It is with sadness that I woke this morning to hear the news that former York City chairman Steve Beck has passed away at such an early age.

Although he wasn’t alone in battling to keep us afloat, he was without doubt an absolutely vital member of the fight.

Taking the roles of both chairman of the club and chairman of the supporters trust, nobody could have done more to secure the safety of York City for current fans and future generations.

Our return to the football league, the new stadium and the continued presence of the team at Bootham Crescent wouldn’t have been possible without the start he made on our recovery process.

When spending time at the club during my university placement in 2005 I was fortunate enough to get a short interview with him and he couldn’t have been more friendly and accommodating to a stuttering, inexperienced student like myself!

What did come across, however, was his 100 per cent focus on returning the Minstermen to league status and securing the club financially.

I, like so many supporters of York across the world, must never forget the part he played and I hope he is honoured by the club in some way when we move out to Monks Cross.

I am so pleased that he hung on with us in time to hear that the team had secured league football for another season.

Roger Marshall, Cromer Street, York