A NEWLY-FORMED team of York City fans has set a fund-raising target of £30,000 during the next year.

The group was set up after a recent meeting of Supporters' Trust board and club board members and aims to hold one major fund-raising event each month, starting with the Open Day on Sunday, July 25.

Team meetings will be held on a regular basis and an events timetable has already been discussed.

The group are also appealing to supporters for volunteer assistance with projects and any innovative fund-raising ideas they may have.

Kirsten Gillies, from the board of the Supporters' Trust, will head the team and is the first point of contact for all fans.

She will also co-ordinate the events calendar and be responsible for the availability of club facilities.

The fund-raising team also consists of Peter Rookes, who is a Trust board member and will report on the fund-raising targets set and current financial standings.

Ian Savage will become the volunteers manager, responsible for liaising with volunteers to ascertain their availability for certain events.

Andrew Leathley, the editor of GLF fanzine, will design and produce any literature or tickets required for events.

Graham Bradbury, who currently organises sporting dinners, will continue to champion that area of fund-raising.

Dave Potter, secretary of the newly-formed York Minstermen, will manage the Social Club bar when any events are held there and Steve Gartside, of Harrogate Minstermen, will provide support for publicising events on the various websites associated with the club.

The new team also hope other City fans will now get involved and help to share the load.

Speaking after the meeting, Gillies said: "This is by no means the full group, and anyone wishing to get more involved in fund-raising is asked to contact me as soon as possible as we would welcome more assistance."

The team are also in the process of producing a fund-raising pack.

City Finance Director Terry Doyle said: "The club welcomes the efforts by the Trust to ensure effective fund-raising initiatives are in place for next season. Fund-raising is vital to York City and we are confident the new fund-raising team will surpass our target of £30,000 by June next year.

"The fund-raising activities planned will appeal to all aspects of our fan base and will also engage the local business community. We hope everyone will support these events throughout the season."

For supporters wishing to get involved, a Volunteers and Ideas form has been created for fans to complete and return to Fund-raising Team, c/o York City Football Club, Bootham Crescent, York, YO30 7AQ.

These are available online at http://www.ycst.org.uk/ycst_fundraising_form_2004.pdf or www.ycst.org.uk or alternatively at Bootham Crescent.

The Evening Press would like to point out that our original estimate, printed in early editions yesterday, for the likely profit made by the club after the sale of the youth trainee base in Grosvenor Terrace was inflated.

Our speculated figure of £70,000 was based purely on the highest market value of the house and also did not consider the legal fees, estate agents charges and costs incurred over the past year that need to be taken into consideration regarding the profit made from the property's sale.

But the club are still expecting to net a five-figure sum.

Updated: 11:24 Thursday, June 03, 2004