York City

McGurk extends contract at York
York City defender David McGurk has signed a contract extension. The 25-year-old had previously signed a new one-year contract with City during the summer of 2007, which was due to expire at the end of this season. But new manager Colin Walker has persuaded the former Darlington man to put pen to paper on a new deal. McGurk has made a total of 107 league appearances for York, having had three spells on loan from Darlington before joining permanently in June 2006.

York recruit Vics midfielder Rusk
York City boss Colin Walker has made Northwich Victoria midfielder Simon Rusk his first new signing. Rusk, 26, joins the Minstermen on a free transfer and is understood to have agreed an 18-month deal. The ex-Boston player joined Northwich at the start of the season and made 19 starts for the Vics either side of a month's loan with Rushden and Diamonds. Walker is also looking at Ipswich defender Michael Synott, 21, and ex-Scarborough defender Jimmy Beadle.

McGurk goal gives York late win
York City completed their pre-season schedule with a 1-0 win at Sheffield FC on Saturday thanks to a last-minute goal from centre-back Dave McGurk. The result left York unbeaten in their warm-up campaign, which included home games against Premiership Middlesbrough plus Leeds, Barnsley and Hartlepool. "We've been on a par with the people we've been playing against," said York boss Colin Walker about those games. As for the Sheffield game he added: "I got the answers I was after." Walker added: "I thought for the first 20 minutes it was some of the best football we've played all season." Walker felt some players tried to do too much as individuals when their good football did not bring about a goal, but he added: "We're done now and we've got to get the team ready for Crawley away. "The four home games have been outstanding, not just results-wise but performance-wise and getting the fitness levels up, which is what it's all about. "As a manager now I just can't wait for next week." With keen competition for places, the York players will be sweating on whether they will start the opening game at Crawley next Saturday.

Walker delighted by York display
York City manager Colin Walker was full of praise for his players after their 2-0 win at Woking brought them their first win in seven games. Ben Wilkinson and Daniel McBreen got the goals that won the game for City. "In the first 15 minutes we could have been dead and buried but for the last 70 minutes we were the better side," Walker told BBC Radio York. "The three people in midfield did exactly what we asked of them, and I thought it worked perfectly." He added: "That's what Wilkinson is good at, getting forward and scoring goals and hopefully that will give him the confidence to get more. "It did take a while for the system to work but we got at them and we ground them down. "We did want to shore things up a bit, and the extra man in midfield did cause them problems." Walker also singled out centre-back Darren Kelly who returned to the side in the change to three at the back, calling him "absolutely top class". York are back up to 14th in the table and their next game is at home to Rushden and Diamonds on Saturday. "We have to kick on from here now," Walker added. "And that win will give them lots of confidence." Although the run of six games without a win is over, Walker still wants cover for injured forward Onome Sodje. "The search for a striker is still on and hopefully we'll have one in before we play again."

Hogg returns in reserves for York
York City midfielder Steven Hogg returned to action for the reserves on Tuesday playing the last 20 minutes. The 23-year-old has yet to play for the Minstermen first team this season after suffering from a series of injuries and a bout of shingles. Assistant manager Eric Winstanley told Radio York: "He was under advice to take it nice and easy. "It'll enable him to have maybe a further 10 minutes next game until we finally get him back to full fitness."

Minstermen bring in veteran Dyer
Blue Square Premier side York City have completed the signing of unattached veteran striker Bruce Dyer. The 33-year-old's career has been in limbo for the last few months and he has been training with Bradford City. City manager Colin Walker told Radio York: "I think I've pestered him enough over the last three or four weeks and now he's put pen to paper. "I've worked with Bruce before , he's got a fantastic pedigree and he can bring that to us." Dyer, who left Chesterfield in the summer, scored a goal in a reserve-team game against the Minstermen for Bradford. The former Crystal Palace frontman has made 466 Football League appearances in his career, scoring 117 goals. Dyer trained with York on Monday and is available for Tuesday's home game against Mansfield in the Setanta Shield third round. "Billy and I will be sick of the sight of each other," added Walker on the third meeting between the two teams in 11 days, and the fourth clash this season. Apart from Dyer, Walker added: "Steven Hogg will play, and we'll have a go at getting forward a bit more." York have failed to score in their last three games, prompting Walker to call for more "scruffy goals". Some fans criticised Walker after Saturday's defeat at Oxford, but Walker defended his record of 14 defeats in 55 games as manager. "I think we are a striker away from being very good, now hopefully I've done that today . "I'm not setting all my eggs in one basket with Bruce, but with that experience, his knowledge and his link-up play, it might just help us find that missing ingredient."

Foyle swoops for Trinity's Smith
York City's new manager Martin Foyle has made Gainsborough Trinity forward Adam Smith his first signing. Smith, 23, joined the Minstermen on loan minutes before the loan transfer deadline passed on Thursday. Smith, who will be available for Saturday's game at Salisbury, has previously played for Chesterfield and spent time on loan at Lincoln City. Foyle will not be able to sign any more players until the transfer window re-opens on 1 January.

McGurk injury clouds Trophy win
York City defender David McGurk could miss Saturday's Blue Square Premier game against Lewes after picking up an injury in Tuesday's victory at Oxford. The 26-year-old left the field in the 2-1 FA Trophy win with a calf problem. Manager Martin Foyle told Radio York he did not know how long McGurk could be ruled out for. "Dave McGurk was my biggest blow. I was gutted when he came off because he has been my best player so I was disappointed with that," he said. However, Foyle said overall the injury situation at the club is not too bad. "Ben Purkiss has been running so do I risk him Saturday or do I keep him for Tuesday at Barrow? I don't know yet," he added. Midfielder Steven Hogg also missed the win at Oxford and Foyle said he will not be rushed back after suffering a series of problems since joining the club in the summer. "I feel sorry for the lad really because he hasn't played many games in his career. "He seems to play two games and breaks down and again he's broken down. "We'll have to monitor that one and maybe it's a case of just holding him back at the right time." Meanwhile, Foyle has not ruled out having new faces in for the match against Lewes. "The chairman has been very good. He's been very supportive and from my point of view yes, I do want one or two in and I'd be a liar if I didn't. "But it's got to be the right people. People that want to put the shirt on, people that just want to get in and snap a few tackles and just get themselves around a bit."

York City release defender Hirst
York City have released right-back Tom Hirst after four months at the club. The 18-year old signed for the Minstermen last September after an impressive trial in the reserves by former manager Colin Walker. However he has failed to make an impact in the first team and manager Martin Foyle has released him to help him find another club this month. Hirst also spent time at fellow Yorkshire sides Hull City and Rotherham before joining the Minstermen.

McBreen agrees move to Australia
York City striker Daniel McBreen has agreed to join Australian side North Queensland Fury for the 2009/10 season. The A-League newcomers have announced the deal on their website, however City boss Martin Foyle has told Radio York he has no knowledge of the move. Australia-born McBreen, 31, is contracted to York until June, but is now expected to join Fury in August. Foyle said: "I know nothing. Until he knocks on my door I can't comment on anything I don't know about." Former Liverpool and England striker Robbie Fowler has also agreed to join North Queensland in their debut season in the A-League. Foyle continued: "It's a strange one because it's caught me on the hop but really I'm just waiting for Dan to say something to me."

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