YORK City will be among the most expensive teams to watch in non-League football next season.

The Evening Press has carried out a survey of admission charges for all clubs in the Conference and the Minstermen are among those at the top of the pile in the price stakes.

Carlisle United, relegated along with City last season, will also be one of the costliest venues to watch Conference football although North London outfit Barnet charge £32 more for an adult Main Stand season ticket than any of the other 21 clubs in the division.

City have "frozen" their season ticket charges for the 2004-05 campaign but Chris Brass' men will play two home games less than in Division Three last season.

The standard season ticket price, assuming discount deadlines are met, for standing at Bootham Crescent is £208. Only Canvey Island are more expensive, at £210.

The price of a Main Stand seated season ticket at York is £256, with only Barnet, at £288, charging more.

The Minstermen, however, have seating options in the Popular Stand, which cost £224, which is the sixth highest in the league behind Barnet, Aldershot, Canvey, Carlisle and Exeter City.

But City are higher in the table for match-day admission prices. The Main Stand option at £16 is the joint-highest in the league, while the £14 Popular Stand option is joint-second. Aldershot's standard seating price is £15.

For standing, City's £13 admission charge is the highest in the league, with Aldershot next on £12.

Explaining City's high position in the prices table, finance director Terry Doyle said: "I believe our supporters will understand we still have a history of debt that needs paying off while, at the same time, we look to put together a team that is capable of getting straight back out of the Conference. I was surprised when talking to other teams at the Conference AGM how small some of their budgets are and we don't want to be in a position where we are restricted to a budget that is the equivalent of Forest Green Rovers for example.

"The reality should be that if we have a good team that is winning in the Conference then the prices will represent good value."

Communications director Sophie McGill added: "It is fair to say that under a normal financial situation when we were not having to repay the debts incurred then in the case of relegation the board would have considered reducing prices but that has not been possible."

The Minstermen's North Yorkshire rivals, Scarborough, offer among the cheapest deals in the Conference and are the second-cheapest for match-day seats admission with only Leigh RMI offering lower-priced deals.

Scarborough's junior season terrace ticket price of £25 is particularly competitive, as is the £2 under-16s pay on a one-off basis.

Updated: 10:59 Wednesday, June 09, 2004