayed above that mark against the disappointing start compared to what we had hoped is a great testament to them."

Statistics from the early Conference attendances shows the best supported side to be second-placed Carlisle with their bumper 6,159 mean. Leigh RMI with the lowest average of 586, are third from bottom.

There is no great proportional relationship between crowds and results but the better a team is doing, the more they get through the gate with four of the top five taking in more than they did last year.

And Doyle is confident that as soon as the Minstermen start threading a few good wins together, the crowds will start to drift back towards last season's average of 4,001, albeit without the bonus of strong travelling support.

He said: "The fact that we have averaged at 2,000 gives us great satisfaction and great encouragement that if we get things better on the pitch then I genuinely think we have still got the potential to go up the ratings in the Conference.

"My personal feeling is that there is probably a core of about 500 people that at the moment, with the results we are having, we are not attracting.

"Clearly our objective has got to be to build on that. There's no doubt that however hard you work, ultimately the level of your gate depends on success on the pitch."

BEING in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup may not be worth getting all feverish about.

But if you fancy getting into the spirit of things with a flutter then these odds may be of interest.

Carlisle were 8/13 on to book their place in the first round proper at the first time of asking with Stan James, a draw with betdirect could earn you a few quid with odds of 11/4, while a Minstermen win will do the most damage to the bookies with odds of 13/2 with totesport.

Correctly guessing a 2-1 York win will get you 25 times your stake with same odds on a Carlisle 4-0 scoreline.

And if you're feeling really wild, City are 2,000/1 to lift the silverware at the Millennium Stadium, with Carlisle 1,000/1. Scarborough are also 2,000/1, but the Seadogs' giant-killing antics of last season have been put on ice for today with their tough trip to Nationwide North side Lancaster earning them the cold favourite tag with a solid 11/10 for a win.

Stats attack

GOALS: Andy Bishop 3, Darren Dunning 3, Paul Groves 3, Chris Brass 1, Lee Nogan 1, Paul Robinson 1, Lev Yalcin 1.

GOAL ASSISTS: Paul Robinson 3, Bryan Stewart 3, Lev Yalcin 2, Darren Dunning 1, Steve Davis 1, Dave Merris 1, Lee Nogan 1, Gary Pearson 1.

BAD BOYS: Darren Dunning 4 yellow cards; Gary Pearson 1 red card, 1 yellow; Chris Brass, and Chris Clarke both have 2 yellows; Chris Porter 1 red, 0 yellow; Steve Davis, Paul Groves, Gerry Harrison, Dave Merris and David Stockdale all 1 yellow.

Five to come

If there is no FA Cup replay at Bootham Crescent on Tuesday, Forest Green Rovers will be the next visitors and then it's time to put your car through its winter check as two long away days to Woking and Exeter rear their heads.

Saturday, November 6: Forest Green Rovers (H); Saturday, November 13: FA Cup round one; Saturday, November 20: Woking (A); Saturday, November 27: Carlisle (H); Saturday, December 4: Exeter (A).

In safe hands

DAVID Stockdale has virtually secured the October Preston and Duckworth/ Evening Press player of the month award after another man-of-the-match performance against Barnet.

The 19-year-old stopper picked up the maximum five points from the game with the fans agreeing with our man-of-the-match selection.

Also in the points against Barnet was Lev Yalcin with two points and Dave Merris, who followed up his previous man of the match with another point.

Your vote is needed here for your man of the match after every game. Have your say by dropping us an email at dave.flett@ycp.co.uk or write it on a postcard and get it to the Evening Press offices at 76-86 Walmgate, York, YO31 8HJ as soon as possible after each game.

Your vote could even win you a Tissot watch courtesy of Preston and Duckworth plus a chance to make the presentation to the winner.

Get your Press

STARTING from next Saturday, fans will be able to pick up their Evening Press from the club shop before home games.

The return of this facility will mean having to travel that bit less on a matchday and it will continue until the end of the season at every Saturday home game.

Updated: 10:49 Saturday, October 30, 2004