YORK City Knights Supporters' Club felt the full benefit of the recent Sportsman's Dinner when the money raised by the event was officially handed over this week.

The bash, held in March at the Cottage Inn in Haxby, featured former Leeds and Scotland footballer Peter Lorimer and ex-York RL player Mick Morgan as guest speakers, while popular compere Morgan led an auction of sporting goodies.

And Morgan this week returned to the Cottage Inn to present a cheque for £1,530, cash which was raised on the night, to Supporters' Club chairman Mike Miller.

This money will now go towards the Knights' proposed Scholarship Scheme, formerly the Academy Builder fund, which has been adopted by the Supporters' Club.

More than 70 suited-up people - including Knights coach Richard Agar and players Darren Callaghan, Craig Forsyth, Simon Friend, Aaron Wood and Mick Ramsden - had attended the packed-out event, which was organised jointly by Miller and Cottage Inn manageress Carol Wilcox.

Miller said: "It was an excellent night and it went very well. We were glad to see a few players there and there was a good mix of people both connected and unconnected to the club."

The Cottage Inn will be hosting more sportsman's dinners this year, with the next one in aid of the Knights scheduled for December 2, at which Morgan will again be a guest speaker alongside rugby league legend Alex Murphy. Full details of the event will be revealed at a later date.

Miller added: "We're hoping that the next one will be sold out as well and as good if not better than the last."

THE Supporters' Club's funds were boosted further last week by the race night held in the Huntington Stadium bar.

Just under £500 was raised by the event, much of which will go towards the proposed Knights' Scholarship Scheme, and organiser Phil Seymour was delighted with the turnout and the cash raised.

He said: "It was a cracking turnout and a good night. It looked like everyone enjoyed themselves and we're happy with the way it went and very happy with the amount raised.

"I'd like to thank everyone who went for making the event a big success. It will inspire us to hold more, and bigger and better, events."

Updated: 10:18 Saturday, May 22, 2004