Club class of 2002

Voting forms for supporters to select their Clubman of the Year are currently available from Bootham Crescent, with the closing date for nominations on Monday, April 8.

The award is expected to be made on City's penultimate home game of the season, when the Minstermen entertain Mansfield Town on Saturday, April 13.

The Billy Fenton Memorial Award - in its 29th year - is the most prestigious of the Minstermen's end of season gongs.

Voting figures always remain a secret but this year could prove a tight affair.

Alan Fettis is an obvious candidate to lift the trophy for a second successive year.

The City goalkeeper, who made a clean sweep of the end of term gongs last year, is currently in pole position in the Evening Press rankings.

Should he lift the trophy again, Fettis will be only the fourth player in the award's long history to win it in successive years after Gordon Staniforth, John MacPhail and Barry Jones achieved the feat in seasons' past.

Jon McCarthy and Keith Walwyn have also been bestowed the glittering prize twice, but not in successive years.

However, although Fettis is a leading contender the result is far from certain.

Top scorer Michael Proctor has emerged as a firm favourite with the fans, while fellow striker Lee Nogan has impressed throughout with his consistency and selfless running.

The award seems odds-on to go to one of those three, although the likes of Darren Edmondson and Lee Bullock remain in with a shout, with skipper Chris Brass an outside bet.

Whatever the outcome, the award allows City fans a ready excuse to remember one of the club's brightest lights.

Left winger Billy Fenton was one of the most eminent of characters during the memorable 1950s.

In his first season at City he notched 31 goals to shatter the club's 20-year-old scoring record.

A key member of the side that went all the way to an FA Cup semi-final replay against Newcastle United in 1955, he was on target in the victories over Blackpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

All told, Fenton scored 124 goals - the third highest tally in club history - in 279 League and cup appearances.

Tragically he died at the young age of 46 in 1973, at the end of which season the trophy that bears his name was first presented.

TIME is also running out for City fans wanting to have a say in how their club is run and just who runs it.

As reported in the Evening Press, plans to elect two Supporters' Trust representatives to sit on the boardroom were this week delayed.

However, new owner John Batchelor has pledged the seats will be made available and two Trust representatives will be appointed as directors.

Although the selection process has been postponed for the time being, the Trust will pick its first two representatives from eight nominated by fellow Trust members.

Those eight were members of the 30 or so fans who first volunteered their time and effort for the original Save City working party.

A lack of time has meant it has been impossible to organise a vote for all Trust members to have their say on the 'chosen-two' at this stage.

However, all 15 of the initial Supporters' Trust Board members will effectively resign their positions in May 2002 when the Trust holds its first democratic elections and annual meeting.

Then every eligible Supporters' Trust member will be able to stand for election and vote for who they wish to see on the Trust Board.

The Supporters' Trust has engaged Electoral Reform Services to help handle the election and the process will 'kick-off' at the start of April.

However, anyone wishing to have the opportunity to stand for election and/or the opportunity to vote in May 2002 must become a member of the Supporters' Trust by this Tuesday, April 2.

The Supporters' Trust secretary, Richard Willis, appealed for more members.

He said: "The Supporters' Trust is here to represent the fans and the community in the future running of York City Football Club.

"We want as many members as possible, not just City regulars but anyone who cares about professional sport, the community and the City of York."

Annual membership is just £10 (£5 for under 16s, affiliated through the Junior Reds) or £100 for life.

Membership forms are available on the Trust's website at www.ycst.org.uk or copies of the form and the Trust's glossy brochure can be sent to people by emailing a request to enquiries@ycst.org or writing to York City Supporters' Trust, PO Box 540, York, YO10 3XW.

Since its launch on February 1, 2002, the Supporters' Trust has accumulated over 1,500 members and approaching £100,000 in funds.

THEY'VE done it again. York City supporters have proved themselves the brainiest in North Yorkshire after winning the 12th David Longhurst Supporters' Challenge from their Scarborough counterparts.

The City fans actually lost the second leg of the sports and general knowledge quiz as the Seasiders rattled up 236 points to 227 of the Minstermen.

However, a strong showing in the first leg at Scarborough meant City had the best aggregate - 420 points to 412 - to claim the title for a fourth year running.

THE Yorkie Bars, a football team made up of City fans brought together by the Internet, maintained their improved form of late as they shared the spoils with their counterparts from Sheffield Wednesday.

A Will Thornton penalty fired the Bars in front before Wednesday equalised just before half-time.

Parity was short-lived as Michael Stockdale regained the initiative for the Bars within seconds. But Wednesday grabbed a second equaliser in the latter stages.

A REMINDER to collectors of football memorabilia.

The York City Programme Shop is hosting a programme fair at the Bootham Crescent social club on Sunday, April 7, from 11am to 2pm.

Updated: 11:47 Saturday, March 30, 2002