THE funeral has taken place of Dorothy (Dot) Goodearl, who was the secretary of York City London & South Branch Supporters Group.

Dot, nee Brown, was born in York, the younger by 20 minutes to twin Margaret, in April 1955.

She attended Park Grove Infants and Junior schools and first started watching York Rugby League as the ground was just opposite their home in Stanley Street, initially nipping in at half-time when there was no charge.

Dot moved onto Queen Anne’ s Grammar, and met up with a group of girls - Sally, Julie and Judith - who watched the occasional game of football at Bootham Crescent. Dot went with them to her first match in July 1969, a pre-season friendly against Kilmarnock which City won 3-1, and soon started watching them on a regular basis.

She continued her education at Portsmouth Poly-tech, obtaining a degree in Geography. Her trips home always coincided with a City match, and she also saw York play Portsmouth at Fratton Park in the 1974/75 and 1975/76 seasons.

Dot joined the Civil Service in 1978 and was then able to see City in many southern fixtures, while travelling home for Bootham Crescent games.

On one trip home, her father told her about a new York City London and South supporters' group who had meetings each month in London. She joined the group and attended meetings when not playing darts or bowls for her local teams.

It was at a meeting in London in 2003 that Dot met her husband-to-be, Ray Goodearl, who had been treasurer of the group since 2002, with Dot becoming secretary in 2004. The pair eventually bought a house together in Ealing in 2008.

Ray and Dot were regular attendees at City matches, Ray more often than Dot, as she did not like the travelling from and to London in one day. They often stayed in York with friends or at a hotel, however, to take in games.

In 2009, the day before the FA Trophy final against Stevenage, when their home was full of guests to attend the match, Dot learned she had terminal breast cancer. For the next nine years she was able to lead a near normal life but with chemotherapy most weeks.

Dot and Ray married in 2010 - becoming the second couple after Ian and Katharine Sanderson who had met and married through York City South.

Dot as secretary was always sending out newsletters and information about matches and ticketing. They were always noted for their humour and wit, even when the team was not doing so well.

Dot’s health started to decline in autumn 2017. A slight recovery was made in March, and Dot and Ray were able to attend the Easter Saturday game against Chorley, staying in the North West that weekend for the Easter Monday match scheduled against FC United of Manchester which was postponed.

On returning home, Dot’s health took a rapid decline, and she passed away peacefully with Ray at her bedside on May 8.

Derek Feasby, chairman of York City South, said: "Dot will be sadly missed. Dot always had a pocket full of chocolate bars to hand out to those around her at half-time, she was very vocal in her support, and she will be a hard act to follow as secretary of the group."