Getting To Know You - York City

Darren Edmondson
Squad Number: 2
Position: Defender
Age: 30 Height: 6ft Weight: 12st 7lbs
Born: Ulverston
Career (321 League Appearances/ 9 Goals): Carlisle United (214/9), Huddersfield Town (37/0), Plymouth Argyle [loan] (4/0), York City (66/0)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 12[1]/0
Details: Edmondson was snapped up by the Minstermen in March 2000 after he was stifled of opportunities at Huddesfield, where he had been signed for £225,000 in 1996. Previously he had played for his home-town club Carlisle United, making over 200 League appearances for the Cumbrians. He has regularly performed in the back line at York since his move. May struggle to be fit having suffered ankle problems in the past week.

Tom Cowan
Squad Number: 3
Position: Defender
Age: 33 Height: 5ft 9ins Weight: 11st 10lbs
Born: Bellshill
Career (299 League Appearances/ 15 Goals): Clyde (16/2), Glasgow Rangers (12/0), Sheffield United (45/0), Stoke City (14/0), Huddersfield Town [loan] (10/0), Huddersfield Town (127/8), Burnley (20/1), Cambridge United (4/0), Cambridge United (46/3), Peterborough United (5/1)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 12/1
Details: Journeyman Scotsman who played 12 times for Rangers between 1988 and 1990. Having made few appearances in his native country, Cowan moved south to Sheffield United before a successful loan period at Huddersfield persuaded Neil Warnock to make the move permanent. He played over 150 games for the Terriers before crossing the Pennines to Burnley and then into East Anglia and Cambridge. Although he was a first-teamer in his first full season at the Abbey Stadium, Cowan moved on again, and a loan spell at Peterborough preceded the May signing for York. Expected to make a recovery from his left knee problem in time for Saturday's game.

Jonathan Parkin
Squad Number: 5
Position: Defender/Forward
Age: 20 Height: 6ft 1in Weight: 15st
Born: Barnsley
Career (29 League Appearances/ 2 Goals): Barnsley (10/0), Hartlepool United [loan] (1/0), York City (18/2)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 8[3]/4
Details: Well-built youngster who scored the winner for the Minstermen last year at Roots Hall just two days into his initial one-month loan period. Parkin made just ten appearances at Barnsley, where he had served his scholarship. Made a solitary appearance for Hartlepool last year, but after his loan expired at Bootham Crescent, manager Dolan made the move permanent, and Parkin has repaid him with four goals in just eight starts so far this season.

Gary Hobson
Squad Number: 6
Position: Defender
Age: 29 Height: 6ft 1in Weight: 13st 4lbs
Born: North Ferriby
Career (287 League Appearances/ 1 Goal): Hull City (142/0), Brighton & Hove Albion (98/1), Chester City (20/0), York City (27/0)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 10[3]/0
Details: Hobson made his debut at Hull whilst current Hull boss Terry Dolan was in charge at Boothferry Park. Continued to make 142 appearances at centre-back before he joined Brighton during the back end of the 1995/6 season for £70,000. Was captain at Albion during his five-season stay, which included nearly a century of League appearances before he attempted to save Chester City from relegation to the Conference in 2000. He was unsuccessful, and immediately joined York, where injuries have limited his appearances, but he still approaches Saturday's game on the brink of 300 League games.

Chris Brass
Squad Number: 7
Position: Midfielder
Age: 27 Height: 5ft 10ins Weight: 11st 11ins
Born: Easington
Career (198 League Appearances/ 4 Goals): Burnley (134/1), Torquay United [loan] (7/0), Halifax Town [loan] (6/0), York City (51/3)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 13/0
Details: Livewire midfielder, who started his career at Burnley as a full-back. Made 134 appearances for the Turf Moor outfit, but many of these were between 1995 and 1997 when he was almost ever-present. At other times in his eight-year time in Lancashire he struggled for recognition, and was farmed out on loan to Torquay (1994/5) and Halifax (2000/1) during his time there. Now captain of the Minstermen after his signing in March 2001.

Lee Bullock
Squad Number: 8
Position: Midfielder
Age: 21 Height: 6ft Weight: 12st 12lbs
Born: Stockton
Career (97 League Appearances/ 11 Goals): York City (97/11)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 9[1]/1
Details: One-club man who progressed through the ranks. Made his debut as a baptism of fire at Wrexham in the F.A. Cup during 1998, and has slowly moved more and more into first-team contention. Forms an excellent partnership with Chris Brass in the City midfield.

Darren Edmondson

Lee Nogan
Squad Number: 9
Position: Forward
Age: 33 Height: 5ft 10ins Weight: 11st 9lbs
Born: Cardiff
Career (476 League Appearances/ 101 Goals): Oxford United (64/10), Brentford [loan] (11/2), Southend United [loan] (6/1), Watford (105/26), Southend United [loan] (5/0), Reading (91/26), Notts County [loan] (6/0), Grimsby Town (74/10), Darlington (49/6), Luton Town [loan] (7/1), York City (58/19)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 13/2
Details: Ageing Welsh International who has two caps to his name, gained during his spells with Watford and Reading. Those two clubs form part of the nomad's ten-club career, which also includes Southend, for whom he made eleven appearances altogether in two loan spells at Roots Hall, the first in 1987/8 and the second six years later. Nogan began his career at Oxford, and moved to Watford in 1991 for £350,000. He managed a goal every four games for them before a 1995 transfer to Reading worth £250,000. He was marginally more successful with the Royals but moved to Grimsby and Darlington before settling at Bootham Crescent. He has scored more freely in the twilight of his career, and manages 19 goals in 58 League games before this season.

Peter Duffield
Squad Number: 10
Position: Forward
Age: 33 Height: 5ft 7ins Weight: 10st 3ins
Born: Middlesbrough
Career (303 League Appearances/ 104 Goals): Middlesbrough (0/0), Sheffield United (58/14), Halifax Town [loan] (12/6), Rotherham United [loan] (17/4), Blackpool [loan] (5/1), AFC Bournemouth [loan] (0/0), Stockport County [loan] (7/4), Crewe Alexandra [loan] (2/0), Hamilton Academicals (72/39), Airdrieonians (24/6), Raith Rovers (42/10), Darlington (47/14), York City (17/6)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 13/6
Details: Well-travelled and extremely short front man who has blasted six goals from his twelve starts for York this season. Set out at Middlesbrough, but soon moved to Sheffield United in search of first-team opportunities. His six-year stint at Brammall Lane was littered with loan spells at Halifax, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Stockport and Crewe, none of which bore fruit and Duffield decided on a move to Scotland. He cracked home a goal a game at Hamilton in two seasons at Douglas Park, but moved to Airdrie and Raith with less success. Transferred to Darlington in 1998, he moved to York two years later, and has been plagued with injuries during his time there. This season seems to be more promising, but time is running out for the 33-year-old.

Graham Potter
Squad Number: 11
Position: Defender
Age: 27 Height: 5ft 11ins Weight: 11st 13lbs
Born: Solihull
Career (207 League Appearances/ 7 Goals): Birmingham City (25/2), Wycombe Wanderers [loan] (3/0), Stoke City (45/1), Southampton (8/0), West Bromwich Albion (43/0), Northampton Town [loan] (4/0), Reading [loan] (4/0), York City (75/4)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 6[1]/0
Details: Midlander who made a solitary appearance for England Under-21 against Moldova whilst at Southampton. Started out close to home at Birmingham, but didn't break into the first-team and moved to Stoke in 1993. He was a regular during the 95/96 season, and signed for Southampton for £250,000 in the summer of 1996. Made just eight appearances at The Dell before heading homewards to West Brom, but failed o nail down a spot until he signed for the Bootham Crescent club two years ago.

Peter Duffield

Alex Mathie
Squad Number: 12
Position: Forward
Age: 33 Height: 5ft 10ins Weight: 12st
Born: Bathgate
Career (310 League Appearances/ 82 Goals): Glasgow Celtic (11/0), Morton (74/31), Port Vale [loan] (3/0), Newcastle United (25/4), Ipswich Town (109/38), Dundee United (34/4), Preston North End (12/2), York City (42/3)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 2[5]/0
Details: Former Scotland Youth International whose troublesome acquisition of injuries has plagued his career - indeed he is doubtful for the game at the weekend due to an ankle injury. Has yet to score in this campaign in seven games, but averages a goal every three-and-a-half games in his fifteen-year professional career. Started at Celtic, but moved on four years later after just eleven goalless games. Was a sharpshooter at Morton before Newcastle snapped up the front man for £285,000 in 1993. Opportunities were irregular at St. James's Park, and Mathie went to Ipswich for half-a-million pounds during 1995. Was a constant threat to opposition defences at Portman Road, and made a £700,000 switch to Dundee in 1998. Was less pivotal in their team and then Preston's as well, and moved to York in September 2000.

Stephen Brackstone
Squad Number: 16
Position: Midfielder
Age: 20 Height: 5ft 11ins Weight: 10st 8lbs
Born: Hartlepool
Career (9 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Middlesbrough (0/0), York City (9/0)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 12/0
Details: Turned twenty a month ago, and has become a regular member of Terry Dolan's side. Began his career with Middlesbrough, but was on the verge of being released at the Riverside having not played a game for the club. Was spotted by York during a 5-0 victory over the Minstermen in a local cup competition, and was offered a two-game trial. This became nine games during last season, and Dolan then made his signing permanent.

Christopher Smith
Squad Number: 18
Position: Defender
Age: 21 Height: 5ft 11ins Weight: 13st 1in
Born: Derby
Career (15 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Reading (0/0), York City (15/0)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 13/0
Details: Smith was a schoolboy at Leeds, but never threatened to be represented at Elland Road and moved to Reading. He did not rack up any first-team League appearances at the Madejski Stadium, and signed for York in 2001. Played 15 times last year, and is already approaching that figure this time around.

Scott Jones
Squad Number: 24
Position: Defender
Age: 27 Height: 5ft 10ins Weight: 12st 1lb
Born: Sheffield
Career (155 League Appearances/ 8 Goals): Barnsley (83/4), Mansfield Town [loan] (6/0), Notts County [loan] (0/0), Bristol Rovers (58/3), York City [loan] (8/1)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 4/0
Details: Versatile left-sided defender who started out his career at Barnsley. Played over a hundred times for the Oakwell club, but opportunities were sparce and he played on loan at nearby Mansfield and Notts County, although he did fire home two goals in Barnsley's 3-2 victory over Manchester United in 1997. Moved to Bristol Rovers in 2000, but a loan spell at York was made permanent during the summer. A left thigh problem has restricted his appearances this season for the Minstermen, but he is expected to be fit in time for the Roots Hall clash.

Lee Cook
Squad Number: 28
Position: Midfielder
Age: 20 Height: 5ft 9ins Weight: 11st 4lbs
Born: Hammersmith
Career (14 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Watford (14/0)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 1/1
Details: Midfielder who had not scored in fourteen League appearances for his club Watford before he marked his opening match on loan for York away at Exeter with the winner last week. Born in Hammersmith, he was spotted by Watford whilst at Aylesbury United, and the twenty-year-old now has the chance to impress at Bootham Crescent and try to force his way into the first-team either there or back at Watford.

Other players who may make the squad...:

Mike Basham: 29-year-old defender who began his career with West Ham (making a loan appearance for rivals Colchester while he was there). Moved to Swansea, Peterborough and Barnet but has not nailed down a first-team spot anywhere, and this trend continues at Bootham Crescent.
Leigh Wood: Midfielder who has risen through the ranks at York. Four substitute appearances so far this season, now the third year of his scholarship. Nearly 25 appearances overall at City.

Christian Fox: Another who was the Supporters Club Player of the Year in 2000. Has represented England at Under-16 and Under-18 level, but cruciate knee ligament damage meant he made just eight appearances in 2000/1 and he has struggled to regain a first-team spot. Returned to training this week after more knee ligament treatment.

Craig Wilding: Signed in April from Chesterfield, where he was a scholar. Attacking midfielder who has made a few substitute appearances so far this season.

James Okoli: Nigerian defender signed from Motherwell in August. Two games so far for the Minstermen.
Rogerio Carvalho: Brazilian forward signed in August who has appeared four times as a substitute so far this campaign.

Nicolas Mazzina: Argentinian Under-18 and Under-21 International attacking midfielder who signed two weeks into the season. Played at Boca Juniors, and less exotically Swansea. Two substitute outings.

Levent Yalcin: Forward who has yet to open his account in two substitute appearances for City, where he is a scholar.

...and one who significantly won't:

Russell Howarth: Usually York's second-choice goalkeeper, Howarth should be replaced in the squad by John Collinson after his call-up to the England Under-21 set-up. Made his City debut as a 17-year-old in 1999, and has since played seven more times in three years, earning the Young Player of the Year award in his first season.

Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com