City's shooting star

Unfortunately, Terry Dolan has not beefed-up his squad by signing the likes of a Zidane, Beckham or Figo.

But the news is even more astronomical than that and the new signing, a universally acknowledged star, is certainly very high-profile.

As a 30th wedding anniversary present Gilly McCauley of Otley bought her husband, Pat, his own personalised star.

After much consideration, Gilly decided to have the star named Bootham Crescent, in recognition of Pat's 44-years of devotion to the Minstermen.

For galaxy gazers, 'Bootham Crescent' is in the Hercules constellation of stars and can often be seen with the naked eye.

Pat, 53, a university lecturer who hails from York but moved to Otley some 21 years ago, admitted he was star-struck by his wife's gift.

"The Delta Quadrant branch of the York City Supporters' Club sends the team their best wishes for the season and looks forward to seeing next week's match report in about the year 3000," he joked.

FORMER York City winger Craig Skinner has turned up in the Conference and is now plying his trade with Leigh RMI.

Skinner, who had his contract terminated by mutual agreement with City during the summer, is halfway through a month's trial with the Railwaymen.

Ironically, although he missed Leigh's 3-1 win at Morecambe in midweek, in less than three weeks Skinner has already celebrated a hat-trick of appearances for RMI.

That is only one less starting appearance than he made in his two and a bit seasons with the Minstermen following his £30,000 move from Wrexham in March 1999.

FINGERS crossed that former York City trialist Andy Douglas makes a full recovery after being left critically injured in a stabbing incident on Tuesday.

Douglas, who appeared in the Channel 4 survivor show Shipwrecked, was stabbed in the chest when he and Watford and England Under-21 star Paolo Vernazza disturbed a burglar.

Douglas needed life-saving surgery following the attack and is currently recovering at an East London hospital.

Vernazzo escaped with stab wounds to the leg after catching the burglar in his Islington home.

In January 2000, Douglas played in City colours in a trial match when the Minstermen were under the stewardship of Neil Thompson.

He was on the books of Sheffield Wednesday at the time but was about to be released from Hillsborough. Thompson did not follow up his interest in the youngster, whose brother, Stuart, played against City last month for Luton.

YOUNG football fan Mike Eddon took the lead in Monday night's Under-19 international between England and Iceland at Bootham Crescent.

Mike, 12, from Rawcliffe, York, won our Evening Press competition to be the mascot for the international visitors, leading the Icelandic team out onto the pitch.

Mike (pictured below) failed to bring his adopted team much luck as England ran out 2-0 winners.

But he still had a night to remember and as well as serving as the team's mascot got to keep his Icelandic strip as part of his prize.

YORK City get a name check in the latest footballing film, Mike Bassett: England Manager.

Proving football really is a 'funny old game', a Minstermen midfielder known as Hedges gets a surprise call up into the England squad.

Without wanting to spoil the gag, a cigarette packet rather than talent plays a part in his nation's call to arms.

FROM the big screen to the little screen, eagle-eyed City fans may have caught a fleeting glimpse of City chief Terry Dolan in his younger days just last week.

The City manager was spotted in Yorkshire TV's nostalgia-laden The Rock and Goal Years being put through his paces while a player with Bradford Park Avenue.

The rare, black and white footage was taken just a few short months before Park Avenue failed to gain re-election to the League in 1970,

Just a few months later Dolan moved to Huddersfield Town for a £7,000 fee.

His move to the Terriers meant Dolan was again featured in this Wednesday's programme, when Town suffered relegation to the old Third Division.

CITY'S small screen endeavours haven't ended there though.

A nap hand of Minstermen fans were in Manchester last Sunday representing their favourite club in the new ITV Sport Channel quiz show Do I Not Know That.

Supporters representing every club in the Premiership, the Nationwide Leagues, Scottish Premier League plus a sprinkling of wild card entries compete for the crown of Britain's footballing facts supremos.

Although the efforts of the City quiz team, featuring communications manager James Richardson, match day announcer George Rowe, regular programme contributor Nick Sanderson plus fans Tim Turner and Andrew Fulton, have yet to be broadcast, I understand they did the Minstermen proud.

They are due to return to Manchester to film for their final 'games' in the league format in January.

Another good performance then could see them through to the knock-out stage of the quiz with a silver trophy and an exotic holiday abroad for each team member up for grabs if they win the actual final.

The show, hosted by Simon O'Brien, is broadcast Monday to Friday at 6pm and repeated at 11.30pm every night.

THE Yorkie Bars, City supporters' Internet footballing team, just missed out on their first win of the season when they were held to a draw by their Lincoln counterparts last Saturday.

The result is still a boost for the Bars, who had lost their previous outings, were missing five regulars and trailed 2-0 at half-time.

Second-half goals from James Copley and Michael Stockdale and an own goal turned the tide in the Bars' favour but with victory in their grasp a late Lincoln leveller ensured the spoils were shared.

ON-LOAN Sunderland striker Michael Proctor capped a great week by moving five points clear in the Evening Press player-of-the-year rankings.

Proctor, who turned 21 in midweek and extended his stay at Bootham Crescent for another month, also doubled his goal tally with his brace at Lincoln last Saturday.

The double strike was enough to confirm Proctor as club's leading scorer but also earned him the three-point man-of-the-match award.

Strike-partner Lee Nogan grabbed two points for his tireless display and having a part to play in both Proctor's goals. The remaining one point went to the bustling Richard Cooper.

This season's player-of-the-year format sees City's man-of-the-match in each game receive three points, the second best two and the third best one.

Current standings: Michael Proctor 17, Darren Edmondson 12, John Fielding 12, Lee Bullock 11, Lee Nogan 10, Chris Brass 7, Alan Fettis 4, Richard Cooper 2, Graham Potter 2, Mike Basham 1