IT was a case of back to school for teenage midfielder Matthew Coad after making his Football League debut against home-town club Darlington.

Coad, 19, was attending a Sports Leisure and Recreation course at Bootham Crescent just days after running out at the £27million Reynolds Arena.

All trainees at City are required to undertake a full day of studying on Mondays as well as half-a-day on Thursday when tutors visit the club.

So it was back to pushing pens this week for Coad, whose brief but impressive display as an 86th-minute substitute against Darlington could have pencilled him into manager Chris Brass' future plans.

Brass said Coad's performance was the only positive to be taken from Saturday's 3-0 defeat and the third-year apprentice said: "It was a nice occasion especially with it being Darlington. It was pleasing to get on in front of my home crowd.

"My mum and dad were there and a few people I know where shouting my name as I was warming up. My dad has always followed Darlington and he normally goes down there so he was fairly pleased with the result.

"I thought I did OK when I came on. I had a shot that just missed the post and, if it had gone in, I do not know if I'd have known what to do."

Coad was spotted playing Sunday League football at the age of 15 in Darlington and brought to the club by youth coach Brian Neaves.

He has become a reserve regular this season after playing with the juniors for two seasons and was delighted to hear about his latest promotion.

Coad said: "The manager told me on Friday that he wanted me to train with the first team and then he told everyone who was going to be involved in the game and I was named in the squad and told I would be on the bench. It was a bit of a surprise but I was very pleased."

But City's latest league debutant will now have to wait for his next first-team chance as he begins a three-match ban after his sending off for the reserves at Doncaster.

He was involved in a touchline tussle with former Bootham Crescent striker Paul Barnes, who has since transferred to non-league Tamworth despite having talks with Brass about a possible return to the Minstermen next week.

"I am disappointed I will be suspended now," Coad admitted. "It starts on Wednesday and, to be honest, I did not think it was going to be a red card at the time. I thought maybe a booking.

"I got the ball off Paul Barnes and he came in and studded me down the back of my legs. I fell on the floor and reacted.

"He said a few things but the referee said I had to go, as well as him, because I had raised my hands."

Coad, like defender Richard Hope, will now be sidelined until the December 28 trip to Rochdale but, with his apprentice contract due to expire next summer, he is keen to stay in first-team contention, saying: "I have been pleased with my form not only for the reserves but for the youth team as well.

"I played a few times for the reserves last season but not as many as this one. Now, I just want to stay in the squad and hopefully get a contract at the end of my last year."

Coad says Neaves and City head of youth development Paul Stancliffe have both been major influences on his career so far but he also looks up to one of the club's senior professionals for inspiration.

Fellow midfielder Mitch Ward, having played for Everton in the Premiership, earns Coad's respect.

Said Coad: "He would be a good player to follow and try to achieve what he has in the game."

Player-boss Brass added: "Matthew's performance was the one big plus from the game and it is unfortunate he will be suspended now. He's been confident for the reserves of late."

Of Barnes' decision to sign for Tamworth, Brass said: "Unfortunately we could not do anything. He would have liked to have come but has got a financial package that is better for him and will be closer to his home."

Meanwhile, Aron Wilford has gone on a month's loan to UniBond League club Worksop.

Updated: 11:15 Tuesday, December 09, 2003