BOOTHAM Crescent sharing top billing with Sunderland's state of the art Stadium of Light, Arsenal's history-laden Highbury and Manchester United's 'Theatre of Dreams' that is Old Trafford - surely a flight of fantasy?

But not according to this year's Guide to Football Grounds, hot off the press and now in its sixth year of publication.

According to author Jon Ladd, City and Bootham Crescent offer one of the "best all-round football experiences" in the country.

Sunderland take top billing, followed by Hartlepool in second-placed and Rochdale in third.

The mighty Gunners are fifth, Man United 15th, Newcastle 16th and the Minstermen a creditable 19th - just pushing Manchester City into 20th spot.

The likes of Liverpool, Leeds, Chelsea and Middlesbrough don't get a look in and City are just one of four Third Division clubs named in the top 20.

Describing the outside of City's Main Stand as "done up in a mock-Tudor style on stilts", Ladd maintains "the attitude of everyone at the club towards away supporters is excellent".

He adds: "Helpful and friendly, they will go out of their way to make sure you have a good time at Bootham Crescent."

No fans guide would be complete without a low-down on the pies on offer and again the GFG puts York in a favourable light.

"The pies especially are worth a mention," it states. "They are made by a local firm and combine just the right amount of filling with a perfect pastry."

PERHAPS they are playing hard to get, but I'm still waiting for the call from football's top brass to take charge of England.

The FA's response to my application to be installed as the new England chief - with City mascot Yorkie as my assistant - has been decidedly sluggish.

According to most of my peers in the national press, the hot favourites appear to be Sven Goran Eriksson, Roy Hodgson and Arsene Wenger.

But no news is good news I suppose and having still to receive a rejection letter then I will choose to assume I am still being considered for the biggest job in football!

YORK'S famous Five take on the might of the Premiership tomorrow and have a chance to mix it with the Masters.

The City senior squad's interest in this season's Worthington Cup ended at the first round but a fans' five-a-side team have kept the flag flying by winning through to the third round of the Worthington Fives.

The York Five will play their counterparts from Aston Villa tomorrow in Nottingham in a tournament designed to give supporters the chance to represent their professional club in a national five-a-side competition.

All the amateur teams taking part tomorrow will have a chance to pitch their skills against a team of ex-pros called the Worthington Masters featuring Gary Birtles, Neil Webb and Kerry Dixon.

Victory against Villa will book the City Fives a place in the quarter finals to be played Sunday, November 26.

The squad that earned City's place in the third round with a 17-1 hammering of Stoke in the first round and a walk-over against a no-show Newcastle in the second included goalkeeper Steve Lynn, ex-York City reserve Graham Bootland in defence, midfielders Nick Shaw, Mark Willoughby and Simon Kehoe, and striker Shaun Turner.

YORK City number one Alan Fettis will be the special guest at the Bootham Tavern pub on Monday night.

Super Al has been seconded by landlord Paul Worthington, who has sponsored Fettis for the season, to pick a lucky winner of an all-expenses paid-trip to New York from a prize-draw. The evening kicks off between 8pm and 9pm.

REMEMBER, remember the 1st of November. Tickets are still available for a City Reds fireworks night at Bootham Crescent on Wednesday.

The event is free to City reds but tickets, which can be obtained from the City shop, are limited. A number of City players will be in attendance.