CASH-STRAPPED York City were today left counting the cost after the eagerly awaited Boxing Day clash with Hull City fell foul of the weather.

The Bootham Crescent derby duel was called-off following a noon inspection by referee Alan Kaye, who deemed the frozen pitch unplayable.

With a bumper crowd of around 6,500 anticipated, the call-off meant City, who were last week put up for sale, lost out on gate receipts of around £50,000.

Although the game will be replayed in the New Year, probably on a Tuesday or Wednesday night, the crowd is unlikely to match that expected yesterday.

To make matters worse for the Minstermen, the club will still have to fork out for the policing, stewarding and ambulance staff that were drafted in for the game.

Because of the magnitude of the fixture, extra police and extra security were deemed necessary to combat any potential trouble. With the fixture taking place on a Bank Holiday costs were further increased.

City secretary Keith Usher put the final safety and security tab facing the cash-starved club at around £10,000.

"It is certainly a blow for the club from a financial point of view," he said.

However, while City were left reeling by yesterday's call-off, the club at least ensured there was cause for some unexpected festive celebration at two nearby residential and retirement homes.

All the catering for the City sponsor boxes and vice-presidents' lounge had already been prepared. But rather than let it go to waste, City were quick to offer the food to two local nursing homes, who were then able to lay on a surprise Boxing Day spread for their residents.

Both City manager Terry Dolan and his Hull counterpart Brian Little were present at yesterday's pitch inspection.

Temperatures in York fell well below freezing on Christmas night and did not rise significantly during Boxing Day morning.

Even at noon, the temperature hovered at the freezing mark.

With most of the pitch in the shadow of the Main Stand, the surface did not have chance to thaw.

City boss Dolan admitted he was "very disappointed" the game against Hull, a club he used to manage, could not go ahead.

"Everyone was looking forward to the game, but the one thing you cannot do is beat Mother Nature," he said.

The City chief was hoping to put his players through a training session earlier today but much would depend on whether the temperature had risen enough to soften the surface at the club's Wigginton Road training ground.

Dolan admitted yesterday's postponement has given striker Peter Duffield, omitted from yesterday's squad, extra time to recover from a thigh strain picked up playing for the reserves last week.

However, the call-off means midfielder Richard Cooper will now miss Saturday's home game with Shrewsbury Town.

Cooper is suspended after picking up five bookings this season. He has been unable to serve his ban after last weekend's game at Rochdale and yesterday's clash with the Tigers were both postponed.

Although a new date for the Hull City clash has yet to be announced, City have set a new date for their Division Three clash at Rochdale.

The match, which was called off last Saturday due to a frozen pitch at Spotland, will now take place on Tuesday, February 5, kick-off 7.45pm.

Tickets bought for yesterday's postponed match with the Tigers will remain valid for the rearranged fixture.

Updated: 11:57 Thursday, December 27, 2001