FANTASTIC fan Martin Whitfield, pictured above, got shirty in the race to bag a new York City away kit.

Martin, 13, of Middleton Road, Acomb, tore a strip in a competition to find the supporter with the greatest number of different City tops.

His multi-coloured shirt tally of 17 - including City's legendary Y-front top, Hansa and Flamingo Land-sponsored shirts and goalkeeping jerseys - just pipped his nearest challengers; fellow York fans James Hutchinson, with 16, and Sarah Pullon, with 15.

Martin, a pupil at Oaklands School, amassed his kit collection, many of which have been autographed and include a signed Richard Cresswell number 15 shirt, through charity auctions and by writing to kit manufacturers.

His dad, Garry, a former steward at Bootham Crescent, was also able to lend a helping hand because of his connections with City players past and present.

"I reckon he has at least two, possibly three more York shirts to add to the 17 but we are decorating the house at the moment and so had difficulty in finding them," explained Garry.

Aside from City shirts, Richard, who plays for British Sugar juniors, has a number of other football shirts in his collection.

They include two signed England shirts, an Under-21 England jersey worn by Cresswell, a Peter Schmeichel autographed goalkeeping top, a Northern Ireland shirt belonging to Jon McCarthy and Manchester United and Middlesbrough signed shirts.

Sales of the away shirt are said to be going very well with the club shop offering a chocolate giveaway with any new T-shirt purchase.

The shop is also on the lookout for new programme sellers for the new season, including the friendly with Manchester United on July 29. Sellers receive free admission and a programme.

Anyone interested is asked to call shop manager Paul Shutt 01904 624447 extension four.

Picture: Nigel Holland