YORK City will come up against a home captain determined to prove a point at Tamworth tomorrow afternoon.

Former Scarborough, Kidderminster and Lincoln City defender Simon Weaver started the season on a non-contract basis at KitKat Crescent but left without making an appearance before the transfer window closed at the end of August.

Weaver, 28, opted to join Tamworth, fearing he would not get a chance with the Minstermen because of the form of first-choice centre-backs David McGurk and James Dudgeon.

Ironically, McGurk and Dudgeon both look set to miss tomorrow's game after being bedevilled by injury and illness in recent weeks but 6ft 1in skipper Weaver is still out to impress at the Lamb Ground.

He said: "I'm really looking forward to the game. I want to prove myself to be a good player and show Billy McEwan what he's missing out on.

"It should be a cracking game because they are a big club at this level and will bring a fair few fans down here so it should be a good atmosphere.

"Hopefully, we will get the right result on the day because we owe the manager a good performance after the Halifax display.

"If we are to win, though, we will have to be 100 per cent up for it, no less."

No team has conceded more goals than the 29 Tamworth have shipped in the Conference this season but Weaver has quickly become a fans' favourite with some solid performances since filling the considerable boots of man-mountain and former skipper Matt Redmile, who departed for Hinckley United two games into the new campaign.

South Yorkshire-based Weaver travels into Tamworth with another former York City defender Graeme Law, who has been impressed with the ex-Sheffield Wednesday trainee's impact in Staffordshire.

Law, who hopes to be available for tomorrow's game after a hamstring problem, told The Press: "Simon has done really well at the back.

"He's a really good centre-half and he's a bit of a leader. He's loud and strong and has been a big improvement to the team and a good addition to the squad."

Weaver looks likely to be without regular defensive partner and on-loan Lincoln centre-back Tom Kemp after manager Mark Cooper's decision to field first-team players in Tuesday night's reserve 2-1 victory over Stafford Rangers backfired.

Cooper took the measure as punishment for the lacklustre 3-1 defeat at Halifax, but Kemp picked up a groin strain and striker Matty Williams limped out of the action after only 15 minutes with an ankle problem.

Both are now rated doubtful for tomorrow with Kyle Storer likely to replace Kemp.

Former Swindon Town midfielder Dave Bampton, a recent inclusion in the England National Game XI squad, is already ruled out until the end of January with a knee injury.

Taiwo Atieno, who started his career at Walsall before scoring goals during loan spells at Rochdale, Chester and Kidderminster, is the team's leading marksman with five goals from 13 games.

The 6ft 2in striker, who is 21, started the season at high-flying Dagenham but left after just three substitute outings.


Tamworth v City match points

Compiled by David Batters

CITY have made two previous Conference visits to Tamworth.

In 2004/05 they lost 1-0, while last term they won 3-0 with two goals from Clayton Donaldson and one from Mark Convery. The line-up on September 27, 2005 was: Porter, Price, McGurk, Dudgeon, Merris, Convery, Panther, Dunning, Stewart (O'Neill), Bishop (Palmer), Donaldson.

Players to have appeared for both clubs include Paul Barnes and Darren Mansaram.

It Happened on October 21

1950: A goalless draw at New Brighton and City were mid-table in Division Three North.

1967: City remained bottom of the Fourth Division and without a win in 13 outings after a 0-0 draw at Crewe.

1978: Gary Ford made his debut at the age of 17 in a 3-0 reverse at Reading and City were in the bottom half of the Fourth. The hosts were top and the attendance at Elm Park totalled 12,031.

1989: City moved up to sixth in Division Four with a 2-1 win at Hartlepool. Gary Howlett and Gary Himsworth were the marksmen.

1995: Bristol City won 1-0 at Bootham Crescent and City dropped to 18th in the Second (League One). The crowd was 3,367.

1997: Rodney Rowe scored the equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Northampton Town. City were sixth in Division Two (League One).

2000: On loan from Aston Villa, Neil Tarrant was the scorer in a 1-1 home draw against Leyton Orient. The attendance was 2,744 and City were 21st in the Third (League Two).

2003: City were tenth in Division Three (League Two) after a 2-2 draw at home to Oxford United with goals from Lee Nogan and Richard Hope.