THE small but loyal band of City supporters who made the long-haul trip to Stoke on Wednesday on the supporters' coach received an unexpected but welcome reward from the club.

As the 20-odd fans gathered at Bootham Crescent to climb aboard their bus, club secretary Keith Usher promptly dished out free match tickets to each and every one.

Perhaps not surprisingly with the tie all-but dead, the players' ticket allocation for family and friends had received only a lukewarm take-up.

But rather than let the tickets go to waste the club were anxious to give its loyal supporters a fillip. Brownie points all round.

THE hardy souls who made the long-trip to the Britannia Stadium were also rewarded with an entertaining game and a City first - the Minstermen playing in a previously unseen alternative second kit of navy blue shirts.

The club launched its new all-white away strip at the beginning of the season, but both that and the club's traditional red-lead ensemble would have clashed with Stoke's red and white striped kit.

With trips to Chelten-ham and Exeter, who also wear red and white, to come this season and after discussions with kit manufacturers Admiral, the club decided against playing in last season's old green and white change strip and instead had the company produce the blue shirts.

I understand the club have no concrete plans as yet to put the shirt on sale in the club shop.

However, York's commercial manager James Richardson is in discussions with Admiral as to the possibility of producing a limited number of the shirts, complete with red trim, that could be made available to fans.

Watch this space.

THE official York City Supporters' Club recruitment drive continues unabated with, at the last count 550 members signed up.

The fans' group are looking for a membership of 1500 to earn representation on the City board.

THE drinks in the City boardroom must have been on John Quickfall this week.

The York director is, together with Fulford chartered surveyor Alan Black, owner of a racehorse called Middlethorpe which romped home at Knavesmire a week last Wednesday at very generous odds of 20-1.

TRENDSETTING York City are leading the way in showing their Premiership counterparts how to become the best of enemies.

Last month, this column revealed Football League referee Matt Messias was joining the Minstermen for training, to not only help improve his fitness but to encourage better understanding between players and officials.

Now it seems other clubs are being urged to follow City's lead by worried football chiefs, although Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore clearly hasn't heard of York's trailblazing endeavours.

Earlier this month Scudamore was quoted as saying: "We believe that all clubs should now consider using referees to help them deal with the many situations that they will face this season.

"I understand that Manchester United have called upon the help of Graham Poll and I am very impressed with that idea.

"It would certainly help a lot of teams if they called upon the same experience to try and help them cope better with any disciplinary problems."

YORK City saw its bank account boosted by £20 this week after an anonymous donation.

The postal order was bought from a post office in the Tang Hall area of York but there were no details to accompany it.

"York City Football Club would like to thank the person responsible for this kind donation," said Sophie McGill, York's public relations executive.

THE Minstermen's bulging ranks of past and present international shot-stoppers have been swollen further with one-time world great Peter Shilton signing up to the City cause. Allegedly.

According to Sunday national newspaper Sport First, the former England ace turned out for York reserves last week! Ouch.

With Alan Fettis's understudy, Russ Howarth, on duty with the England Under-18s, it was, of course, former Everton and Wales legend Neville Southall who was persuaded to don the gloves again.

The York curse of Sport First continued in the same edition when a picture caption of City striker Peter Duffield claimed he had opened the scoring for Darlington from the penalty spot in last Saturday's Feethams encounter.

Howarth, by the way, was able to add an Under-18 cap to his Under-17 and Under-16 honours after coming on as a second-half substitute in England's 3-1 win over Israel.

England stormed into a 3-0 half-time lead but as Howarth took to the field, the young lions were reduced to ten men after Leeds' Jamie McMaster was sent-off.

"By all accounts he did very well," said York boss Terry Dolan.

YORK City Ladies FC begin their new Yorkshire and Humber-side Women's League campaign tomorrow with a trip to premier division rivals Thorpe.

City ladies, with new boss Adam Cooper and assistant Andy Nicholson at the helm, are seeking promotion to the Northern Combination League, which they briefly visited in the late 1990s.

The side, who finished sixth out of ten last season, won their final pre-season friendly and, despite two earlier defeats against tough opposition, Cooper feels preparations have gone well.

City were defeated 6-0 by Leeds United Ladies, who play the equivalent of two divisions higher than York, and 3-0 by US college side Ann Arundel, but then beat Canadian college opposition 2-0.

Cooper said: "The performances have been good and some good players have come in."

The ladies, whose first home game is against Preston a week tomorrow, are still seeking sponsorship and anyone interested is asked to call Adam Cooper on 01904 769523.