Calling the shots

They have shared 23 goals - Proctor 12 and Nogan 11 - and in doing so have broken a five-year barren spell for the Minstermen.

Not since the 1996-97 campaign, when Neil Tolson scored 17 and Nigel Pepper 14 in all competitions, have City had two players in double figures.

If Lee Bullock, who has nine League and Cup goals following his strike at Macclesfield last Saturday, can get another goal before he goes under the surgeon's knife next Thursday, then City will break another long-standing hoodoo.

Not since the 1994-95 campaign have City had three players hit double figures, when four Minstermen made their mark - Paul Barnes (17), Paul Baker (14), Glenn Naylor (11), Jon McCarthy (10).

That was the first time four players had scored ten or more in a season since the 1983-84 Division Four championship winning season with John MacPhail (10), Gary Ford (11), Keith Walwyn (25), John Byrne (28)

JOHN Batchelor has pledged to make City 'fun' and writers of a new City fanzine are doing their best to put a smile on the faces of fellow fans.

The first edition of Ginner's Left Foot, a humorous and light-hearted look at City life, was a sell-out and number two promises to be bigger and brighter.

The Supporters' Trust is also set to be £100 better off thanks to GLF - the editors are donating the profits from their first edition to the fans' group.

It's good to see a fanzine back on the City terraces. If nothing else they provide a pertinent reminder it is only a game after all.

In recent years City have been one of the few clubs not to have a proper fanzine. The now defunct Terrace Talk of the 1980s was something of a pioneer.

'Ginner's Left Foot' No. 2, if all goes according to plan, will be on sale before the Mansfield game at Bootham Crescent next Saturday, and if not very definitely by the Bristol Rovers game on the following Tuesday.

The next issue will include an interview with former goalkeeper and City's 1981 clubman of the year Eddie Blackburn.

The editors are always on the look-out for articles from fans, which can be sent via e-mail to ycfanzine@minstermen.net or via the post box to GLF, PO Box 605, York YO31 OYU.

ON the subject of fun, did anyone else fall foul of the April Fool printed in last Monday's match programme?

Writing in his column, commercial manager Peter Salter said the club shop was about to take delivery of some life-sized Yorkie dolls, priced very reasonably at £9.99.

Yours truly, sensing a good photo opportunity, actually went to the trouble of asking Peter when they would be arriving.

Not surprisingly, his retort was a fit of chuckles.

I swear I had not read the 'life-sized' bit and would like to think had I done so I would have twigged.

But I can't be sure!

FANS contacting York City will now be welcomed by the wise words of the new chairman.

But before the Minstermen switchboard is jammed by those wanting to chat to John Batchelor, all they will hear is a pre-recorded message, listing the numbers to dial for different parts of the club.

Batchelor's voice replaces that of club secretary Keith Usher.

THE Yorkie Bars, a football team of City fans brought together by the Internet, lost twice over Easter.

Despite an own goal and an Alex Beddingham strike, the Bars lost 7-2 to Macclesfield on Saturday. On the Monday goals from Matt Holbrook and Jimmy Fox were not enough as they lost 5-2 to Oxford.

On Monday the Harrogate Minstermen, the new branch of the official Supporters' Club, host their second meeting.

As reported in the Evening Press earlier this month, the Harrogate branch has been formed by City fans Paul Outhwaite, his father, Nigel, and Stephen Gartside.

Its aim is to serve City fans living in and around the Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon, Boroughbridge and Wetherby areas.

Monday's meeting is at the Board Inn, Knaresborough, at 8pm. Votes for the branch's inaugural Player of the Season award will be taken.

City chairman John Batchelor has been made honorary president of the Harrogate Minstermen.

For more details about the meeting or the branch, ring Steve on 07944 717398 or Paul on 07730 775193, both after 6pm, or e-mail the branch via harrogateminstermen@hotmail.com

Ex-City man tops them all in Europe

HE was bombed out by York City, but Marc Williams is currently Europe's most prolific marksman - and that's official.

You can keep your Hasselbainks, Henrys, Van Nistelrooys, Trezeguets and Vieris, not one of them can match the goal return of the former City striker.

Williams, who is now playing in the League of Wales for his home-town club Bangor, has rattled in 38 League goals, this season including a hat-trick in last Saturday's 6-3 win over Cwmbran Town.

That has put the 29-year-old, who scored nine goals in 22 League starts for City before he headed back to Wales last season, in contention for Europe's Golden Boot award.

Although he has scored the most goals, Lloyd-Williams - as he is now known - is currently in joint-tenth place, with France and Juventus ace David Trezeguet of all people, in the Golden Boot rankings.

That is because of the way UEFA try to take into account the differing standards in Europe's domestic leagues.

Strikers in the leading leagues - England, France, Italy, Spain and Germany - effectively have their tallies doubled.

However, the Bangor bomber, is still leading the likes of Shearer, Morientes, Fowler, Tristan and Kluivert in the race for the title of Europe's leading striker.

Not bad for a York City misfit!

LEE Bullock is making a late charge for the Evening Press player of the year award.

A couple of the man of the match performances, most recently against Macclesfield last Saturday, has seen the goalscoring midfielder join Lee Nogan, who picked up two points at Moss Rose, in third place.

Leader Alan Fettis remains 12 points clear of the duo and two points ahead of second-placed Michael Proctor, but with five games still remaining the race is wide open.

Skipper Chris Brass maintained his improved form of late with three-point haul against Oxford with match winner Graham Potter (2) picking up his first points in a while against United.

The single point at Macclesfield was earned by Leigh Wood, while Jon Parkin picked up the one remaining point against Oxford.

Player of the Year latest standings: Fettis 44pts, Proctor 42, Nogan 32, Bullock 32, Brass 22, Basham 20, Edmondson 16, Hocking 16, Fielding 12, Parkin 12, Potter 8, Duffield 7, Smith 7, Cooper 6, Wood 6, Hobson 4, Richardson 4, Howarth 3, Brackstone 1, Fox 1.

A final reminder that York City Programme Shop host a programme fair at the Bootham Crescent social club tomorrow, 11am to 2pm.

Updated: 12:17 Saturday, April 06, 2002