VARIETY is the spice of life for York City manager Terry Dolan as his gaze focuses in on the start of next season, writes Dave Stanford.

With the fixture list pitching the Minstermen against Football League new boys Rushden & Diamonds at Bootham Crescent on the opening day, the City chief admitted it was another testing start for his troops.

On last season's opening day, City travelled to take on Chesterfield, then just relegated from Division Two, and lost 4-1 at Saltergate.

That defeat proved a foretaste of what was to come for both clubs as City fought a relegation battle while Chesterfield won promotion back to the Second Division.

Dolan will be anxious to avoid any repeat of last season's sorry beginning this time around, especially as the Chesterfield reverse was followed by another two defeats.

"It's an interesting start," the City manager told the Evening Press.

"Last year we played a team that came down and then Stoke City in the Worthington Cup.

"This year we play Rushden who have come up and Crewe in the Cup.

"In the space of a few weeks we will be playing a team who were in the Conference last season and a team from the First Division.

"It is a fair variety to say the least."

After Rushden, City travel to take on Torquay on the following Saturday.

The trip has happy memories for the Minstermen, who secured their Football League status last season at Plainmoor.

"It is better going there at this time of year than in the middle of winter," conceded Dolan.

Updated: 11:11 Saturday, June 23, 2001