MAKE no mistake, tonight is the most crucial game in York City's Football League history.

A quick glance at the League table above confirms City's plight. Defeat at the hands of Football League newcomers Yeovil at Bootham Crescent would leave the Minstermen's 75-year tenure of League status clinging by the slenderest of threads.

Having battled so hard to save the club in the last few years, long-suffering fans have a right to be angry about the lack of spirit shown in recent displays.

But that anger must be channelled into positive support for 90 minutes tonight.

Get behind the team. You may just make the difference as City strive to end their crippling 16-game run which has seen City free-fall towards the Nationwide Conference.

If City don't win tonight they will equal the worst-ever run in the club's history. But more damaging will be the effect it will have on City's future - no matter how you dress it up life in the Conference is not the same as the League.

Attendances at Bootham Crescent have held up remarkably well considering the team have not been able to buy a win since January.

While the club have made tremendous strides within the community off the field, performances on the pitch have not matched that progress.

But the time for inquests will come later. Now City are still breathing Football League air and all of us with the club and the city of York at heart need to get to the Crescent tonight.

Forget Monaco v Chelsea - watch the second leg - get to the Crescent to watch League football. Otherwise there may not be many more opportunities.

Updated: 11:25 Tuesday, April 20, 2004