"YOUNG GUNS, go for it" could well be the rallying call for York City this season.

With a mass exodus of 30-somethings over the last six-months, Terry Dolan's new-look Minstermen squad is set to be a fresh-faced one.

Of the 21-man squad, nine are under 25 years of age including eight aged 21 or under with only five players in their 30s.

In addition, three youth team players, Leigh Wood, Kieran Darlow and Scott Emmerson, are all 18, have first team experience and will be pressing for places this season.

The average age of the squad is 25 years - 24 if the ages of Wood, Darlow and Emmerson are taken into account.

It compares favourably with the start of last season when the average age of the squad was approaching 27.

Ages as at start of season on August 11, 2001

Nick Richardson: 34

Peter Duffield: 32

Alex Mathie: 32

Lee Nogan: 32

Alan Fettis: 30

Darren Edmondson: 29

Gary Hobson: 28

Mike Basham: 27

Graham Potter: 26

Chris Brass: 26

Matt Hocking: 23

Richard Cooper: 21

Neville Stamp: 20

Lee Bullock: 20

Christian Fox: 20

Chris Smith: 20

Russ Howarth: 19

Marc Thompson: 19

John Fielding: 19

Trainees with first team experience: Leigh Wood: 18

Scott Emmerson: 18

Kieran Darlow: 18

Thirty-somethings get the boot

Since the turn of the year, ten players over the age of 30 have left Bootham Crescent.

The departures are all part of manager Terry Dolan's plan to build a younger, hungrier Minstermen machine.

The veterans, who have now bade farewell to the Crescent during the year 2001 are: Steve Agnew (35 years of age), Chris Fairclough (37), Wayne Hall (32), Kevin Hulme (33), Barry Jones (31), Mark Sertori (34), Peter Swan (34), John Williams (32), Darren Patterson (31) and Craig Skinner (30).