City on Trophy trail

The Minstermen will enter non-League football's premier tournament for the first time next season and, while the prospect may not be too enticing for supporters still coming to terms with relegation to the Nationwide Conference, the club would welcome the financial boost provided by a Trophy triumph.

This season's winners Hednesford received a cheque for £50,000 after beating Canvey Island in the Villa Park final and the Dr Marten's League outfit's victories in earlier rounds took their total prize fund towards the six-figure mark.

Teams from the Conference, the newly-formed Conference Two, the Unibond League, the Ryman League and the Dr Marten's League will all enter the Trophy draw, meaning City could be pitted against non-league neighbours Harrogate Town or Scarborough.

City are expected to join the competition in the third round, which is usually played in January and, without the need for replays and taking into account two-legged semi-finals, would play eight matches if they were to reach the final.

The format of the competition will see 30 minutes of extra-time played at the discretion of both clubs if the scores remain deadlocked after a draw.

If a replay is then needed, it will be played during the following week and extra-time and penalties will follow if the teams can still not be split.

Chris Brass' men will also be required to win the right to a place in the first round proper of the FA Cup by entering the famous competition in the fourth and final qualifying round but, having been newly relegated from the Football League, the Bootham Crescent club will retain their place in the first round of the LDV Vans Trophy.

The Minstermen's Conference fixtures for the season will, like those for the Football League, be released on Thursday, June 24.

But this season's Conference will kick off one week later than the League on August 14 and end a week earlier.

Updated: 10:41 Tuesday, May 25, 2004