On a day of highly-charged emotions reporter MATTHEW WOODCOCK joined York City fans on the streets and on the terraces.

THE chants came thick and fast.

"Judas, Judas", "Stand up if you hate Dougie", "Craig out, fans in", "Red Army", "We'll never leave the Crescent".

Unsurprisingly, one embarrassed supporter quickly shut up after his shouts of: "We're going to Huntington", went down like a lead balloon.

Clearly the fans want to stay at Bootham Crescent - City's home for the last seven decades.

The rousing chant: "There's only one David Longhurst", who died after collapsing on the pitch in 1990, seemed particularly poignant, as the roof above us - named and bought by supporters in his memory - could soon be the victim of the bulldozers if a buyer for the club cannot be found.

Support for the march took everyone by surprise, with more than 1,000 banner-waving, whistle-blowing, fans shouting and chanting their way from the Eye of York to Bootham Crescent.

"It should be like this every week," said marcher and lifelong City fan Matt Ward. "I just can't believe the response - it feels like a carnival."

A street preacher cheekily tried to convert the marchers before they had even set off.

He told them: "If you love Jesus as much as you love York City you'll all be saved!"

Along with the humorous banter, real passionate anger was directed at the City board - and particularly chairman Douglas Craig - who many fans say has sold them down the river.

"Craig should never have turned up - it's an insult," said Oliver Peace, 23, of South Bank, York.

"We've proved today that the people want football to stay at Bootham Crescent.

"We're praying for a miracle."

Torquay United fan Dan Lewis, 32, who had endured a six-hour coach journey to watch the game, said: "It's terrible what's happening at York.

"It seems the board are scrapping the club purely for money.

"If that happened at Torquay I'd be devastated."

The day's only trouble consisted of one supporter running on to the pitch and a scuffle in the car park at full time which led to three arrests.

But police chiefs praised the general "dignity and conduct" of supporters throughout the day.

About 150 fans gathered underneath the board's lounge, watched by several burly police officers, demanding to see Mr Craig.

March organiser Greg Stone was one of them.

"The board have behaved despicably," he said. "They should come out here and explain themselves."

Paul Worthington, landlord of popular fans' haunt The Bootham Tavern, said he hoped one day to have his ashes scattered over the Crescent pitch.

"It's in my will," he said, "but that looks as though it will not happen now.

"It's disgusting what's happening, from a personal and business point-of-view."

Saturday's electric atmosphere, carnival-like march and shouts of defiance showed the depth of feeling caused by the board's decision to put the ground up for sale.

Updated: 11:57 Monday, January 14, 2002