HERO status would certainly be bestowed upon Billy McEwan should he deliver silverware as manager of York City.

And, for 23-year-old Sheffield United fan Peter Hale, McEwan's recent appearances on Sky television before the postponed home game with Burton Albion revived an interest in his boyhood idol.

Peter has sent us this picture of himself as a seven-year-old with McEwan holding the Division Four trophy, which he had won in 1989 as manager of Rotherham United.

He also wants us to pass on his best wishes for McEwan in his bid to help the Minster-men bounce back into the Football League.

Peter, who regularly visits York to see friends, said: "Billy McEwan was my hero when he was manager of Sheffield United because he had such an aura about him. I was thrilled when I won a man-of-the-match award at a Rotherham United training camp and my reward was to have my photograph taken with him.

"I had lost track of his career and the last I had heard he had been made caretaker manager of Derby so I was surprised when I saw him being interviewed on Sky as manager of York. I was devastated when he left Sheffield United and really pleased when he won the title for Rotherham.

"I am sure he is just what York need now and I would like to wish him the best of luck through the Evening Press."

York Minstermen will be holding a general knowledge quiz in the KitKat Crescent Social Club on Thursday night. The quiz will start at 8:30pm, with the bar open from 7pm.

DAVE Merris had secured the Evening Press Player of the Month award for November even before this afternoon's (November 26) match at Morecambe.

Last season's Evening Press Player of the Year enjoyed an unassailable lead going into the coastal clash, having been our readers' choice as man of the match during the 0-0 draw against Kidderminster and our third-highest rated player at Aggborough to receive a total of three points.

Jamie Price also collected three points towards the Player of the Year and Player of the Month contests as our top man against Kiddermin-ster, with Mark Convery picking up two points as our second-highest rated player.

Latest Evening Press Player of the Year standings: Donaldson 22, McGurk 20, Bishop 14, Merris 13, Dunning 12, Convery 11, Dudgeon 5, O'Neill 5, Price 5, Peat 3, Panther 2, Porter 2, Hotte 1.

Evening Press Player of the Month for November standings (based on Press ratings and including two points per game for the player who polls most man of the match votes from readers): Merris 13, Price 3, Convery 2, Donaldson 2, McGurk 2, Dunning 1, O'Neill 1.

Updated: 10:18 Saturday, November 26, 2005