Cash funding to set up what has been billed as a legacy for rugby league in York and North Yorkshire was revealed yesterday by the York City Knights, writes Claire Hughes.

Pocklington-based computer giants Phoenix Software have put forward £50,000 to plough into a major community initiative that will open doors to more people wanting to get involved in the game. That money has been matched, pound for pound, by government-funded group Sportsmatch, and further cash from the Knights' own coffers will take the deal to around £130,000 over the next three years.

Knights chairman Roger Dixon said: "The York City Knights is much more than just a winning side on a particular piece of grass every other week. Wonderful though that is, there's much more to what we are trying to do and I thank Phoenix Software and Sportsmatch for their backing.

"Now is not the time for tinkermen, it's the time for satisfying and delivering and justifying the faith that has been put in us by these organisations."

The money has funded the appointment of Ian Wilson as the rugby league development officer and service area co-ordinator for the county. He will add to the work already done by community development officer Jason Ramshaw and be responsible for working with and setting up projects from Selby to Craven and everywhere in between.

Project co-ordinator John Kain said: "The big idea behind this is longevity. A lot of schemes that are community based tend to be quite sexy in that they are high-profile and you can throw a lot of money into coaching hours but it doesn't have a long-lasting effect.

"This is all about getting the structures and frameworks in place to form something more of a legacy."

Updated: 10:19 Thursday, October 21, 2004