THE club's historian has been following his hometown club for more years than he would care to remember, so has witnessed all manner of triumphs and tribulations.

But such was the incredulous nature of that mauling of Manchester United that David Batters elevates the achievement to just a tad below the club's history-shattering run to the FA Cup semi-finals in 1955.

Forty years later he was among the exultant band of City followers who were crowing "are you Scarborough in disguise?" to the Red Devils hosts, whose famed sting was not only drawn by the Minstermen but rendered embarrassingly impotent.

"It was quite an incredible night," said Batters. "It was almost unbelievable, not just for the result but for the manner of our performance. City played some truly outstanding football, so it has to go down as one of the greatest nights I have ever seen."

He added: "I would say the run to the semi-finals would shade it, but only fractionally. It would be right there up near the top.

"To score three goals without conceding any at Old Trafford made it quite an unforgettable night. It has to be remembered that Man United that year completed the League and FA Cup double. So in fact, York City prevented them from doing the treble."

Working in Rowntrees at the time of City's epic conquest, Batters explained the impact the result had.

"One of our managers in Scandinavia had heard the result on the British World Service and contacted us to say that they must have got it the wrong way round," said the now retired Batters, adding how it was with great pleasure that the caller was informed the result indeed read: Manchester United 0, York City 3.

And the icing on the cake was that City did not blow it in the second leg, even though the Red Devils' big guns were rolled out. "To beat Man United over two legs was simply unbelievable."