MICHAEL BOND, a York City supporter for more than 70 years and a keen tennis and hockey player, has died aged 79.

Bond, who died in Poole Hospital, Dorset, after a long illness, was educated at St Olave’s School and St Peter’s School in York.

Having watched his first game at Bootham Crescent aged eight, he continued to follow the club’s fortunes and was at Wembley in 1993 for the division three play-off final against Crewe.

A member of Clifton Tennis Club and York Hockey Club, Bond spent his National Service from 1952 to 1954 in the Royal Army Service Corps in Singapore.

He later worked as a distribution manager for British Road Services in York and then for SPD, Bird’s Eye and Rank, Hovis, MacDougall in Bradford, Bury and finally Poole, where he spent his later years.