York City Supporters' Trust was on top of the world today after being hailed one of the best of its kind.

The fledgling trust - established just eight months ago - was highly commended in the Trust Of The Year awards for 2002 at a prestigious football conference in London.

The major accolade was bestowed upon the City Trust by Supporters' Direct, a government-funded body which encourages fans to get involved in the running of their clubs.

City Supporters' Trust board member Kirsten Gillies hailed the award as recognition for the efforts of all City fans.

She said: "The Supporters' Trust is run by fans for the fans. This award is further national recognition of the massive achievements of the trust that hopefully bodes well for the future of professional football in York."

Similar fans' groups from Swansea and Enfield football clubs also received recognition at the event, with the City Trust picking up a plaque and £200 as part of their award. It was supporters from Wimbledon ,who are fighting a proposed move to Milton Keynes, who were crowned Trust Of The Year.

Recognition for the Trust follows the success of the Save City campaign, run earlier this year in conjunction with the Evening Press. The campaign and the Trust were acclaimed for helping save City from the threat of extinction. As its submission to the award's organisers, the City Supporters' Trust produced a hefty document summarising the first six months of its existence.

It featured a number of Evening Press articles from the campaign and hailed the newspaper's support in helping save City from going under.

York City chairman John Batchelor said today: "I would just like to congratulate everybody at the trust. They have worked very hard and thoroughly deserve it. It's another success for York City."

Updated: 11:55 Friday, September 13, 2002