THE truth is out: assize does matter. Many local charities have benefited from the thousands of pounds raised by York's annual Assize of Ale. And the Millennium event is almost upon us.

The Guild of Scriveners organises the beano, which involves teams dressed up in medieval garb sampling the beer in city centre pubs. It dates from the 13th century when a royal charter of Henry III ordered the Sheriff of York to test the ale in the many public houses of the city annually.

Master of the Guild Karen Russell and Assize of Ale co-ordinator Maureen Singleton donned this retro gear from Fantasy World in Fulford to spread the word: the next Assize is on Saturday August 12.

With a little luck and a following wind, The Last Drop Inn, York Brewery's first pub on Colliergate, may be open in time to take part.

It's a great event and four good causes will benefit, so please give generously on the day.

u WHEN a seasoned ex-pro plays in a pub football tournament you expect him to leave his mark on the event.

And former York City star Andy McMillan's contribution to the Bootham Tavern five-a-side tournament staged at York University this week was no exception.

Even with a Wembley play-off final under his belt, the pressure of a quarter-final penalty shoot-out for his pub side was too much for him. He missed - costing the team a place in the next round.

Bootham Tavern, including their pro, were hot favourites from the minute the tight jerseys were pulled over beer guts by staff and regulars from Exhibition Group pubs.

The majority of the pubs in the North Yorkshire pub empire put up a team for the inaugural competition, with a few landlords even daring to take part themselves.

More sensibly, Frank Cartin, the boss at the Snickleway, and Jim Melsom, at the helm at Thomas's, decided to leave it to the youngsters as they supped from the beer cooler.

Not so James Tillotson, from the Red Lion, whose performances stunned the spectators.

Surprisingly fit for a seasoned barman, his silky skills didn't quite match his expertise behind the bar, and his team earned fewer points than they sank pints later that day.

As with any pub football tournament, organisation can be difficult, but Paul Worthington and Sharon Smith did a wonderful job on behalf of the Bootham Tavern keeping things running smoothly and ensuring there were enough sarnies back at the boozer for the players.

Both the Bootham Tavern teams went out in the early knock-out stages, and rather embarrassingly the winners were one of two non-pub teams in the contest.

More embarrassingly still, the winners were actually the Evening Press with Dan Beergutstein saving four penalties in a semi-final shootout and reporter Matthew 'The Wizard' Woodcock scoring both goals in the final.

u FLAMING heck - we've cobbled together a hot competition, with a searching question and a worthwhile prize.

Next Saturday sees the first beer festival to be held at York Fire Station, and thanks to those generous boys in blue (with yellow helmets and trousers) we are giving away four tickets to the event, worth a staggering £24.

The beer festival, an attempt by the ale-loving secretary of the social club to boost flagging morale, kicks off at 7pm on July 29 and tickets are £6.

The price includes five tasting tokens (and all the beers are good local brews) and a food voucher, but two lucky winners can win a pair of these sought-after tickets by winning our comp.

You have until next Thursday to come up with amusing/clever names for pubs which these firemen could run - the best two win the tickets.

Examples we came up with were the Hose & Crown, The Jump Into My Arms and the Royal Smoak - we're absolutely certain you can do better.

Send your suggestion on a postcard to Chris Titley, Fire Competition, The Evening Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York YO1 1YN. If you don't win then you can always buy them from the fire station instead.

PICTURE: LEFT: Master of the Guild Karen Russell, left, and Assize of Ale co-ordinator Maureen Singleton dressed for the occasion outside costume shop Fantasy World in Fulford Road, York

Picture: Paul Baker