A PRE-MATCH diet of wine gums, bananas and Jaffa cakes for players of a North Yorkshire football team has helped them create a piece of FA Cup history.

For the first time in its 88 year history, Harrogate Town are through to the first round proper of the FA Cup.

Player coach Neil Aspin believes a hat-trick of goodies before kick-off is continuing to work wonders.

Aspin, the former Leeds United player who has clocked up more than 600 league matches, says the energy-giving handouts provide his players with just the boost they need.

Town's latest triumph came with a 2-0 away victory at Wisbech in the fourth qualifying round on Saturday. And that has paved the way for a tie in the first round proper at Farnborough on November 16.

There was a crisis before kick-off at Wisbech when one of the players realised they had not taken enough bananas with them.

"We simply had to buy 15 bananas from the hotel where we stayed overnight in Wisbech," said 37-year-old Aspin, who played in the FA Cup final for Leeds against Coventry.

"The only shock came when we got the bill - it was £15. But we couldn't do without them even at £1 a banana so we paid up despite the amazing price."

Aspin has also played for Darlington and Hartlepool.