SO dark has the gloom been surrounding York City in recent seasons that it is difficult not to get too carried away by the Minstermen's promising start to the campaign.

Seven points from nine, second in the table and goals galore - anyone offering that on the eve of the season's kick-off, indeed the 90th minute at Macclesfield, would have seen their hand snapped off.

Of course, it is very early days and thinking of the match at Moss Rose provides a welcome reality check.

But for the superstitious perhaps another tentative pointer suggesting this really could be City's year comes with the fact this season - 2002-03 - has the number three in it.

Rather like the myth that Spurs always win a trophy when the year ends in one, three has certainly served as a good omen for City in recent times.

City's first ever season was, of course, the 1922-23 campaign and in 1973-74 City gained promotion from the old Division Three.

In 1982-83, City won ten consecutive home fixtures and lost just once at Bootham Crescent all season, while in 1983-84 the Minstermen won the old Division Four championship with a record 101 points.

In 1992-93, City played at Wembley for the first time and won promotion to Division Two after beating Crewe at Wembley, while the following season 1993-94 saw City reach the play-offs again.

Clutching at straws?

Maybe, probably - yes.

But, if nothing else, at least if City fail to maintain their good start to this campaign then for those of us who love to live in hope there is always next year.

ON the subject of City's fine start, chairman John Batchelor came up with one of the quotes of the week when he told the Evening Press: "When was the last time York had a Brazilian up front, were top of the league and scoring goals for fun?"

As one wag on the Press sports desk suggested: "When was the last time just one of those could be applied to York City?"

BANK Holiday Monday visitors Boston United knocked Bristol Rovers out of the Worthington Cup 2-0 in midweek when the Pilgrims' rearguard boasted a decidedly North Yorkshire feel to it.

The United back four was made up of Thompson, fellow ex-City defenders Matt Hocking and Ray Warburton and former Scarborough defender Paul Ellender.

THE York City supporters' Trust will have a stall in Parliament Street in York city centre on Bank Holiday Monday, ahead of City's clash with Boston.

Trust members will be on hand to answer questions from supporters or those who want to find out more about the organisation's work from 10am to 1pm.

POOR Michael Proctor continues to bang in the goals for Sunderland's reserves but still seems no closer to forcing his way into the first team at the Stadium of Light.

Proctor, City's 14-goal top scorer last season while on loan from the Black Cats, scored twice in midweek as Sunderland's Under-21 squad beat Barcelona 3-1 to win the Jersey Football Tournament.

Proctor scored four goals in total in the competition, which included teams from Manchester United and Sporting Lisbon.

However, for all Proctor's goal-plundering exploits Sunderland boss Peter Reid seemingly remains unconvinced.

Kevin Phillips, Kevin Kyle, Niall Quinn, David Bellion and Michael Reddy are ahead of him in the pecking order, while Reid has been linked with Robbie Keane, Michael Mols, Tor Andre-Flo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in recent weeks.

Proctor must be wondering what he has to do to fulfil his school boy dream and actually make a senior appearance for his home-town club.

BOOKINGS are now being taken for York City's first dinner and dance evening of the new season.

The event will be staged in the Voltigeur Suite of York Racecourse on Wednesday, September 25.

Tickets are priced at £30 each and can also be purchased in tables of ten.

For further details contact City's commercial manager Peter Salter tel 0970 777 1922, extension 6.

'Tabloid' teaser tilts Tommo triple threat

IT WILL be interesting to see the sort of response former City chief Neil Thompson will get when his Football League newcomers Boston United arrive at Bootham Crescent on Bank Holiday Monday.

Thompson didn't have the best of times during his short reign as City chief but a more decent fellow you couldn't wish to meet.

However, perhaps the former Ipswich defender has already put even more mockers on Boston's chances of staying up this season.

Deducted four points for financial irregularities, Thompson has hardly helped the Pilgrims' cause by agreeing to pen a regular article for the 'Backpages' column of The Guardian's excellent Monday sports tabloid supplement.

There's nothing controversial in it as Thompson talks about life as a caretaker manager in Division Three.

But last season Neil Redfearn, who ironically is now plying his trade at York Street, wrote a similar column while with Halifax Town who, of course, were relegated from the basement to drop into the Conference.

During the summer, it was a different ball game in the Guardian as Wakefield Trinity's head coach Peter Roe penned a column about life as boss of a Super League outfit.

Roe was sacked in July.

No doubt Thompson will be hoping it's not a case of bad things coming in threes.

Updated: 11:15 Saturday, August 24, 2002