Premier test nothing new for ambitious Minstermen

Cash will be given to manager Gary Mills as he attempts to guide the club out of the Blue Square Premier Division.

York have already earned 50,000 prize money from this year's tournament following victories over Rotherham United and Darlington.

They will earn a similar sum from Saturday's third-round tie at Premiership Bolton, giving Mills important leeway in the transfer market.

Sophie Hicks, York's communications and community director, said: "We will definitely look to support Gary financially so there could be some new faces coming in later this month.

"We haven't made a huge amount of cash from this season's FA Cup but we would like to strengthen and will do what we can.

"We're in a difficult position because the club lose around 300,000-350,000 per year without a good cup run and/or the sale of a player. Our hands are tied to a large extent but we always try to support our managers as much as possible."

York will make around 50,000 in gate receipts at the Reebok, having agreed a generous ticket price of 15 for adults.

Bolton wanted to keep prices low to ensure the best possible gate, with a crowd of 15,000 expected – including 4,000 from York.

"We negotiated with Bolton over the ticket prices," added Hicks.

"It's a very fine balancing act because Bolton want as many people as possible to go to the match and view a lower ticket price as representing something of a gift to their fans, whereas we obviously want to make as much money as we can from a bumper cup tie.

"In an ideal world, we'd have liked ticket prices to be a little higher but we recognise that times are very difficult for people financially.

"As it is, 15 is around the FA-recommended minimum, so hopefully that will encourage plenty of people to get to the game."

York would have garnered an extra 140,000 had the game been televised.

Instead, the five fixtures chosen for live transmission are

Arsenal-Leeds, Stevenage-Newcastle, Manchester United-Liverpool, Leicester-Manchester City and Crawley-Derby.

"If we'd been drawn at home, I think our match would most probably have been televised," said Hicks.

"That's where the big money comes in – if you get on the TV.

"We're certainly not going to get mega-bucks from this match, but at least we've drawn a Premiership club.

"There should be a terrific atmosphere inside the ground and I know our fans are really looking forward to it."

It is the second successive year York have faced Premier League opposition at the third round stage.

Last season they put in a defiant display before going down 3-1 at Stoke.

York also made around 50,000 from the fixture at the Britannia Stadium, where they stunned their hosts by taking an early lead through Neil Barrett.

But an own goal from Danny Parslow, Ricardo Fuller's header and Matthew Etherington's free-kick spared Stoke's blushes.

Hicks believes York can use their experience of last year's match to inspire them to reach the fourth round.

"We're certainly not looking at this as a jolly or just a nice day out for everyone involved with the club," she insisted.

"We might be underdogs going into the tie but we're going there with the aim of getting a result.

"We want to be in the hat for the fourth round and we proved last year we can compete with the best.

"Hopefully, we can go one step further this time and give our supporters plenty to shout about."

It will be the fifth FA Cup meeting between the teams.

Bolton won 2-0 at their old Burnden Park ground in January 1951 and, in 1958, won 3-0 at home after the first match at York ended goalless.

York won 2-0 at their Bootham Crescent base when the teams met again in the 1970-71 season.

Matches between the clubs have been few and far between in recent years as York have floundered while Bolton have flourished.

Their last meeting was in the League Cup first round in 1991, Bolton winning 2-1 away after the sides drew 2-2 in Lancashire.

Their last league meeting was in 1987, York winning 2-1 at home in the old Third Division.

York go into Saturday's match on the back of an excellent run of form.

They have suffered only one defeat in their last nine league and cup matches, rising to 12th in the Blue Square Premier.

Hicks believes they can inconvenience Wanderers with their fluent style of play.

"Some people probably think we're a typical lower league side and that we just hoof the ball everywhere," she said.

"But we're not like that at all; on the contrary.

"We like to play it on the ground as much as possible and play good football, and we're certainly not a long-ball outfit

"The lads are in great form at the moment, we've got a good new manager in Gary Mills and we're really looking forward to Saturday's contest."