A POTENTIAL money-spinning friendly for cash-strapped York City has been dealt a blow after football club chiefs learned that policing costs could hit the profits.

York City's friendly against League One side Doncaster Rovers is likely to attract a big crowd to Bootham Crescent on Friday.

But North Yorkshire Police chiefs have labelled the pre-season game a Category Two match that will require the presence of officers.

Club bosses have been told that providing a police team for the game will cost about £3,600 - knocking out a chunk of the expected gate receipts.

The news comes as a second blow to City after the club learned on Thursday that a scheduling mix-up at Sky meant the Minstermen's game against Hereford on August 21 would not be televised, as originally thought.

It is unusual for there to be a police presence at friendly games. The club has said that last year's sell-out match against Leeds United did not have officers attending. The profit the club would expect to receive from the match depends on the number of people who turn out to watch.

Terry Doyle, York City finance manager, said the club had to respect the view of the police. But he said the cost of paying for officers would dent the club's expected financial return from an "attractive" fixture.

Chief Superintendent Tim Madgwick, commander of York Police, said the force was conscious of City's situation but had a responsibility to people living near the ground.

"It was a cost we didn't expect," Mr Doyle said. "It is unusual for a friendly game to be policed. It (the decision to police) has taken us a little by surprise.

"We have to respect the police view that the game is required to be policed. It is an attractive game as Doncaster have done well last season and we expect them to bring a good following with them.

"It is a friendly game which was proposed to generate some cash for the football club. We are expecting a crowd between 2,500 and 3,000 - albeit on reduced admission - and these costs are going to take a chunk out of the budget."

Chf Supt Madgwick said: "We are very conscious of the situation York City is in and we work with them to minimise the costs.

"We base our risk assessment on intelligence and previous history and we have got a responsibility to take a professional judgement and tell the football club. That's what we have done."

Meanwhile, the work of the football club board to keep City playing at Bootham Crescent is to be acknowledged.

A civic dinner will be held by the Lord Mayor, Coun Janet Looker, on Friday, July 23.

Updated: 10:36 Tuesday, July 13, 2004