PROOF, were it ever needed, that the guardians of our national game, the Football Association, should hang their head in shame over the plight of York City came this week with the broadcasting of The Money Game on BBC.

Given the growing uncertainty over the club's future home, it was particularly well-timed.

The way Bootham Crescent was transferred to Bootham Crescent Holdings in 1999 to bypass an FA rule designed to protect clubs from losing their grounds has been well documented.

But still Wednesday's programme-makers made a good effort at explaining the situation to a national audience.

More importantly, the broadcast highlighted the sheer ineptitude of the FA.

The new FA chief executive, Mark Palios, turned down the producers' request for an interview and to discuss the organisation's ability to keep the game in order.

It was a dreadful snub from Palios but should we really be surprised?

At the height of City's off-field problems, Evening Press e-mails to the FA asking for a response were simply ignored.

In March last year, the Evening Press accompanied City fans who went to the FA's plush Soho headquarters with a petition signed by 6,000 people demanding some form of action.

Despite being made aware of the protest, the FA could not even provide an official to receive the petition.

To date, the FA has said nothing meaningful about York City or the manner in which their rules were so easily side-stepped.

It is not so much the lack of action by the FA as their complete failure to even acknowledge City's plight that grates.

They prefer to stick their head in the sands and try to ignore the storm.

But if they do not have the courage to even make a worthwhile statement or acknowledge there is a problem then how can they be trusted to run our national game?

Palios has made a big play about wanting to clean-up football.

When he finally finds his broom, he should get his own house in order first then start sweeping from the bottom rather than the top.

THE dark clouds may once again be hovering over City amid continued uncertainty over where the Minstermen will play their games next season.

Adding to the confusion is the complicated planning process.

The Supporters' Trust this week published a handy little summary of how they reckon events could now unfold after the football club this week submitted their application to redevelop Huntington Stadium.

The Evening Press reproduces it for the benefit of those fans without access to the Internet.

Unless council officers refuse to register the application and request more information or supporting documents, the application is lodged and 'goes public'.

The scheme then goes out for consultation to various parties providing them with the opportunity to comment, support or object.

Over the next few months, club representatives, primarily led by stadium director Ian McAndrew, working with consultants, will then negotiate with the planners, meet with consultees, objectors etc to seek to resolve issues.

A planning committee date will be agreed and the scheme will go forward to members with an officers report with recommendations for either refusal or approval.

The application may be called in by Government as the site is owned by the local authority. This could include a public inquiry.

If approval is given, it will have lots of conditions, including a Section 106 Agreement. This is a legally binding document and the planning approval is not valid until agreed and signed. This will need to include issues such as travel plans and relocation of the running track.

The earliest time consent could be achieved is around Easter 2004.

THE Minstermen Christ-mas Appeal, aiming to provide gifts for seriously ill youngsters and the elderly who are without family, has passed the half-way mark.

Launched three weeks ago, fans have only until December 13 to donate a present.

The club is asking fans to donate presents to the Bootham Crescent club shop. The club will then wrap the gifts which will then be distributed by the players during the Christmas period.

In a change to previous seasons, City will donate the gifts to Martin House Hospice, Yorkshire's first hospice for children and young people, and also York's Salvation Army

Chris Brass, Lee Nogan and the players will visit the hospice and will attend the Salvation Army's Community Carol Service during the festive period to officially hand over the presents.

Spring time comes early for player-boss

CITY player-boss Chris Brass jumped to it this week when he made a special appearance at Scarcroft Primary School.

Brass has been assigned to the school as part of City's new Learning League initiative.

His first visit to Scarcroft was particularly well-timed, with pupils taking part in a sponsored bounce to raise funds for the school.

The novel fundraising idea saw each pupil in the school trying to complete as many jumps on a bouncy castle as possible in two minutes.

The youngsters were sponsored per jump, with the best effort 250 bounces completed in 120 seconds.

The school is currently trying to raise funds for some climbing equipment to be installed in their new playground.

Under City's Learning League scheme, every senior player has been assigned to a York school. The players will visit their school throughout the year to help with various literacy initiatives.

Leading by example

THE management made their marks this week in the Evening Press player of the year award.

Player-coach Lee Nogan claimed the man of the match award and three points in the 2-2 draw at Leyton Orient to move joint second in the rankings alongside Lee Bullock and Mark Ovendale.

Player-boss Chris Brass picked up one point at Brisbane Road although with leader Darren Dunning on 25 points the City chief will need to bag a string of man of the match displays if he is to reclaim his crown.

The remaining two points last Saturday went to Richard Hope, who remains on the coat-tails of the main contenders.

Rankings: Dunning 25, Bullock 14, Nogan 14, Ovendale 14, Hope 12, Ward 10, Wood 10, Brass 6, Parkin 5, Smith 4, Wise 4, Merris 3, Cooper 2, Fox 1, George 1, Wilford 1

For the record

City's fightback from two goals down to claim a point at Leyton Orient last Saturday had the statisticians at the Evening Press turning to the record books.

We reckon the last time City achieved the feat came in August 1996 when City trailed 2-0 to Millwall in Division Two but memorably fought back to win 3-2.

Junior dates

The City Junior Reds who attend Wednesday's club night at Bootham Crescent, which runs from 6pm to 8pm, will all receive a bundle of assorted match programmes.

The theme of the night will be 'programme collecting' with youngsters having a chance to swap and have valued their programmes by experts Gordon Neale and Peter Overton, who run the City programme shop above the social club.

The Junior Reds' Christmas Party will take place on Saturday, December 20, in the Bootham Crescent Social Club, from noon to 2pm.

With City playing Kidderminster on the Sunday, the entire first team squad will be in attendance for the youngsters' bash.

City honoured

It was good to see York City well represented at the Evening Press Business Awards staged earlier this month.

Football club director and Supporters' Trust board member Sophie McGill was a finalist in the 'business personality of the year section' while Pete Brandon, director of WPS Media, was a finalist in the 'best use of new technology' section.

Brandon recently founded the York City Business Network, a group of 'City friendly' businesses who donate a percentage of each sale achieved within the network to the football club.

Ladies to reap benefits as City look to tomorrow

LADIES Days will no longer be restricted to Knaves-mire with York City doing their bit to support the development and involvement of women in football.

City will be hosting two Ladies Days, against Kidderminster on Sunday, December 21, and against Mansfield Town on Saturday, February 14 - St Valentine's Day.

For the Kidderminster game, girls and women who purchase tickets in advance will receive a £1 discount on admission.

Ladies will also receive a 5 per cent discount voucher for the club shop when buying a match ticket.

The York City Ladies squad will also provide pre-match and half-time entertainment with a five-a-side game and skills display.

For the clash with the Stags, all ladies through the turnstiles for this game will receive a special Valentine's gift in recognition of their support.

The promotion is part of the Nationwide Supporters of Tomorrow initiative with City receiving a community grant of £10,417 to help develop their Ladies Days.

CITY favourites Jon Parkin and Mitch Ward are expected to attend Monday's monthly meeting of the Supporters' Club branch the Harrogate Minster-men.

The duo will be special guests at the gathering, staged at Knaresborough Working Men's Club, starting at 8pm. Members and non-members are welcome.

Updated: 09:18 Saturday, November 29, 2003