York City have rightful claims to having the best fans in the land.

Boasting the biggest Supporters' Trust in football and having taken over the ownership of the club is a strong testament to such claims.

But even among City's loyal supporters, Keith Simpson is a special case, making a 550-mile round trip to watch his beloved side play at home every other weekend.

Portsmouth-based Keith has been carrying out the regular journey for the last 39 years since leaving Green Hammerton in 1965 to join the Navy.

On a clear run, a one-way drive lasts four hours and, after leaving his south-coast home at 9.30am, allowing for a pre-match drink in the social club, Keith is usually back for last orders at his local pub in Portsmouth.

His three sons Keith, 33, Andrew, 30, and Ian, 27, are also fans despite being raised in the south and often accompany their father to games and even Keith's grandchildren have now been converted to the City cause.

Keith's closest game this season was the away trip to Oxford, giving him the opportunity to see City on a week night, as he does not make midweek home games.

But he also made the pilgrimage to Carlisle for City's first game of the season - a mere 14-hour round trip.

"My work colleagues used to think I was a bit mad," Keith admits about his City supporting. "I've taken some ribbing especially in the Navy but we can't all support Liverpool or Manchester United otherwise the smaller clubs would die.

"My sons curse me occasionally because I did not support Leeds or Manchester United and they probably got more stick at school. But they did not have any choice - they were given York City kits every Christmas."

Keith is also fulfilling his duty to spread the York City gospel in Hampshire, saying: "We have quite a following in my local pub and they are getting quite interested now. One Pompey fan came to a match with us recently."

Sheila, Keith's sister, still lives in York and has become a Bootham Crescent regular over the last two years with her husband.

Keith sometimes combines a City home match with an overnight stay at their house.

Anybody under-estimating the value of football clubs in people's lives and the importance of York City's survival last season should also consider the role the family-orientated club has played in helping Keith cope with personal tragedy.

"I lost my wife three years ago and I think that has made me go to watch City more to get over it," Keith said. "I used to go to every game before I joined the Navy as a schoolboy and when I first went down south it was difficult to make the journey because of the lack of motorways and often being posted abroad but I made as many games as I could and, when I couldn't, I had the Sport's Press sent to me.

"Now, since leaving the Navy, I've been to more and more matches and this season's been my best. I have made 26 games home and away."

One of Keith's proudest moments was when he was posted for service on HMS York and, in 1985, he persuaded members of the ship's fleet to join him at Bootham Crescent in a special visit that included a tour of the ground.

His youngest son Ian has also recently learned that he will be getting posted to HMS York.

Late postponements have been Keith's biggest nightmare during his long travels to North Yorkshire and he remembers one wasted trip in particular.

"We are quite lucky these days in that there are usually early pitch inspections and I have people who call me up," Keith said. "The biggest wasted journey we had was the Boxing Day match against Hull.

"We did not find out until we got there. We were able to visit family though so it worked out OK."

But the highlight of Keith's York following years actually came at a venue much closer to home than Bootham Crescent.

"Wembley 1993 was probably my best moment as a City fan because I missed most of the 101 points season as I was away serving abroad. Keith Walwyn was also the best player I have seen. I always liked the goalscorers and he was such a prolific one, as well as being a very good player. He was always so happy and for a big guy never lost his temper. It was very sad when he died at such a young age."

Keith was also delighted with the recent news that City had reached a long-term solution to staying at Bootham Crescent but added that he is concerned about the team's current form that has seen a sudden slide down the Division Three table.

He said: "I'm really hoping that all the hard work is not in vain. It would be such a pity if we had overcome all those problems and ended up at the bottom of the League."

YORK City fans will be able to celebrate a year in charge of their football club at Bootham Crescent on Friday, April 2.

The Supporters' Trust are holding a party at the Social Club to mark the one-year anniversary of its ownership of the football club.

There will be a disco, karaoke, food and late bar and, with City not playing Macclesfield until Sunday, supporters will not have to worry about having a clear head to watch the Minstermen the next day.

ANDY Bell cemented his bid for a permanent contract with a second successive man-of-the-match performance in last weekend's 0-0 draw against Torquay.

The former Wycombe striker edged the honours ahead of defenders Chris Smith and Stuart Wise, who were rewarded with two points and one point respectively in the Evening Press Player of the Year contest.

Standings: Dunning 34 points, Ovendale 26, Bullock 24, Nogan 22, Hope 20, Merris 11, Ward 11, Cooper 10, Wood 10, Smith 10, Wise 10, Edmondson 9, Brass 8, Bell 6, Davies 6, Parkin 5, Walker 5, Yalcin 2, Brackstone 1, Fox 1, George 1, Shaw 1, Wilford 1.

Updated: 09:05 Saturday, March 20, 2004