York City

York City
Minstermen seal Dudgeon capture York City have signed defender James Dudgeon from Conference North side Worksop Town. Worksop have confirmed a return to the Conference top-flight for Dudgeon after previous spells with Scarborough, Halifax and Leigh RMI. The 24-year-old centre-back also has previous League experience from a loan spell with Lincoln City when he was on the books of Barnsley. He is York's second summer signing after the arrival of Mark Hotte.

Stockdale stance angers York boss
York boss Billy McEwan has told young keeper David Stockdale to put his football career before money. Stockdale, 19, has spurned York's contract and McEwan says his motivation should be first-team football. McEwan told the York Evening Press: "He's getting his first professional contract and the last thing on his mind should be money. "That should be of secondary importance and he should be grateful York are offering him a contract."

York swoop for striker Donaldson
York City boss Billy Ewan has boosted his striking options by signing former Hull striker Clayton Donaldson. The 21-year-old was released by the Tigers and follows Mark Hotte as McEwan's second summer signing. Donaldson was voted Conference North player of the month last October while on a successful loan stay at Harrogate. McEwan told the York Evening Press: "He's a young player who is very hungry for his chance and he'll bring competition up front."

Conference fixtures are announced
Cambridge United's first Conference game, following their relegation from the Football League, will be away at Forest Green Rovers on 13 August. Meanwhile, Kidderminster Harriers start life outside the League with a home game against Woking. Conference newcomers Altrincham, Grays and Southport have all been handed ties away from home on the opening day. Grays visit Burton Albion, Southport travel to Dagenham & Redbridge while Altrincham go to Stevenage Borough. All the Conference fixtures As is customary, Boxing Day features a number of "derbies" - such as York v Scarborough - with the return fixtures on 2 January. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nationwide Conference opening day fixtures (Saturday, 13 August): Accrington Stanley v Canvey Island Aldershot Town v Tamworth Burton Albion v Grays Athletic Dagenham & Redbridge v Southport Forest Green Rovers v Cambridge United Gravesend & Northfleet v Exeter City Hereford United v Scarborough Kidderminster Harriers v Woking Morecambe v Halifax Town Stevenage Borough v Altrincham York City v Crawley Town Tuesday, 16 August Altrincham v Accrington Stanley Cambridge United v Hereford United Canvey Island v Aldershot Town Crawley Town v Dagenham & Redbridge Exeter City v Kidderminster Harriers Grays Athletic v Gravesend & Northfleet Halifax Town v Burton Albion Scarborough v Morecambe Southport v York City Tamworth v Forest Green Rovers Woking v Stevenage Borough

Duo complete move to Minstermen
York City have signed defender Greg Heald and midfielder Matt Convery. Newcastle-born Convery made 84 appearances and scored two goals for Darlington since his 2001 switch from Sunderland, where he was a trainee. Heald, 33, has joined from Rochdale where he made 32 appearances last season and signed off at Spotland with a goal in the win against Oxford. Meanwhile former Turkey youth international Lev Yalcin has signed a new deal with the club.

York boss rocked by Heald U-turn
York City have been rocked by defender Greg Heald's decision to back out of a move to the Conference side. The experienced Heald, 33, had been seen as a major signing for City after agreeing a deal following his release by Rochdale at the end of last season. "It's a major blow to us. He's wasted my time really," admitted manager Billy McEwan in the York Evening Press. "We had been talking for three or four weeks so for him to say that he didn't want to play is just staggering."

McEwan hails York hat-trick hero
Manager Billy McEwan hailed striker Joe O'Neill after he became the first York City player to score a hat-trick on his debut for the club in 51 years. O¿Neill's treble at Southport was also City's first hat-trick for ten seasons as the 22-year-old vindicated McEwan¿s decision to pick him after suspension. "I'm pleased for him because he's a genuine boy," McEwan said. "It was a big decision to put him in after a decent performance on Saturday and he's rewarded that decision." He added: "He's got a hat-trick on his debut for York City so he will remember that for the rest of his days."

McEwan not carried away by York
York City boss Billy McEwan has dragged the former Football League club back from the brink, but says a permanent fix will take a little longer. York were in danger of a second successive relegation when McEwan took charge in February to become the club's third manager of the season. But after retaining their Conference status, McEwan told BBC Sport: "We've stopped the slide and turned a corner. "But we're not going to get carried away. We've only just started the job." York have started this season with a three-match unbeaten run. And McEwan added: "The early signs are quite encouraging but there is a lot of work ahead. It's a two or three year job, not a one-season wonder before the club is up and healthy again. It's a massive challenge." And it's a challenge McEwan is enjoying now he has had the chance to make his mark and change the culture he found on his arrival at KitKat Crescent. "They were used to losing. They had been relegated and in administration and I could smell that when I came into the club," said McEwan. "It was all depression and I had to change that as quickly as I could. I did that by getting enough points to stay up, which was a big thing because it looked like we could be going down to the next division. "That stopped the slide and then the club underwent a massive overhaul. Not just the first team but the whole club." York re-shuffled their boardroom, administration and youth-team set-up, while McEwan set about re-building the playing side on slender resources. "We had no money to buy players or to pay signing-on fees, so it was a very difficult situation. But you have to get on with it and make the best of it," he said. "We got 14 new players, some on short-term and some on longer term contracts who we¿ve given a chance to. "But I've had nine players making their debuts and you can't just expect them to click overnight. It's a patient job and hopefully they will get better and we can improve and develop the whole structure of the club." Despite taking the longer-term view, McEwan is still disappointed his side did not take maximum points from their opening three games. A last-minute penalty conceded at Grays cost York one of those extra wins and McEwan has been quick to admonish his players for lapses in discipline.

Halifax 1-0 York
A Craig Midgeley penalty after a foul by Mark Hotte on John Grant was enough to give Halifax victory and end York's unbeaten start to the season. York's Andy Bishop had the ball in the net in the first-half but his volley was ruled out for offside and he forced a save from Ian Dunbavin later on. David McGurk missed an easy headed chance from Emmanuel Panther's cross. York striker Clayton Donaldson also went close with a header and later shot wide from six yards.

Striker Mansaram back at Halifax
York City boss Billy McEwan has allowed Halifax Town striker Darren Mansaram to return to the Shay following a month's loan with the Minstermen. But McEwan has not ruled out renewing his interest in the 21-year-old when he recovers from a groin strain. Meanwhile, McEwan is also looking at Grimsby striker Jermaine Palmer, 19. Palmer, who has just completed a month on loan with Conference rivals Scarborough, will spend a few days training at KitKat Crescent.

Ekoku leaves Crawley in loan move
Crawley Town striker Danny Ekoku has joined Conference South side Sutton United on a month's loan. Ekoku, 19, has made six appearances for the Red Devils, without scoring, since joining from Bradford in the summer. He was also a pre-season target for York, but has had limited opportunities since Daryl Clare's arrival. Ekoku, whose uncle Efan started out at Sutton in the late 1980s before moving into the League, has been allowed to play for the U's in the FA Cup.

York City snap up teenager Rhodes
York City have signed teenager striker Alex Rhodes after he impressed in a FA Cup youth match against Marine. The 16-year-old Rhodes, who scored two goals against Marine, was recommended to the Minstermen by former York City player Gordon Staniforth. "It's been my ambition to represent my home team and to become a professional footballer," said Rhodes. "I am now one step further to reaching those two goals," Rhodes told the York City website.

England XI off to winning start
England's National Game XI launched their European Challenge Trophy campaign with a 2-0 win in Belgium. Goals from York striker Andy Bishop and Hereford frontman Danny Carey-Bertram clinched victory in Wavre. The win stretched England's unbeaten run under Barnet boss Paul Fairclough to seven games. Holland and Italy also feature in the competition, which sees England fielding an Under-23 side of players from outside the Football League. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- England Robinson (Morecambe), Mkandawire (Hereford), Charnock (Northwich Victoria), Perkins (Morecambe), Oli (Grays Athletic), Craney (Accrington Stanley), Wales (Yeading), Carr (Northwich Victoria), Boyd (Stevenage Borough), Bishop (York City), Slabber (Grays Athletic). Subs: Jones (Exeter City), Brown (Tamworth), Carey-Bertram (Hereford United), Mackail-Smith (Dagenham & Redbridge), Jones (Exeter City)

McEwan praises York performance
York boss Billy McEwan had mixed feelings after they conceded a late goal to lose 2-1 to Grays. "The result's disappointing, but the performance wasn't," he said. "The standard of football, on a very difficult pitch, was excellent, and I was pleased with all of the team, as the boys worked their socks off. "The build-up to our goal was fantastic - Joe O'Neill showed great technique. We've scored a lot of good goals this season, but that's up amongst them."

Stimson relieved with win at York
Grays Athletic boss Mark Stimson was pleased to end a run of five Conference games without a win by winning 2-1 at York to stay fourth in the table. "It was a hard three points against a good side," Stimson said. "York got off to a great start with Joe O'Neill's goal from 25 yards which I don't think Peter Schmeichel would have saved, let along Ashley Bayes! "But I can't ask any more than what the boys gave me - they competed very well and got the two goals."

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