YORK City’s 1955 FA Cup semi-final hero Gordon Brown has died at the age of 81.

Brown, who has suffered from heart problems in the past, passed away at Nottingham Hospital on Sunday morning.

Initially an inside- forward, Brown joined City from Nottingham Forest in June 1950, and scored in his first game for the club – a 7-2 Division Three North defeat at Tranmere Rovers.

He established himself as a first-team regular for eight years, later switching to right half and his attacking style and consistency made him a vital cog of the Happy Wanderers’ midfield that took Newcastle United to an FA Cup semi-final replay 55 years ago.

Brown worked as a storeman near his home in Mansfield throughout his playing days at Bootham Crescent, where he was employed on a part-time basis.

In total, he made 351 appearances for the Minstermen and scored 25 goals before leaving in 1958 and playing for Sutton United and Shirebrook Miners Welfare.

Brown is the eighth member of City’s famous ’55 Cup team to die with ’keeper Tommy Forgan and strikers Norman Wilkinson and Arthur Bottom the only surviving members.