YOU do not see people in tears very often and I must admit that this week's announcement over Bootham Crescent to the players and staff in the Social Club was emotional.

To see members of staff crying did not surprise me but it did shock me because it takes a while for the size of what has been achieved to sink in. They have all been through it with us and, for the supporters and people working at the club, it means a great deal.

Managers and players will come and go. We are part of the history of the club but the supporters are here to stay.

Having said that, the players also appreciate that what has happened is a big, big moment in York City's history. The players who have been involved throughout and the lads brought in over the summer all know what's happened and were under no illusions that there might not be a football club at the end of the season. A great deal has been hidden from the players and the fans in the past but, this time, there were no false promises.

Now, we can look forward starting with a trip to Hull City on Saturday and then a home game with Mansfield seven days later.

We have had some great atmospheres at Bootham Crescent this season and the Doncaster match stands out because of the berating that was going on between the two sets of fans but I expect the Mansfield game to be more like another occasion that really sticks in my mind.

That was last season's home game against Southend after the Supporters' Trust had saved the club and become the new owners.

You could sense the emotion on that day. My father was sat in the stand and told me he got a lump in his throat and those feelings filtered on to the pitch especially when you knew how much hard work had gone on to reach that point. I think Mansfield will be the same and I am sure we will feel an atmosphere of celebration and relief again.

But it's time for the fans to enjoy themselves now. We have continued to progress on the field and that's only down to the hard work the supporters have put in.

It is because of them that we still have a football club and the board have proven they are not just glorified punters who have been elevated into their positions.

Finally, I think everybody would agree that staying at Bootham Crescent was always the preferred option but, at times, a move to Huntington Stadium seemed the only option.

It could have worked but would have been difficult because of the growing number of barriers.

I also feel the rugby boys deserve credit. We wanted to share their ground and they were willing to do that when a lot of people had turned their backs on us.

I am sure they will also be celebrating, as will the athletics club, because we have all managed to hold on to our home stadiums.

There was a lot of hard work put in to making sure Huntington Stadium could be viable and now those attentions can be switched to improvements at Bootham Crescent perhaps.

The important things is it will remain the home of York City Football Club for the foreseeable future and now we must continue our progress on the pitch.

Updated: 09:06 Thursday, February 05, 2004