EVENING Press readers are being called on to come to the aid of a woman who is trying to find out details of her grandfather who played in the successful York team of the 1920s.

Susan Chelton, from London, has located a photo of the team her grandfather, Sidney Short, played in but does not know who is who. The picture is of the Yorkshire Cup-winning side of the 1922-23 season.

She has written a heartfelt letter to the Press asking if any readers can recognise him on the photo and/or fill in some details.

Susan writes: "I would like your help in trying to identify my grandfather. He was a team member of the famous rugby team that won the 1922-23 Yorkshire Challenge Cup.

"I have been able to get information on the team and two photos from various sources. Unfortunately a photo I now have has no name key and it is very frustrating to know he is there but not be able to identify him.

"The background is that my grandfather died young when my mother was just a few months old. From then on she was brought up at St Stephen's orphanage in York.

"She had never seen a picture of her father until 2001 when I managed to locate a team photo and since then I have tried to identify him without success.

"My mother was so proud and overjoyed because in all the half-truths she had grown up with, there was some truth to them. My mother is now 78 years old and would dearly love to identify her father.

"I would really like help in identifying by name the famous team. I feel someone out there may have the key to our mystery.

"Winning the Yorkshire Cup was such a big event in its time and there must be someone out there with some information.

"If you could help her identify her father it would make an old lady really very happy.

"My grandfather's name was Sidney E Short and he played scrum-half. Any or all information could only complete my mother's story."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Peter Martini at the Evening Press on 01904 567137 or email peter.martini@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 10:21 Saturday, May 03, 2003