JIMMY Seal - the hero of York City's last 'Great Escape' - is clinging on to the hope that the current squad can emulate the feats of himself and his 1973 team-mates.

Wakefield-born Seal scored the winning goal in City's 2-1 final day victory at Rotherham 31 years ago to save the Bootham Crescent club from relegation to the old Fourth Division.

Like Chris Brass' team this afternoon, the Minstermen travelled to South Yorkshire with confidence rocked after a poor run of results to play a game of equal importance to the hosts.

Tom Johnston's side went to fellow relegation strugglers Rotherham having not won any of their previous eight games but got the two points that saved their season and condemned the Millers.

Seal, who arrived at Bootham Crescent from Barnsley and still lives in York, admits that it would be "terrible" if City fail to avoid the drop to the Nationwide Conference in the next three matches.

He said: "While it's mathematically possible we have still got to go for it and then hope the other clubs can do us a favour by beating Scunthorpe and Rochdale but I think getting a point at Doncaster would be like a win.

"I've seen the side a few times this season and you can't fault them for trying. They are a good bunch of lads who give 100 per cent but the skill factor is what's lacking.

"I think they'll probably go down but I really, really hope I'm wrong because it would be terrible and doesn't bear thinking about, considering the first third of the season when they were doing so well.

" It would be a very, very sad day if they go out of the league because you never know when and if they would get back.

"It's easier now with two teams going up but a lot of clubs are professional now so it's a stronger league. I just hope they can do what we did at Rotherham."

Striker Seal's crucial goal at Millmoor was his first in 17 appearances and its importance is reflected by the team's performances in the following season when, after their close scrape, they were promoted to the old Second Division for the only time in the club's history.

He said: "I don't think we ever felt as desperate as the present team because we were not facing the prospect of going out of the league and I don't think our position in the table was as desperate either but I still remember feeling thorough relief.

"Myself and John Stone scored and, for my goal, the ball just came to me on the edge of the box and I let fly hard and low with my right foot, which is usually my weakest, just hit it and hoped for the best and luckily it went in.

"It was one of my most memorable goals because of the importance of it and I did not score many that season.

"I had a settling-in period and found it hard to get going at York but I was fine the next season so it was a bit of a turning point for me."

Seal also believes that morale and expectations must be kept high before tomorrow's match even though City will break a club record for games without a win if they fail to take maximum points for the 18th time at Doncaster.

The former Wolves, Walsall, Darlington and Rochdale forward said: "I can't remember our bad results at the time but, as a professional you give everything every game. Your confidence takes a knock but if a chance comes you have to be ready to take it."

Despite the on-field traumas, Seal, who netted 48 times in 174 starts for City, believes that the board and the Supporters' Trust have done an excellent job off the pitch in saving the club and securing its future but does have one recommendation.

He said: "The Supporters, Trust and the board have done a lot of good work but I wish they had brought somebody on board, similar to what Leeds have done with Peter Lorimer, with some football experience and an old head just to guide them. That would be my only criticism."

Updated: 09:57 Saturday, April 24, 2004