Fiver a game treat for fans

City chairman John Batchelor has revealed supporters wanting to buy a season-ticket for next season can now do so - and for half the price of this year's ticket.

The offer, which will run only until October 1, means adult fans could watch a match from the David Longhurst Stand for just £4.95 next season and youngsters for less than £3.70.

If City should go on to win promotion then fans who take up the offer could be watching Second Division football next season for half the price of watching Third Division football.

Batchelor said: "The fans have already offered us a great deal of support and we now want to thank our loyal supporters.

"We have to get this club so that people are committed to it long-term and the place is full.

"We have to fill the stadium somehow and I will do whatever it takes.

"I am just pushing and pushing and if people can get behind it now then I am prepared to give them something back.

"That something back is watching half the games for free."

Added the City supremo: "We want to try to sell 2,000 and we will be the cheapest team in the League to watch at that price.

"If the team continue to do well but we feel one or two additions may help, then the extra revenue will also help.

"With this offer, fans can save hundreds of pounds and it would be great if all the existing season-ticket holders snapped up a ticket for next season too and encouraged a friend to also make good use of the offer.

"Christmas is just around the corner and the cut-price tickets would also make an excellent Christmas present."

Under the offer, season ticket prices will be:

Main stand: £142.50 adults, £104.50 over 65s, £85 under-18/student.

Popular stand: £123.50, £85.50, £76.50.

Ground: £114, £85.50, £68.

Family stand (one adult and one child): £170 (£106 each adult, £63.75 each under 18).

THE York City Ladies have got their new season off to an unbeatable start.

The women's team, who are forging closer links with City this year, got their Yorkshire and Humberside Premier League campaign off to a flying start with a 5-2 win at Wakefield.

Striker Jenny Garnett led the way with four goals in her comeback game after a long spell out of the squad. Tina Reeve scored City's other goal.

City Ladies then came up trumps again in their second game, thumping Preston 5-1.

Garnett was on target again, along with Charlie Woodwards and debutant Louise Ross.

However, it was midfielder Kelly Chesterton who caught the eye with two goals, including one from almost the half-way line.

The squad's reserve team made it a hat-trick of wins when they beat Brigg Town 3-2, Jo Spence scoring all the goals.

The City Ladies play their first home game of the season tomorrow when they entertain Norton at Bootham Crescent, kick-off 1.30pm, and fans are welcome.

The reserve team are away to Hull in the first round of the Yorkshire Cup.

Anyone interested in joining the City Ladies should contact Abbi Webster on (01904) 782498.

PITY poor Phil Taylor. A lifelong Grimsby Town fan, Taylor was so sick of following the shot-shy Mariners - Town had scored just one goal in their six league games so far this season - that he was persuaded to take in City's top of the table clash against Rushden last week.

"I just want to see some goals," he said confidently.

Of course, the luckless Taylor, who lives in Woodthorpe, York, chose the one home game this season - and one of only three throughout 2002 - that finished scoreless.

And just to rub salt into Taylor's wounds, while City were firing blanks Grimsby actually found the net not once, but twice on Saturday, ex-City man Alan Pouton on target.

But even that was not enough to generate a bitter-sweet taste for Taylor. Despite scoring twice Grimsby still lost 3-2 at Coventry.

FORMER City youth team striker Chris Tate is trying to resurrect his flagging career at Torquay United.

The 24-year-old, currently out of favour at Leyton Orient after loan spells at Stevenage and Chester last season, has spent all week at Plainmoor and will play in a make-or-break trial match on Tuesday.

Tate has previously had spells at Sunderland, Scarborough and Halifax Town.

HARTLEPOOL striker Gordon Watson is facing a race against time to be fit in time to face the Minstermen on November 1.

Watson is out for between six and eight weeks after breaking his leg in the Pool's 4-1 derby win over Darlington.

With seven weeks between now and City's game with Hartlepool, Watson's unfortunate blow could prove City's gain.

The former Bradford and Southampton striker had netted five goals this season as the Victoria Park outfit have made a table-topping start to the season.

CITY'S communications manager James Richardson is putting his best feet forward once more in aid of charity and the Minstermen.

Richardson is set to tackle the Great North Run for the sixth time on October 6, raising money for St. Leonard's Hospice and City's Youth Development Fund.

Richardson first completed the half-marathon in 1996 and has only missed one run since then when a knee injury prevented him from taking part in 1999.

Anyone wishing to sponsor Richardson should contact him via e-mail on james.richardson@ycfc.net or can make pledges on sponsorship forms available in the club shop at Bootham Crescent.

ALSO on the look-out for cash-backing is City mascot Yorkie the Lion.

After next Saturday's home game with Oxford, the mane-man will be heading to Huntingdon on the Sunday to take in the infamous Mascot Grand National.

This year's event is raising money for the NSPCC and Yorkie is appealing for donations and sponsorship.

Any fans willing to dip into their pockets can contact Yorkie at next Saturday's game or via the club shop.

Double Chris

IT'S A Chris one-two at the top of the Evening Press player of the year rankings.

Chris Smith still leads after his man of the match display and three points against Rushden last Saturday.

However, Chris Brass has leapt into second place by picking up two points against the Diamonds, then winning the man of the match award against Darlington in midweek.

The remaining point from the Rushden game went to Stephen Brackstone, while Lee Nogan (2) and Tom Cowan (1) received the remaining points up for grabs from the Quakers' clash.

Latest points placings: Smith 12 points, Brass 10, Duffield 8, Parkin 7, Beresford 5, Brackstone 5, Cowan 5, Fettis 3, Nogan 3, Edmondson 1, Jones 1.

Updated: 11:00 Saturday, September 21, 2002