City’s improved “spine” increases League chance

Aug 3 2008 by lynsey richardson, Sunday Sun

YORK City embark on their fifth season in the Blue Square Conference with high hopes of returning to the Football League — but it will be a tough task as the quality of football at this level has risen year by year.

Teams such as Darlington, Doncaster Rovers, Hereford United, Cambridge United, Oxford United and Torquay have all operated at higher levels in addition to the Conference, and to get back among the leading 92 league clubs in England is no easy task.

York City manager Colin Walker, who took over from Billy McEwan in February, has worked hard in the close season in a bid to improve his squad with limited funds at his disposal.

“Any good team has to have a decent spine and I believe that part of the side has improved since last season,” said Walker.

Goalkeeper Michael Ingham, who played for City on loan from Sunderland in 2003 and was last season with Hereford, has impressed in the pre-season games against Leeds United (1-1), Middlesbrough (2-2) and Barnsley (2-2), although he had to go off with a thigh strain in the 2-1 win at Harrogate Railway.

Mark Greaves, the highly experienced former Hull City and Burton Albion central midfield player — he can also operate as a centre-back — has been made captain and looks to be a good signing as he is a good talker on the pitch, a quality City lacked last season.

Steven Hogg, a left-sided midfield player, had 10 years from junior ranks at Manchester United before going to Liverpool for a year and then Shrewsbury and Gretna, where he played in SPL last season along with Niall Henderson, the former Raith Rovers midfielder and another close season City signing.

Ben Wilkinson, son of former Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds manager Howard and formerly with Hull, has also joined City and will bid for a regular place in midfield.

To complete the front part of the improved spine, City have Daniel McBreen, the 31-year-old Australian striker released by St Johnstone. McBreen spent a month on loan with City last season when he was with Scunthorpe and scored in two of his five games.

His signing means that City have five useful front men in Onome Sodje, Craig Farrell, Richard Brodie and Martyn Woolford, whose skill has resulted in a number of clubs keeping a close eye on his progress.

“I am quietly confident that we can do a lot better this season. The pre-season games have gone well and I would say that the squad of 21 players are fitter than they were at this stage a year ago,” said Walker.

“We will be looking for a good start at Crawley next Saturday and everything so far has been geared to that.”

Michael Ingham, Daniel McBreen, Niall Henderson, Ben Wilkinson, Steven Hogg, Mark Greaves.

Tom Evens, Darren Craddock, Stuart Elliott, Manny Panther, Nicky Wroe, Anthony Lloyd.

ANDY McWILLIAMS

Talented 17-year-old left-back, impressive in pre-season games.