THE son of late City legend Keith Walwyn will take his father's place in tomorrow's Past Players Festival match at Bootham Crescent.

Matthew Walwyn, who has signed for the Blackburn Rovers Academy, will don Keith's famous number nine shirt for the game between City's 1984 Championship-winning side and the 1993 play-off winners.

Matthew, 13, will be missing a game to play in the event as a tribute to his father who died suddenly last year and will be watched in the stands by his mother Liz Walwyn.

City communications director Sophie McGill said, "Sunday will be a very emotional day for Keith's family, former team-mates and many York City fans.

"Keith played such an important role in the Championship side and it is a tragedy that he is not here to see this unique celebration.

"We would like to show our appreciation to Blackburn Rovers for allowing Matthew to play in this historic game and feel this will be a fitting tribute to Keith and the great contribution he made to the history of our club."

It was confirmed yesterday that another of the 1993 squad's Division Three Play-Off heroes, Tony Barrett, would also be taking to the field tomorrow.

Updated: 10:02 Saturday, March 06, 2004