YORK City's new owner, John Batchelor has agreed to become 'honorary president' of the Harrogate Minstermen, the new branch of the official Supporters' Club.

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. Membership has now risen above the 40 mark.

One of the aims of Harrogate Minstermen is to offer regular and affordable travel to away fixtures, with the branch's first minibus running to this afternoon's match at Macclesfield Town.

At the branch's first meeting, it was agreed to also run a minibus to City's last game of the season, at Scunthorpe.

The Harrogate Minstermen's next meeting will be on Monday, April 8, at the Board Inn, Knaresborough.

For more details on the meeting or the branch, contact Steve on 07944 717398 or Paul on 07730 775193, both after 6pm.

Updated: 11:46 Saturday, March 30, 2002