Ten points out of a possible 12 is encouraging news for we supporters and surely an indication of what is possible in the remaining matches.

Surely we can look forward to better attendances at the home game as a result of the progress that has been made. The work that has been put in by the players has produced a string of results that has taken the Minstermen to the top half of the table. There is an air of confidence again.

Richard Cresswell is emerging as a striker with much potential and he deserves his chance at a higher level when it comes.

There is going to be a battle for first team places once our remaining injured players are ready to commence playing again. I think we all appreciate that division two is a difficult league to gain promotion from. Luton, Millwall and Oldham are still there and while Fulham have spent an enormous amount of money but are by no means guaranteed automatic promotion to division one.

The two big guns, Manchester City and Stoke City are not having it all their own way either.

We have learned in recent months of the plight of some of the other clubs in the lower divisions, Hull City and Scarborough but to name just a couple. This has not been the case with York City, who by good housekeeping and producing talented young players have managed to keep healthy financial situation. Yet each season we lose some of the money that the club makes because of the low gates we get at most of our home games. We shall probably get a decent attendance for this coming Saturday's Preston game, but what about the games after that?

We need more local supporters to come along and take a look at the team.

Take a look at those recent match reports and then maybe take yourself along to Bootham Crescent. Take a look at the team. Give them some encouragement.

Raymond Wynne,

Manor Drive North,

Boroughbridge Road,

York.

Reasons to be cheerful

As a long standing, and suffering, York City supporter I have done my fair share of chuntering over the years but what a miserable letter, and attitude to start the new year off with from Bryan Lawson in last Friday's Evening Press (January 1).

We have all been thrilled by the recent epic encounters with Manchester City and Burnley - clubs with far greater resources than City - and seen a little good fortune finally start coming our way.

Oldham are a similar sized club to us with a better recent history. What more can you do than win convincingly away from home?!

With the likes of Mark Tinkler, Steve Agnew, Alan Pouton and Neil Thompson returning, the immediate future looks promising.

Okay, knowing City, this situation will soon probably change, but if you can't enjoy good results, from exciting games, in front of big crowds, in an improving atmosphere then you're in for a miserable 1999 Mr Lawson.

Tony Eves,

Danesgate,

Acomb.

Accumulation of speculation

I would like to raise the point of the constant stream of York City 'non articles' in the Evening Press.

With the exception of Monday's match report and Friday's match preview, we are now fed with an almost non-stop supply of, shall we say, 'imaginative writing'.

Barnsley's interest in Cresswell, Barnsley's interest cools in Cresswell, Barnsley with money in their pockets, windfalls of cash from Manchester United (Jonathan Greening still has six appearances to go to trigger a payment, but think how many more articles it could generate).

It is filling column inches with speculation for the sake of filling column inches.

May I suggest if ideas run short, you could always run a series by printing the names of spectators attending the games at Bootham Crescent. Tuesday could be the Main Stand, Wednesday would be the David Longhurst Stand and Thursday the Popular Stand. On any quiet weeks, you could feature the visiting supporters.

Robert Long

The Garlands,

Rawcliffe Lane,

York

Sports Editor's footnote: It is a fact that there is intensive speculation among City fans about Cresswell's future and great interest in the details of the Greening cash payment which were revealed for the first time by the Evening Press.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.