NIGEL Worthington's York City will equal a 50-year-old club record if they beat Burton Albion this afternoon.

Victory over the Brewers would represent a seventh successive league win, which has only been achieved once before at Football League level in 1964.

That side, managed by Tom Lockie and featuring the likes of Norman Wilkinson, Paul Aimson and Tommy Forgan, went on to win promotion from the old fourth division after finishing the season third and just a point behind champions Brighton.

The class of 2013/14 are, however, still three games short of the nine straight league triumphs managed by Martin Foyle's play-off chasing side four seasons ago during the club's Conference years, although that tally incorporates the 3-2 victory over Chester that was later expunged from the records due to a failure to fulfil their fixture programme.

Eight consecutive successes, meanwhile, remains the benchmark in all competitions, including cup ties, with Foyle's side and Sam Bartram's 1955/56 outfit sharing that honour.

This term's team have already matched a club record of five straight league wins away from home and will surpass that if they can defeat Sky Bet League Two leaders Rochdale at Spotland in seven days' time.

Another landmark is also on the horizon with the current run of five straight clean sheets just three behind the longest spell of shut-outs in all competitions - a tally of eight in 1984/85.

That sequence included the famous 1-0 FA Cup triumph over Arsenal and was only ended by Liverpool legend Ian Rush during a 1-1 fourth round draw at Bootham Crescent against the that season's reigning English and European champions.

The 1973/74 City side, on their way to promotion from the old second division, still boast an intimidating target for consecutive league games without conceding of 11 - a Football League-equalling record at the time.

Tuesday's 1-0 triumph over Torquay, meanwhile, saw Worthington's players become the first team to rack up six successive league wins since Denis Smith's 1983/84 Minstermen, including the likes of Keith Walwyn, John Byrne, Keith Houchen and Ricky Sbragia, became the country's first team to rack up 100 points in a campaign.

Worthington, though, does not want his side to reflect on past achievements or get too far ahead of themselves either, saying: "You always gain satisfaction from winning games and you become hungry to keep that momentum going the more you win. There is a real desire to do that now.

"I remember playing against a lot of those players from the 1980s and, with a group like that, I am not surprised they won six games on the spin. But, for ourselves, we have just got to concentrate on the next game and, then, the one after that."

1964/65 record of seven straight league wins

Oct 31: Southport (A) - 1-0 (Paul Aimson)

Nov 7: Wrexham (H) - 2-1 (Aimson, Andy Provan)

Nov 21: Darlington (H) - 2-1 (Norman Wilkinson, Provan)

Nov 28: Crewe (A) - 3-2 (Derek Weddle, Wilkinson, Aimson)

Dec 12: Rochdale (H) - 2-1 (Wilkinson, Billy Rudd)

Dec 19: Millwall (H) - 3-1 (Aimson 2, Weddle)

Dec 26: Chesterfield (H) 7-1 (Aimson 2, Provan 2, Weddle, Rudd, Wilkinson)

2013/14

Mar 1: Exeter (H) - 2-1 (McCombe, Coulson)

Mar 8: Wimbledon (A) - 1-0 (Coulson)

Mar 11: Mansfield (A) - 1-0 (Bowman)

Mar 15: Wycombe (H) - 2-0 (Bowman, Carson)

Mar 22: Portsmouth (A) - 1-0 (Coulson)

Mar 25: Torquay (H) - 1-0 (Hayhurst)

 

GARY Ford - another member of that much-loved, mid-80s team - will be pulling his boots back on for charity a week tomorrow.

The York-born winger will join the likes of 1993 Wembley heroes Jon McCarthy, Andy McMillan, Steve Tutill, Tony Canham and Paul Atkin and 1970s stalwart Chris Topping in a York City Past Players team that will take on a York FA Old Boys XI at Huntington Sports & Social Club in aid of the Martin House Children's Hospice's Good Night's Sleep Appeal.

The York team will include former Minstermen ranging from the age of 32 to 63 and will be player-managed by ex-Bootham Crescent pro and current Huntington Rovers boss Iain Dunn.

Kick-off is at 11am and the game will be refereed by Happy Wanderer Mick Granger's son Mark with admission, including a programme, £3 for adults and free for children.

Food will be available and a raffle and auction will also take place.

York City Past Players squad: Paul Atkin, Steve Bushell, Tony Canham, Jimmy Crangle, Iain Dunn, Rob Ellis, Gary Ford, Russ Howarth, Simon Leaper (guest), Dave McAughtrie, Andy McMillan, Jon McCarthy, Chris Marples, Joe Neenan, Lee Nogan, Shaun Reid, David Spofforth, Marc Thompson, Chris Topping, Steve Tutill.

York FA Old Boys: Jamie Backhouse, Andy Barkway, Graham Bootland, Graeme Butcher, Nicky Cass, Alex Dewhirst, Mark Fenton, Dave Fogg, John Harrison, Jamie Hurst, Mal Ibbotson, Mike Lock, Graham McDonald, Pete Sinclair, Alan Smith, Andrew Thornton, Geordie Topping, Ian Wilson.