Anniversary joy

On March 19, 2002, the directors of York Wasps closed the club and, seven days later, their resignation from the Rugby Football League was accepted after a week of efforts to save the struggling outfit failed.

To have any idea of how things have been turned around since then, all you had to do was attend York City Knights' Challenge Cup tie at Featherstone last week.

Frankly, it has been nothing short of remarkable.

And to mark the anniversary of the "start of the new beginning", two of the men who played a key role in the rebirth of York RL - the birth of the Knights - have been given their own special mementoes.

Lifelong fan Gary Hall organised that famous crisis meeting that proved the city deserved a club and fellow supporter Mike Miller - now chairman of the Supporters' Club - joined him in giving hours of unpaid work pushing forward the "Kick-start York RL" campaign.

They were joined, of course, by current chairman Roger Dixon to form a terrific trio who later oversaw the arrival on the scene of chief executive Steve Ferres and majority shareholder John Guildford.

But it was Hall and Miller whose incipient efforts were commemorated this week.

York RL stalwart and current supporters' committee member Jim Bone presented the pair with unique trophies marking the anniversary of that fateful period two years ago.

"It was my idea to hand them these trophies," said Bone. "I had known Gary Hall as a young boy who used to do the scoreboard at Clarence Street, and when he and Mike Miller got together with this meeting I thought there could not be a full shilling between them.

"They were ordinary fans trying to rescue something that had gone down. I was curious when I went to that meeting - I had actually gone as an old cynic, but they sold me it."

Bone was so sold on the idea, in fact, that he was the first supporter to stand up and put his money where his mouth was with cash for the save York RL campaign.

"Those two blokes took the first step and it was a magnificent step, and the people who have since come in, Roger, Steve and John, have taken up the mantle," he said.

"It all gave me something I thought I was losing with the professional game going out of York, and it gave me a new lease of life as a rugby person and in general.

"They did a magnificent job and I thought this was a good way to mark it."

HOW about his for coincidence. Last Sunday was the 20th anniversary to the day of York's famous Challenge Cup quarter-final win over Castleford.

And how about this to truly appreciate the Knights' achievements. It was less than two years ago that York Wasps played their last-ever game, a 60-4 defeat at Workington on March 17, 2002.

APOLOGIES to the press corps for my lack of professionalism last week. The normal press bench etiquette is to stay calm, objective and at least reasonably impartial. But when Alex Godfrey crossed for the winner at the death I must admit I was none of the above.

National draw tickets

THERE has been one downside to the Knights' fantastic Cup run - arrangements for the Supporters' Club's Grand National Prize Draw have had to be altered.

Fans selling raffle tickets were to return the stubs and cash to the organisers at the scheduled home game against Gateshead a week tomorrow. However, that game has of course been replaced by the quarter-final at Huddersfield.

Sellers are therefore asked to instead return the stubs and ticket money to Ken Pearson at the address on the tickets or to the Knights office at the Stadium, by Saturday, March 27 at the latest.

The draw for winning tickets will be held on April 1, with the race itself taking place on April 3. The true victors in the draw will be those who win the horses that finish first, second, third, fourth, fifth or last. Those people get the actual cash prizes.

The money raised through the Draw will go towards the Knights' Scholarship Scheme.

THE Supporters' Club have been granted a late licence for the fundraising "Sounds of the Sixties" disco at Huntington Stadium.

The bar will be open until midnight for the Easter Saturday (April 10) bash, for which tickets cost £5 to include a basket meal. They are available from the club office (01904 656105) or from organiser Gary Hall in the bar on match-days. Fancy dress is optional.

That man Hall, taking a line from the Knights match-day announcer, said: "Tickets are selling well - so come on, Knights fans, let's hear some sounds of the 60s."

If successful, future theme disco nights will be organised. All money raised goes to the club.

Lucky bus key to Cup conquest

WAS wonderful coaching the crucial factor behind last week's memorable win at Featherstone? Was it the incredible belief among the players? Was it the willingness to give absolutely everything and never give in?

According to kitman Steve "Bomber" Harris, it was none of the above. The real reason behind the Challenge Cup triumph was in fact Bomber's "lucky bus".

For those that don't yet know, Bomber has recently started a mini-bus taxi business called Anytime Travel - also known as Bomber Travel - and last Sunday, the bulk of the squad travelled down to Post Office Road in his 16-seater chariot.

"It's all down to Bomber Travel," he exclaimed. "I've told them before it's a lucky bus and this just proves it."

As if to add more credence to his claim, one of the players who didn't journey down by Bomber Travel was Aaron Wood.

"He went down with Cainy (Mark Cain) and look what happened," said Bomber. "He gets sent off after ten minutes, and Cainy gets injured setting up the winning try."

I for one believe Bomber's luck story and I'd even go as far as recommending Anytime Travel for all group trips, especially those to a racetrack. Simply call 01904 701936 or 07717 753314.

(I told you I'd give you a plug, Bomber. Now, about that discount...?)

TALKING of buses, the Supporters' Club are expecting to take two to tomorrow's Arriva Trains Cup game at Batley.

The first will pick up at Haxby, Huntington Stadium and New Lane then go straight to Batley. The second will pick up at the Stadium, New Lane and the other pick-up points across the city.

For details and bookings, leave a message on 01904 750500. No reservations will be taken after 11am tomorrow. Those who book earliest have first option. Both buses leave Batley about one hour after the game, 6pm at the latest.

Depending on numbers, the cost will be adults £5, under-12s free. Anyone deemed unfit to travel due to alcohol will not be allowed on the coach.

TICKETS for next Sunday's Powergen Challenge Cup quarter-final against Huddersfield Giants went on sale at a special advance price today.

Tickets cost £14 for adults (£9 concessions) on the day, or £12 adults (£7 concessions) in advance. Under-16s are £1.

Tickets for this match were only to be on sale from the Knights office today (11am-1pm), tomorrow 10am-11.30am and next Saturday 11am-2pm.

At any other time, tickets can be purchased direct from the Giants by calling 01484 530710.

HOW about preparing for next week's big clash at the McApline with a three-course Sunday dinner at The George Hotel in Huddersfield, the famous birthplace of rugby league?

A 50-capacity room has been booked for Knights fans, with meals, starting at 12.30pm, costing £11 a head.

A special deal has also been arranged to include return coach travel to Hudders-field (leaving Huntington Stadium 11am), dinner at The George and admission to the match, at an advance price of £30 adults, £25 concessions, £17 12-16s, £7.50 under-12s. Bookings can be made at the Knights office today or tomorrow (see above times) or by phone only (01904 656105) Monday or Tuesday.

(Note: when I say "dinner" I mean midday meal, also known by some as lunch.)

Updated: 09:10 Saturday, March 20, 2004