TWO professional football players needed hospital treatment after an unprovoked attack when a night out turned ugly.

York City defenders Chris Smith and Neville Stamp were assaulted by a group of men.

Centre-back Smith, 20, suffered concussion as a result of the assault, near Ziggy's nightclub, in Micklegate, and was admitted to York District Hospital.

Stamp, also 20, escaped with cuts and bruises in the incident, which started when a gang of men got out of a red Nissan Bluebird car to confront the pair.

Police do not know how many men were in the group which attacked the two players.

Sergeant Colin Ventress, of York police, said: "This appears to have been an unprovoked attack.

As far as we can tell, there is nothing to indicate they were attacked because they were York City players. It is just one of those regrettable incidents from the city centre."

City manager Terry Dolan said yesterday that he was shocked by the attack, which happened in the early hours of Sunday.

"The lads were just having a Saturday night out together. They have both just moved to the city, and they are two of the quietest lads you could ever wish to meet," he said.

Smith has made four substitute appearances for City this season, but injury has meant that Stamp, who joined the club last October, is yet to make an appearance.

Smith signed for the Minster men in May of this year.