Fan-tastic City

The home supporter had been sitting in the away-only Stacey West Stand in a group of five university friends, three of whom were Minstermen supporters, when he elaborately celebrated the 88th-minute winner.

However, after celebrating his way out of the stand, he was not allowed back into the ground at either the home or away ends, and has been warned about his future conduct.

Stadium manager Nigel Dennis, who has studied the incident on CCTV, praised the Minstermen followers for not reacting to his antics and turning it into a major incident.

Dennis explained that the Imps fans have a trademark "dambusters-style" celebration when they score, which involves holding their arms outstretched and making aeroplane sounds.

"This lad, who didn't actually go onto the field of play, has run across the Stacey West Stand to the exit with his arms outstretched, with his mate walking behind him," he said.

"It was a silly 30-second thing that he's done and he has said he's sorry for it. He will have to behave himself at Sincil Bank from now on."

He added: "As I pointed out to the two lads involved, if the York City fans had not been so well-behaved we could have had a major incident on our hands.

"The York supporters were first class and although their team lost the game, behaved impeccably."

The youngsters due to run out on to Bootham Crescent prior to this afternoon's match with the O's were St George's RC and St Oswald's Primary Schools, who were battling it out for a place in the quarter-finals of the knock-out York City Full Stop Challenge Cup for the district's primary schools.

The tournament is run in association with the NSPCC, and as such all participating schools try to raise money for the children's charity.

The ball-boys and team mascot for today's match, meanwhile, all stem from Poppleton Juniors FC, who are renowned supporters of the Minstermen. The youngsters, who are all members of the City Reds Supporters' Club, will also be taking part in a half-time penalty shoot-out.

City's commercial manager James Richardson might be allowed by the club to put his feet up on Monday - and he'll probably have to.

James will be one of the thousands taking part in tomorrow's Great North Run up on Tyneside, the nation's biggest and most popular half-marathon.

However, his hard work, probable cramp and blisters will not be for nothing, as he has been sponsored to complete the gruelling 13-mile course, with the money he raises going to good causes.

He is set to collect more than £200 for his efforts, including a large sum coming from MaxiPrint, with half the cash raised going to St Leonard's Hospice in York and the other half going to City's youth development fund.

James, who will be taking part in his fourth half-marathon, would like to thank everyone inside and outside the club who has sponsored him, especially MaxiPrint, and also Fitness First in York, who have been helping with his training for the past five months.

He added: "I'll be collecting the money after I do the run so I'll be searching people out on Monday - if I can still walk."

Lidgett Grove School for children with severe and profound learning difficulties and autism had three special guests on Thursday afternoon - and how they enjoyed it.

City stars Peter Duffield, Chris Fairclough and Gary Hobson popped into the Acomb school to take a light training session with the youngsters - broken leg victim Duffield advising from the sidelines, of course - and then chat with them in the classroom.

Delighted teacher Lesley Fairley said: "They did a session outside with about 45 children (aged from three to 11) and then came into the classroom to talk to other children and show them their kit and the footballs.

"It went really well. The lads were really good with the children and the kids really loved it. They had a great time and were sorry to see them go."

Places at the half-term fun week run by City's Football in the Community Scheme at York Sixth Form College are still available.

The football week, which - as previously reported in these columns - will include a tour of Leeds United's Elland Road ground, will be held at the Tadcaster Road site of York College from Monday to Friday, between 10am and 3pm each day.

All interested can go along and pay on the day, though further details are available from FITC officer Paul Ollson on 01904 613017

HOW sad it is to hear that former Minstermen assistant boss Viv Busby has been taken ill with leukaemia.

Although he left the club all of 13 years ago, Busby, currently in Rotherham General District Hospital, remains a true York City hero and well-liked at Bootham Crescent and all over the football community.

Many City fans' best on-pitch memories will no doubt lie with the team he and Denis Smith created during those glorious years in the mid-1980s, which will feature prominently in the annals of the club.

The good wishes of all the people connected to the club in any way will be with Viv and his family at this time.