THE cream of York's amateur footballers will start their preparations to win the Ernie Fairclough Memorial Trophy from their Scarborough rivals this week.

The Leeper Hare York and District League representative side play West Yorkshire outfit Red Triangle at Garforth tomorrow, kick-off 7.30pm.

The match is one of three the York team have pencilled in as practice matches ahead of their now annual clash with a Scarborough and District League representative team.

Last season's match with Scarborough ended in failure for the York team, who lost 4-2 on penalties after the sides were locked at 1-1 after normal time.

It was the first time the two representative sides had gone head to head in more than a decade.

After playing Red Triangle, games against Yorkshire Old Boys in November and Boroughbridge in February are also planned before the clash with Scarborough in March.

The Ernie Fairclough Trophy, named in honour of York's 'Mr Football', has been provided by the York League.

League stalwart Fairclough, who died last year, helped re-establish the York representative squad three years ago.

York squad: Hirst, Phillips (both Copmanthorpe), Murr, Gibson, Wilford, Durkin, Gargett, Ablett (all Pocklington) I Burgess, C Burgess (both Dunnington), Harrison, Atkinson, Dewhirst (all Dringhouses), Collins (Malton Bacon Factory), Ginty, Reasbeck (both T&L Selby) Johnson (Wigginton Grasshoppers).

The York Corporate Six-A-Side Football League is looking for new teams to take part in the autumn-winter season. Matches are staged on a Tuesday on Astroturf pitches close to the city centre and will start in October. For an information pack and application form, telephone 01937 587012.

Updated: 12:43 Tuesday, September 23, 2003