City versus England

On the same day, England entertain Greece at Old Trafford in their vital World Cup qualifier.

City's game with the Grecians will kick off at Bootham Crescent at 1pm, while the England match will start at 3pm.

With the gap between the end of the City game and the start of the England match likely to be less than 15 minutes the situation is certainly not ideal for fans wanting to watch both games.

It will be interesting to see the effect on the attendance the near-clash has, and just what percentage of fans join that strange breed who always seem to leave games ten minutes before they end.

City have taken a bit of flak for the kick-off and it has been questioned why the club didn't move the tie to a Friday night.

To be fair to City, when they moved the kick-off back it was presumed the England game would be kicking off later that evening.

That would have meant a change of date was unnecessary and a 1pm kick-off would have provided fans with plenty of opportunity to get home in time to watch England in action.

Once it was announced the England game would still be kicking off at 3pm, time had run out to move the fixture to a Friday.

According to Football League rules, a club has to apply some four weeks in advance of the fixture to change its date.

In any case, I understand the club did approach Exeter about moving the tie to Friday in the first instance but the Grecians were reluctant to play then because of the needs of their travelling fans.

Although the Football League needs less notice for a kick-off alteration, it was for that same reason it was decided against kicking-off the game even earlier than 1pm.

James Richardson, City's communications manager, admitted the situation was not ideal but believes City had done their best in difficult circumstances.

"We've tried to compromise as much as possible," he said.

"Unfortunately, it just so happens we are playing Exeter. If it had been someone like Halifax there wouldn't have been a problem."

THE Minstermen would have been excused for looking slightly flaky around the edges after receiving a Devon-sent present from last Saturday's hosts Bristol Rovers.

Buoyed by Richard Cooper's last gasp strike that sealed their first point after three successive defeats, the City players were given another reason to enjoy the long trip home.

As they boarded the bus a member of the catering staff at Rovers' Memorial Ground handed over a bin-liner full of unsold Cornish pasties.

Post-match pints are currently a no-no for the City players but given their promising performance against Plymouth in midweek, the post-match-pastie could become the norm.

FORMER York City striker Barry Conlon struck his third goal of the campaign to earn Darlington a point at Macclesfield in midweek.

The Quakers have climbed to fifth in Division Three and Conlon has played his part, according to strike partner Danny Mellanby.

Mellanby, a former Bishop Auckland player, believes Conlon has taken the burden of responsibility off his shoulders.

"Barry's doing really well for us, he's just what we need," he said. "He's good for me and the team because he's experienced so he looks after himself against some of the teams that like to play rough."

ON-LOAN Sunderland striker Michael Proctor (pictured left) has reclaimed outright pole position in the Evening Press player of the year rankings.

A two-point haul for his all-action display against Plymouth in midweek edged him clear of John Fielding, who missed out on the tussle with the Pilgrims.

Darren Edmondson moved level with Fielding for his man of the match display against Argyle, while striker Lee Nogan consolidated his mid-table standing by picking up the remaining point.

Lee Bullock remains on the coat-tails of the early pacesetters after his man of the match performance against Bristol Rovers in the draw at Bootham Crescent last Saturday.

Graham Potter suffered a mixed afternoon in front of goal, scoring his first of the season at the right end then unluckily putting the ball into the back of his own net, but he still did enough to secure his first points of the season.

Skipper Chris Brass was awarded the remaining point.

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

Current player of the year standings: Michael Proctor 14, Darren Edmondson 12, John Fielding 12, Lee Bullock 11, Lee Nogan 8, Chris Brass 7, Alan Fettis 4, Graham Potter 2, Mike Basham 1, Richard Cooper 1.

THERE was good news this week for another former City striker, Chris Iwelumo, who has made a startling recovery from an ankle injury that threatened a lengthy lay-off.

Iwelumo, who spent three months on loan from Stoke City last season, must be hoping to establish himself as first-choice striker at the Britannia Stadium in the light of Peter Thorne's transfer to Cardiff.

However, those hopes looked to have taken a severe blow last Saturday when Iwelumo hobbled out of the Potters' 1-0 win at Bury within minutes of entering the fray.

Substitute Iwelumo came on after 76 minutes but within five minutes had to leave the pitch with an ankle injury.

Badly swollen, it was feared the striker had broken his ankle and he was ruled out of Stoke's 3-0 win over Colchester in midweek.

However, x-rays have now scotched break fears and with Iwelumo back training he was hopeful of being named in the Potters' squad for their clash with Bournemouth this afternoon.