YORK City’s stalwart defender David McGurk has admitted he hit the bottle after last season’s play-off final defeat to Oxford at Wembley.

The Minstermen’s longest-serving player looked disconsolate at the end of the 3-1 loss in May and drowned his sorrows over the following days.

But the 27-year-old centre-back is looking forward now and is confident that the club can mount another promotion challenge in 2010/11.

McGurk will play no part in tonight’s pre-season friendly against Barnsley at Bootham Crescent (7.30pm) due to a calf injury but, after being presented with The Press Player of the Year award for his efforts last season, the ex-Darlington defender expressed his optimism ahead of the coming campaign.

He said: “To be honest, I went on a three-day bender after the play-off final as I just wanted to forget about it. It hurt massively because I wasn’t over-confident but I was very confident we could win the game and get promoted.

“The Conference is a difficult league to get out of and what a chance we had, but I would be disappointed now if we are out of the top five this season. I don’t want to set expectations too high, but we have kept hold of the majority of last season’s squad and we know the gaffer has got a good eye for a player.

“The new ones have looked good in training and hopefully they will take that into the league.”

Two of the new recruits, Greg Young and Duane Courtney, have been drafted in after Ben Purkiss and Luke Graham – both members of the back four that ended a record-breaking campaign in terms of goals conceded – moved on to pastures new.

Right-back Purkiss joined play-off victors Oxford while McGurk’s central-defensive partner Graham opted for a move closer to home with former club Kettering. McGurk, though, believes the new signings are capable of helping City maintain their miserly ways at the back.

He said: “It was disappointing to see Ben and Luke go but it was on the cards, especially with Luke as the travelling was hard for him and he did not want to move up here. But I know Greg Young is a good, solid player from when we’ve played against him in the past.

“He looks a good signing and will be competing for a place along with the rest of us. I don’t know as much about Duane but, from what I have heard, he will be a good replacement for Ben.”

McGurk has pencilled in Saturday’s home match with Morecambe as a possible date for his return but, following his third calf injury in a year, admits it is an area he needs to now address, saying: “I did this injury on the running track during an 800-metre run.

“I felt my calf tighten up and dropped out straight away. I’ve had problems with both calves before so I will have to work on strengthening them once I get fit.

“I’m hoping to be fit for Saturday’s game and, if not, the following Tuesday. If I can get back for two or three weeks of the pre-season, I will be fit enough to start the season.”

McGurk’s The Press Player of the Year award was the second time he has received the accolade, four years on from the first in 2006.

It is the only trophy based on marks given for every game throughout the season and McGurk admitted: “I’m very happy to win it. I felt last season was probably my most consistent, so it’s nice to get a reward for it.”

Richard Brodie and Michael Ingham won the club’s other Player of the Year prizes last season and McGurk agreed that both, along with left-back James Meredith, were worthy contenders.

He also emphasised how vital he feels it is that Brodie remains a City player during the coming season.

“I voted for Brodie as the Players’ Player of the Year because to score 37 goals is something else in this league,” he said.

“Hopefully, we can keep him for this season because he will be an important player for us again.

“It was tough, though, to choose someone last season because ‘Inghy’ was superb and consistent, and ‘Mes’ improved as the season went on as well.”