IF BUSINESS booms, York City Football Club blooms. That is the idea behind York City Business Network (YCBN) being started up by a loyal Minsterman.

Pete Brandon, a director of WPS Media of James Street, York, is organising the business network club for entrepreneurs who want York City FC to benefit from their every transaction.

The networkers who buy goods and services from one another will benefit from discounts, which are split between them and the football club.

For instance, as a public relations company which offers services, Mr Brandon says he is prepared to offer a 30 per cent discount on every deal done through the network and split it between the purchasing company and York City.

"But we are not being prescriptive about the level of discounts, which for commercial reasons are bound to vary."

Mr Brandon said: "YCBN will offer a win, win, win, win package. York City wins because it gets a percentage of each sale generated by the network. The buying company wins because they get a discount, the selling company wins by picking up a new client, and all win because of the social aspect of the group."

There will be no joining fee for YCBN, which will meet monthly at an informal lunch and speakers will be from the world of football and commerce.

And Mr Brandon said: "I am very keen on YCBN operating on a trust basis. I don't want people to sign contracts. After all, if you can't trust fellow City fans, who can you trust?"

City chairman Steve Beck said he was delighted.

He said: "Following on with our sponsorship deal with Phoenix Software, it's a further example of how the club and the local business community are working together to make the 'new' York City a success."

Updated: 10:34 Tuesday, August 05, 2003