IT HAS been a very promising start to the season for York City.

It is the earliest of days, but the performances against Carlisle and Rotherham have merely strengthened the growing optimism that built up during pre-season.

Player-boss Chris Brass has made some very shrewd acquisitions in the transfer market, the pick of the bunch perhaps being the capture of Mitch Ward, who brings some much-needed experience, class and composure to a very youthful side and is still aged only 32.

However, Brass has also shown no fear in scouring non-League circles for new recruits and, for going where so many other managers dread to tread, the City player-chief deserves particular praise.

Dave Merris, signed from Harrogate Town, has been particularly impressive in City's first two outings, while Brass has also snapped up Aron Wilford from Whitby Town and Mark Ovendale and Liam George from semi-professional football in Wales and Ireland.

Looking below the Football League and recruiting hungry players with points to prove could be deemed a gamble.

Certainly, the players coming from part-time football will need careful nurturing and patience.

Dips in form will inevitably follow as the adrenaline drops and they must be given time to adapt to not only the rigours of Third Division football but also full-time training.

However, it is heartening to see City signing players desperate for a second chance and with livelihoods to earn, rather than following the herd and snapping up reputations with little incentive.

Hopefully, it will inspire other lower League clubs to do the same.

The basement has complained for too long that Premiership clubs prefer to spend their millions abroad rather than on home-grown talent in the Football League, while at the same time showing little inclination to look to lower levels themselves.

City, in their own small way, are bucking the trend and following a recruitment path ignored for too long by too many.

HATS off to the Harrogate Minstermen, who are now upwardly mobile in their driving devotion to York City.

The extremely active York City Supporters' Club branch have now bought a 17-seater minibus, fully insured and fitted with seat-belts, to provide supporters with cheap and reliable transport to City games.

In particular the branch, which hires bigger coaches for away games when there is a demand, intend to use the minibus to ferry fans to every Bootham Crescent fixture.

The Harrogate Minstermen, formed when City's future was looking bleak, deserve tremendous praise for their efforts over the last 18 months.

Members have attended every away game last season and joined the Friends of Bootham Crescent in shaking the buckets that saved the club.

The group also sponsors players and matches and holds regular monthly meetings and social events.

For further details about joining and transport to matches, e-mail harrogateminstermen@hotmail.com or visit their website www.harrogateminstermen.co.uk

AS IF not getting sent off after just 34 minutes of your League debut as the youngest manager in football and still seeing your side claim three points wasn't memorable enough, last Saturday's game at Carlisle was also Chris Brass's 100th start in a City shirt.

THE bookies may be tipping City for the drop but fans have been putting their shirts on the Minstermen in droves.

On the day City's new Nike red strip went on sale, the club shop shifted a staggering 400 shirts bringing in revenue of around £17,000 to the club.

With the shirts continuing to sell very well, the club's link-up with Nike is already reaping dividends. The shirts are simple but stylish and good quality.

The blue shirt unveiled at Rotherham on Tuesday night also looks very impressive and is sure to be a big seller. They will go on sale on Tuesday, August 26, when City entertain Southend United.

Updated: 11:12 Saturday, August 16, 2003