IT'S been another momentous - and marvellous - week in the history of York City and the Supporters' Trust.

City's chances of survival looked lower than a snake's belly little more than a week ago, but after a whirlwind fundraising appeal that defied expectations the club is still breathing.

It remains in intensive care, though, and it is fair to say the really hard work of giving the club a long-term future starts here.

But in years to come these past seven days may be seen as the most important and defining in the club's history.

Although much work still needs to be done and the club is far from safe, there is growing sense that this could be a fresh start and the dawn of a new era at Bootham Crescent.

No doubt supporters will have their own memories and anecdotes from last week's rollercoaster ride of emotions.

For me, there were three gestures of varying magnitude which summed up perfectly the growing sense of community spirit and affection for York City that has brought the club back from the brink of exctinction.

A pensioner and season-ticket holder revealing how his wife had no real interest in York City, but as he made his way out of the house on Saturday to go to Bootham Crescent she handed him £20 to put into the buckets.

A supporter who donated to the Trust a dishwasher and cooker, which will be sold to raise funds.

The fans running AFC Wimbledon who not only organised a bucket collection which generated £2,000 for the Trust but also offered to loan the Trust £50,000 to see the club through its crisis.

If City are to become one of only a handful of clubs wholly-owned by their fans, the size of the task facing them is so much greater than those (Lincoln and Chesterfield, AFC Wimbledon and Enfield) who have gone before.

Aside from balancing the books (the Evening Press understands the debt is now approaching £800,000) and gaining the support of the PFA and Football League for their plans, the issue of where City will play in the future will soon have to be addressed.

Hurdles abound, with the biggest still to come, but having already negotiated seemingly insurmountable odds to get this far the Trust's credibility has prospered and the momentum is with them.

Hopefully, it will carry them to the finish line and beyond.

MONDAY should see the announcement of the Division Three manager of the month award for February and if there is any justice City's Terry Dolan will be clasping his second bottle of champagne of the season.

The Evening Press understands that the City chief is one of seven managers in contention for the prize, alongside Hartlepool's Mike Newell, Denis Smith at Wrexham, Brian Flynn at Swansea, Lincoln's Keith Alexander, Kidderminster's Ian Britton, and Bournemouth's Sean O'Driscoll.

With two wins and three draws, City were unbeaten in February, although the lack of three-point hauls could go against the City chief.

However, when City's February form and fortune is set against all the off-field turmoil at Bootham Crescent then the Minstermen and Dolan's achievements are all the more remarkable.

STRANGE but true. On the November day last year when City's financial woes became public and the players were informed they were not going to be paid, City reserves lost 4-0 at Hartlepool.

On Wednesday this week, a meeting of the Trust, the administrator and all the Bootham Crescent staff, including the players, was called to keep everyone up to date with the off-field developments. That afternoon City's reserves lost 4-0 to Hull.

It's certainly good to talk, but perhaps any future meetings should take place after games and not before!

YORK City's oldest surviving former goalkeeper, Bob Ferguson, now aged 85, is the latest ex-City player to confirm that he will be attending the Supporters' Trust's fundraising Legends' Dinner on Wednesday evening.

Joining him will be Ricky Sbragia, now reserve team boss at Manchester United, Nigel Pepper, Gordon Staniforth, Neil Tolson and at least 30 more ex-City stars.

Alf Patrick, Jon McCarthy, Steve Tutill, Norman Wilkinson, Phil Burrows, Tony Canham, Wayne Hall, Andy McMillan, Al Jack Pinder, Chris Topping, Graeme Crawford, Jimmy Seal and Chris Jones have also agreed to attend.

ITV commentator and City fan Jon Champion will host the event with David Kendall.

It is being held in the Voltigeur Suite at York Racecourse on March 5. Tickets for the event, which includes a five-course meal, cost £30.

More than 300 people have already bought tickets, but more are still available from Graham Bradbury, telephone (01904) 708330 or email gram.bradbury@virgin.net

Any ex-players who would like to attend the event should contact Bradbury on the above number.

TWO family coaches are being arranged for City away-days.

Bookings for the trips to Wrexham on March 22 and to Lincoln on April 19 are now being taken at the Bootham Crescent club shop.

Junior Reds will receive free admission to the Racecourse Ground, but parents, who must be City Reds, will have to pay for their entry.

Lincoln are offering admission at reduced prices for youngsters and their parents who travel on the family bus.

CHRIS Brass has seen his formidable lead at the top of Evening Press player of the year rankings pegged back.

Chris Smith and Jon Parkin reduced the deficit after both picked up points in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Bury.

Parkin got the man of the match award and three points for his goalscoring display, while Chris Smith was awarded one point. The other two points on offer went to 11th hour replacement Stuart Wise.

Latest positions: Brass 32 points, Smith 26, Duffield 22, Fettis 22, Parkin 22, Nogan 17, Cook 13, Edmondson 12, Cowan 11, Fox 7, Potter 6, Reddy 6, Beresford 5, Brackstone 5, Ingham 3, Bullock 3, Wise 3, Hobson 2, Shandran 2, Jones 1.

THE Yorkie Bars are in danger of becoming goal greedy.

For the second match running the supporters' Internet team have won 5-1.

After a nap-hand return against Hartlepool, the Bars inflicted a copybook defeat on Sheffield Wednesday.

Alex Beddingham grabbed a brace with Pete Prokop, Dave Ward and an own goal completing the scoring.

Updated: 11:26 Saturday, March 01, 2003