A HASTILY arranged recruitment drive turned into a stampede last night as fans rallied behind the York City Supporters' Trust.

City captain Chris Brass and team-mate Richard Cooper were both in attendance at the Bootham Crescent social club as 74 new members queued to sign up to the fans' organisation.

It was estimated around 100 supporters renewed their existing memberships, with a good proportion paying £90 to upgrade to life members.

The membership surge ensured the Trust, which last week announced it was stumping up the cash to keep the Minstermen running for the next four weeks, banked almost £5,500 on the night.

The coffers were boosted by sales of Trust T-shirts, videos and a raffle of autographed City merchandise which raised around £170.

Holiday vouchers worth £300 were actually won by Cooper in the raffle, but the former Nottingham Forest player returned his prize which was then auctioned off for an extra £180.

Brass also staged an impromptu auction after he and Cooper signed a Trust T-shirt which also raised another £40 for the Trust.

Kirsten Gillies, of the Trust, said the event, organised in the hope the Trust could save a few quid on postage by not having to send out renewal forms to every existing member, exceeded all expectations.

"It was a fantastic night and we couldn't believe how many people turned up," said Gillies. "It was only arranged at the last minute and we really only expected a steady stream of fans but the room was packed all the way through from 7pm."

On behalf of the rest of the City squad, Brass thanked the supporters and the Trust for coming up with the £92,000 that has given the club a stay of execution.

He said: "There were 4,500 reasons why York City should survive at the ground last Saturday."

Trust chairman Richard Snowball revealed plans were being drawn up to make City's next home match, Macclesfield on Sunday, February 2, a Family Day.

The hope is to encourage families and youngsters to attend the match.

He said the club was currently seeking permission to make the two sections of Popular Stand usually reserved for away support available for families.

The Trust also had its coffers boosted by a further £230 last night when the editors of the City fanzine, Ginner's Left Foot, handed over the profits from the sale of their Christmas edition.

The Evening Press understands the Trust have made contact with a man who appeared on local television last night claiming he was looking to buy York City.

Jason Van Der Sarr claimed to have made his millions in 'property' and had contacted the club administrators some weeks back with a view to taking over the club.

He said having made his intentions known the administrators had since failed to contact him.

However, David Willis of the administrators Jacksons Jolliffe and Cork was today trying to contact the mysterious would-be buyer after the Evening Press passed on what was believed to be Van Der Sarr's telephone number, which had not responded to several calls from the newspaper.

Said Willis: "The BBC told me they had been approached by this chap but it wasn't a name that had been put forward to us or to the football club. If we had been given details then we would try to contact him."

Existing members of the Trust who were unable to renew their memberships last night will have renewal forms posted to them shortly.

Updated: 12:57 Thursday, January 23, 2003