York City's dramatic hold on to their Bootham Crescent home has thrilled the chairman of one of the country's top fans' pressure groups.

Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the Football Supporters' Federation, and a self-confessed City fan, hailed the deal that keeps the Minsterman at their home of the last 71 years as magnificent.

Clarke told the Evening Press: "On behalf of the Football Supporters' Federation this is wonderful news and we congratulate the board of York City and the Supporters' Trust who are behind the club for the magnificent achievement in both saving the club and securing its future at Bootham Crescent.

"On a personal level, Bootham Crescent was the ground on which I watched my first game of football at the age of ten in 1957 and I am therefore particularly pleased that professional football is going to continue to be played at that ground and that supporters won't have to go to a much inferior location at Huntington."

Updated: 10:36 Thursday, February 05, 2004