Divided loyalties

City striker Lev Yalcin admits to being stuck between a rock and a hard place as England try to put their off-field problems behind them and claim at least a point against the Turks to seal qualification for Euro 2004.

The free-scoring Yalcin is a Turkish youth international and as such has no shortage of loyalty to his father's homeland.

But the 18-year-old was actually born in Middlesbrough, speaks with a north-east accent and admits he will probably be siding with England in Istanbul tonight.

"I've been getting a bit of stick from some of the senior players," he admitted.

"I guess I want England to win but having said that my dad will be wanting Turkey to win. It's probably best I go for a draw."

On a personal note, Yalcin admits he has suffered a year to forget at Bootham Crescent after suffering a stress fracture of his pubis bone at the turn of the year.

The injury ruled the youngster, who is still only a trainee, out for the remainder of last season.

He returned for the start of pre-season with the new boss Chris Brass vowing to draft Yalcin into his first team squad this season.

After such a lengthy time on the sidelines, Yalcin had to play catch-up in terms of fitness but looked to be edging closer to a senior call-up when he returned to reserve team action in September and scored.

Unfortunately for City and the 18-year-old, just days after his return to second string duty Yalcin suffered an abductor strain in a youth team game.

It has left Yalcin sidelined again, although hopefully for not much longer.

The youngster has been undergoing intensive treatment with City physio Jeff Miller and was this week seeing a specialist in the hope of finally nipping the niggling problem in the bud.

"It has been frustrating," said Yalcin.

"I came back in the summer expecting to be involved in the first-team set-up and it's not happened.

"I'm just desperate to get out there and start playing again. As a player all you want to do is play. Hopefully, I won't have too long to wait."

Despite his injuries and allegiance to England, at least for tonight, Yalcin has not given up hope of adding to his collection of Turkish caps.

"The Turkish authorities have been in touch regularly asking how I'm getting on and to see how my recovery is going," he said. "It's nice to know they haven't forgotten about me."

SOME 1,950 York City Supporters will be able to vote in the upcoming elections for the board of the Supporters' Trust.

The deadline for fans to register as Trust members and so be eligible to vote was at the end of September.

Members are now being invited to stand for election to the Trust board and have until the end of October to submit their nomination.

Nomination forms are available from Bootham Crescent or via the Trust's website at www.ycst.org.uk.

There are four Trust Board positions up for election and the results will be announced at the AGM on December 17.

THE Trust this week re-launched its website. It can be accessed at www.ycst.org.uk

The revamped website aims to be about everything York City other than the 90 minutes of on-the-pitch stuff.

Much of the content will be provided by Trust board member Paul Rawnsley with City fan Joe Haining volunteering to help deliver the news.

Anyone who would like to contribute information, articles or assistance should contact either Paul via paul.rawnsley@ycst.org.uk or Joe via jobi1@ycst.org.uk or enquiries@ycst.org.uk

A REMINDER that the Trust is staging a fundraising race night at the social club at Bootham Crescent on Friday, October 24.

Entry is free, with the doors opening at 7.30pm and the first race getting underway at 8pm.

Organisers are still looking for sponsors for each of the races, at the cost of £35 per race.

Anyone willing to back the event should contact either Kirsten Gillies at kirsten@ycst.org.uk or Dave Potter at acombdave@hotmail.com

THE Trust and the football club are teaming up for a fundraising Christmas dinner and dance at the end of next month.

The event will take place on Saturday, November 29 - after City play host to Swansea City at Bootham Crescent - in the Dante Suite at York Racecourse.

The City players are expected to be in attendance.

Tickets are priced £27.50 and forms can be obtained from the City club shop at Bootham Crescent or by e-mailing Kirsten Gillies at kirsten@ycst.org.uk

BEFORE the racecourse bash, grub's up at the Churchill Hotel in Bootham on Thursday, October 23.

The hotel will play host to the first luncheon of the York City Business Network.

Tickets, including a two-course lunch, coffee and the chance to network with other members, are priced £20 and can be obtained from commercial manager Peter Salter.

City chairman Steve Beck and player-boss Chris Brass are expected to make presentations.

The YCBN aims to have member businesses buying goods and services from one another at discount rates, which are then split between them and the football club.

ONE of the most colourful characters in the history of York City, and the first player to be capped at full international level when at Bootham Crescent, is changing the viewing habits of an entire nation.

Eamon Dunphy, now an esteemed author and journalist, is at the forefront of a ratings battle in Ireland.

Dunphy fronts TV3's new Friday evening chat show which is going head to head with a 40-year-old institution, RTE1's Late Late Show, the world's longest running chat show.

Dunphy is reportedly eating into the viewing figures of his long-standing rival and is expecting to interview Tony Blair's former director of communications Alistair Campbell and Manchester United skipper Roy Keane soon.

It's a far cry from his time as a Minsterman during the 1960s. Dunphy signed for City in 1965 from Manchester United but after just 26 appearances he moved to Millwall in an £8,00 deal.

He later joined Charlton then Reading before finishing his playing career with Shamrock Rovers.

YOUNG City fans have until Wednesday to submit their entries in an anti-racism poster competition being staged by York City.

As reported in the Evening Press, City have received a £700 grant to help fight prejudice as part of a national anti-racism in football campaign which kicks off later this month.

As part of City's campaign the club have launched an anti-racism poster competition in conjunction with schools across York.

The top 20 entries will be asked to be ball boys and girls at City's two home games during the anti-racism week, against Boston on October 18 and Oxford on October 21.

The winning posters will also be displayed around Bootham Crescent and reproduced in the match-day programme.

Updated: 08:38 Saturday, October 11, 2003