JOHN Quickfall could have been one of the former York City regime held in disdain by fans. After all, he was a director of Bootham Crescent Holdings (BCH), the company which separated the club from its ground.

Instead, however, he is an esteemed "Friend of York City". Why? Because he did the honourable thing.

In spring he resigned as a BCH director and said that any profit from his shares would go towards securing a new home for the club. Now it has emerged that he gave £20,000 to keep City going when it teetered on the brink of extinction. A friend indeed.

Updated: 10:27 Wednesday, September 17, 2003