MARATHON walker Joe Quest has put his best feet forward to draw attention to York City's plight.

The 68-year-year-old former lorry driver hit the road to walk from his home in Barrow to Bootham Crescent for today's game against Hartlepool after hearing of the Minstermen's financial troubles.

He covered the 111 miles in four days but that's just a short step for long-distance walking veteran Joe.

He has walked to 631 Football League and non-League grounds, clocking up 9,006 miles in the process.

Joe, who spent 42 years as a qualified referee officiating in around 9,000 games, first started his ground-yomping nearly three years ago when Barrow were on the brink of going bust.

Since then he has raised £18,500 for the UniBond League through his cross-country ventures.

Joe, whose been married to Marilyn for 35 years, abandoned plans to watch England in Holland this week to head to Bootham Crescent instead.

"I just had to after hearing about their difficulties," he said.

City fans were getting kitted out in red today as part of a "Proud to be Red Day" at Bootham Crescent.

Updated: 10:39 Saturday, February 16, 2002