Tributes to York City stalwart (From York Press)

Tributes to York City stalwart Bob Morrell

8:25am Saturday 6th October 2012 in Sport By Press reporter

THE terraces of Bootham Crescent will be “a quieter place” following the death of longstanding fan Bob Morrell, 56.

York City fans have been urged to wear club shirts in honour of Mr Morrell, pictured, from Osgodby, at his funeral next week.

Val Smith, Bob’s sister, said: “He was a football fan, through and through. York was his life.

“No-one could tell stories like Bob. Even if you’d heard them 20 times, he’d still make you laugh.

“He would have made someone a great husband and a great father, but he was married to York City. He adored our children, and they adored him.”

Andy Warner, a friend, often drove Bob to matches, and was with him at the Burton Albion match only days before his death.

He said: “The football club was his life. He was one of life’s nice guys. He never had a bad word to say about anybody. After the Luton play-off this year, he went up and down the road shaking peoples’ hands and was very emotional because they’d got back into the league after all those years in the Conference. York will be a quieter place without him.”

Mr Morrell was rushed to York Hospital after feeling unwell on Friday, Septmber 21, where doctors discovered a problem with his aorta, and he died shortly after being transferred to the Leeds General Infirmary, surrounded by his family.

Val said: “I think he knew everyone was with him. He asked me to make sure the lads knew he wouldn’t be going to the match on Saturday, so they wouldn’t be waiting in the rain to pick him up.”

Mr Morrell’s funeral will be at Barlby Methodist Church on Wednesday, at 2pm.

A tribute to Mr Morrell will also appear in today’s York City programme.