York City introduced the next crop of youngsters they hope to groom for footballing stardom to the Bootham Crescent faithful last weekend.

As first revealed in this column last month, Chris Hogg, Graeme Law, Sean Davies, Michael McKenzie, Matthew Coad and Levent Yalcin have been offered three-year youth trainee scholarships next season.

The six starlets were unveiled to the crowd during the half-time interval of City's pulsating 3-3 draw with Cardiff.

Middlesbrough-born Hogg has captained England Under-15s this season as well as City's under-16s and played in the intermediates' narrow FA Youth Cup fourth round defeat at Wolves.

Copmanthorpe-based Law, a player comfortable in any position down the right, also played for the Under-19s' FA Youth Cup run.

Fellow York youngster McKenzie, from Acomb, can play in central midfield or at right wing and was also named in the squad that played at Molineux.

Coad is a central midfielder from Darlington while Sean Davies, a centre-back, and Levent Yalcin both hail from Middlesbrough.

The six will officially start their scholarships in the summer alongside the club's current crop of first years: strikers Luke Ibbotson and Daniel Barry, defender Stuart Wise, goalkeeper Mark Hampshire and midfielder Marvin Boyce.

They will join goalkeeper John Collinson, midfielder Ben Rhodes, winger Marc Salvati, centre-half Peter Vasey, striker Scott Emmerson, midfielder Leigh Wood and winger Kieran Darlow - the latter three all recently involved with the first team - who will progress into their third and final year.

City's sole remaining third year trainee, John Fielding, has been offered a one-year contract by the club.

CHRIS Hogg's next chance to lead his country could come this summer against, among others, the boys from Brazil.

England Under-15s were due to take part in the Ballymena International tournament in Ireland next week but the tournament has been cancelled because of the foot and mouth crisis.

I understand, having played for England in the Montaigu Tournament in France earlier this month, Hogg was not scheduled to travel to Ireland.

While the 'Ballymena squad', minus Hogg, will now play in some hastily arranged friendlies at Lilleshall, Hogg's next chance to add to his growing collection of international caps will come in July.

A tournament being staged in the north-west of England from July 9-15 will see England take on the likes of Brazil and Italy and Hogg has been earmarked for inclusion.

MINSTERMEN fan-on-the-run Simon Birch ensured City enjoyed capital gains during last weekend's London Marathon.

Season-ticket holder Birch wore his City shirt with pride as he completed the gruelling 26-miles in a time of 3hrs 28mins.

It was the sixth time the Acomb-based runner has completed the course while 'representing' City but his tenth marathon in total.

Birch was running as part of the Flora Football Challenge, whereby every club is invited to send a runner to represent them.

Fellow City fan Andy Heppell, the man who walks around the Bootham Crescent pitch at half time with the blackboard showing the raffle winner, completed his eighth London marathon. Tomorrow he is due to run his 120th half-marathon.

CITY fans proved themselves the Manchester United of the quiz world by winning the 11th David Longhurst Supporters' Challenge for a third successive year.

The first-leg of the sports and general knowledge quiz played at Scarborough was tied after fans representing the Minstermen and Seasiders went head to head.

However, the City fans proved their brain power in the second and final leg, winning by 246-220 points at City's Social Club.

The top team on the night was Fired Phiffers Fearsome Follies, a City contingent who also won the first leg.

City Supporters have now won the tournament four times in total.

FORMER York City midfielder Nigel Pepper has lost his battle to regain fitness for Scunthorpe's remaining games this term.

Pepper broke his leg in Scunthorpe's first game of the season against Kidderminster when he retaliated after a late challenge. He had the unusual distinction of being red carded as he was stretchered off.

Like City striker Peter Duffield, Pepper has made good progress and was hopeful of soon featuring in an Iron shirt.

However, like City with Duffield, Scunthorpe have called time on Pepper's hopes, instead telling the midfielder to concentrate on being ready to start pre-season with a bang.