LIFE inside England's lowest league was always hard going for York City. But life outside it is proving tougher still.

A month before the Minstermen taste the humbler fare of Conference football for the first time events seem to be conspiring against them.

First the club's hopes of an earlier television pay-out were cruelly dashed when Sky said it had got its schedules in a twist.

Now it seems a large chunk of the revenue generated by Friday's friendly with Doncaster Rovers will be diverted to the police.

But unlike the Sky TV pull-out, this cash blow was of the club's own making. Finance director Terry Doyle said "it was a cost we didn't expect" because friendly matches are not usually policed.

True enough, Friday's match is nothing more than a pre-season warm-up. But to describe it as a friendly is stretching the definition.

There is long-running rivalry between the two teams which has escalated into violence more than once. City's home game with Rovers provoked the worst disorder during the whole of last season.

Pubs had to close and nine fans were arrested. One landlord described the brawl involving 30 fans as "like something from the Wild West".

City's relegation meant that the two clubs will not play one another next season, removing a potential flashpoint. So York police chiefs must have shaken their heads in disbelief when informed that Rovers were back by invitation.

Given the recent history of violence associated with the fixture, the police had no choice but to insist on a presence. It is a shame this will dent City's income, but the police would be failing in their duty to protect the public if they had opted to ignore the game.

Updated: 11:21 Tuesday, July 13, 2004