Christmas 1987 and City were bottom of Division 3. Tailed off. The Annual General Meeting was held in the week between Christmas and New Year. Frank Ormston and I (Chris Forth) attended. Michael Sinclair and Bobby Saxton gave accounts of the situation, they were trying hard and had done their best throughout a difficult year. There was a genuine feeling of sympathy for the club's plight from the meeting. Afterwards, in The Punch Bowl on Lowther Street, Frank and I hatched a plot to do something to help.

It wasn't a new idea. In the 1930s the supporters had raised funds and built The Popular Stand that survives to this day.

In 1988, the lack of covered standing accommodation was one of the ground's major drawbacks. Supporters were forced to stand on open terracing. Could we raise enough interest and subsequently enough funds to roof the Shipton Street end of the ground?

An article appeared in Terrace Talk a few weeks later with Princess Diana and a "I'd sell my gran to Roof The Shippo" speech bubble on the front page. Malcolm Huntington, the Yorkshire Evening Press' York City correspondent, read his copy, the club read their copy. One Saturday in February 1988 I got a phone call. "Are you at the match this afternoon?, come and talk to me", it was Malcolm Huntington. The same morning, Frank Ormston received a call from the club, "Who is this Chris Forth?" asked Michael Sinclair. By Tuesday night, the story was all over the Yorkshire Evening Press, together with a picture of me and a borrowed Manchester United umbrella.

A public meeting was held on 16 March 1988. Over 60 people attended. On the left of the hall, Graham Kilby impressed with his ideas for fundraising. The meeting unanimously agreed that we should launch a campaign to "roof the shippo". A formal meeting on 4 April got us going when a 16 man committee was formed.

The target was £100,000. We would raise the money over at least 2 years. The club insisting if the appeal was unsuccessful, then all monies raised would be put towards other expenditure which would benefit the supporters. The club could not afford to donate club money to the appeal but would pay the costs associated with producing plans and gaining planning application. The directors gave us a personal donation of £1,000 out of their own pockets to launch the appeal. I remember when Sinclair made the pledge I asked, "Is that each director?", unfortunately it wasn't. The club provided their support and, if the appeal was successful, committed to maintaining the new stand for standing supporters unless statutory powers forced its conversion to seats.

From the outset we knew a 50% Football Grounds Improvement Trust grant might be available and that if we found a sponsor for the roof we might need only collect as little as £20,000. Events were organised that kept the money coming in. However, in the pre Fever Pitch days, with the Thatcher government and national media being very anti football, big business didn't commit any money.

Throughout the length of the appeal the club gave their full support. In particular, secretary Keith Usher and director Brian Houghton, with responsibilities for ground development was very supportive as was Barry Swallow. Keith Usher was always willing to devote his own time to helping the campaign. Brian did sterling work in organising a series of Sportsman's Dinners. The first being one of the highlights of the appeal. It was the occasion that many former City stars were once again gathered together. The turnout included many of the 1955 FA Cup side and from more recent times, members of City's 1974 promotion winning side. Dennis Wann came across from Blackpool especially for the evening. Norman Wilkinson travelled down from County Durham. Wilf McGuinness was guest speaker. It raised over £1,700.

Over £1,500 was raised one summer Sunday morning when about 70 people, with Chairman, Michael Sinclair leading the walkers from the front, together with the entire playing squad, did a 4 mile sponsored walk around the City Walls. Others did sponsored walks and hitches to matches or sponsored TV quiz show appearances.

In August 1989, Middlesbrough played City at York in a friendly match with all the proceeds going to the fund. 1,183 saw a 2-2 and £3,500 was raised for the fund. The appeal produced our own official match day programme for the game, as it did for other pre season friendlies during the appeal.

One particular highlight for me was the publication of Dave Batters book "York City. A Complete Playing History", a magnificent book, which I find difficult to put down whenever I pick it up. Dave donated profits from his book to the appeal.

I am sure all the youngsters who turned up to coaching day organised by John Bird in May 1991 would say that was their highlight. It certainly surpassed our expectations. Many supporters will say their highlight was the opportunity to look behind the scenes at Bootham Crescent.

Other fund raising events included a car boot sale in the club's car park (11 "booters" each paid a fiver, so £55 profit) and at the ground, one turnstile allowed fans to pay £4 (1989/90), the extra 50p admission fee which was donated to the appeal. In 1989, City keeper Scott Endersby and his wife hosted a fund raising event at his Black Bull pub. Meanwhile, there was a regular matchday social club raffle and Supporters Club events and donations.

For me, I had the luxury of an executive box, the only one ever at the ground with a view of the pitch, or so people joked. It was perched behind the Shipton Street goal at the back of the terrace. Keith Usher had arranged it, a garden shed, free of charge from Garden Care of Huntington, it served as a rallying point. Stocked with various football memorabilia, regularly replenished by fans donating articles for sale, it provided a steady matchday income. On the fateful day when David Longhurst died, and despite us not having scored a goal in our first 4 games of the season, at least 3 people passed by during the first half, all commenting how well Longy was playing and it wouldn't be long before we were up and running.

Fundraising continued. Many generous donations were received from around the country. Many supporters of David's former clubs organised events. In Scunthorpe, one girl organised a disco that raised over £1,000. Her employer doubled it. Other supporters did their own thing (for example one supporter organised a sponsored walk to Torquay for a game). Visiting supporters often gave generously, many visiting Bootham Crescent donated their £1 change from their admittance money. Fanzines, including Rangers "Follow Follow" and Bradford's "City Gent" donated copies that were sold to help the appeal.