York City needs you - NOW.

Fans must pull together to ensure our club survives through this crisis.

Turn out in force for tomorrow's vital home game against Torquay United and show you care deeply about the up-for-sale Minstermen.

It is guaranteed to be an emotional and highly-charged afternoon.

The fantastic backing the team received at Grimsby and the show of unity at Monday's meeting to back the move to form a Supporters' Trust underscored the great demand for a professional football club in our city.

Now's your big chance to show any prospective buyers of the club that the supporters will rally round in significant numbers and that the club has a future.

Those who roared the mighty Minstermen to Cup glory against Manchester United, or travelled to Wembley for the 1993 play-off final get yourselves back to the Crescent tomorrow.

The stark facts are that there may not be any more famous nights at Old Trafford, Anfield and Goodison cheering on our Local Heroes unless you nail your colours firmly to City's mast.

Those who may have gone to watch in the old Second Division era in the 1980s, blow the dust off your scarves and wear them with pride.

Forget the rugby union and horse racing on the telly, get wrapped up and head to Bootham Crescent.

Take your mum, dad, gran, grandad - and don't forget the kids, the youngsters can get in for just £1 under City's kid-a-quid scheme.

The Evening Press will be there with Save City campaign posters. Stick them in your windows at home, fly the flag and back the campaign to the hilt.

But supporters need to keep their eye on the ball.

It is essential they channel their energies in the right direction by supporting the team on the pitch.

There is a great groundswell of anger aimed towards the City directors but any aggro tomorrow will serve only one purpose - pushing the club closer to extinction.

Chairman Douglas Craig made it plain when Bootham Crescent Holdings announced the club was for sale that the club would fold at the end of February if spectators behaved in such a way that the finances of the club are made worse.

After the BCH board's actions this week it is clear that pulling the plug on the club next month is no idle threat.

It is also clear from the final paragraph of the sale prospectus that BCH has the power to change the conditions of the sale. That could mean that a Supporters Trust finds itself out in the cold if the fans misbehave.

The message is clear - control your anger and get behind the team who have to get on with the job of moving up and away from the lower regions of the Football League.

Fans' support can be worth a goal start. Give the lads that start tomorrow.

History will judge the actions of the board and it is our job as supporters to ensure that there will be more chapters to write in the history of York City FC.

Updated: 12:03 Friday, January 11, 2002