IAIN DUNN has expressed his sadness at York City leaving Bootham Crescent as the club prepare for their long-awaited ground move.

Former City striker Dunn was one of the lucky few in attendance for York’s final game at Bootham Crescent, covering last month’s 1-0 win over Guiseley as a summariser for BBC Radio York.

York are now set to move into the LNER Community Stadium at the end of the month ending an 88-year association with Bootham Crescent.

“It’s so sad but it almost feels like this was always going to happen,” said Dunn, who played for York between 1988 and 1991.

“I’m glad I was there for the last game and I wish that we could have had plenty of fans down there watching and paying their respects.

“On the positive side, this football club needs this move. Bootham Crescent has been in decay for too long. It’s time to move and having looked at the new stadium, it looks absolutely fantastic.

“The people behind it have done a great job.

“I just think that this adds to the excitement around this team and this football club.”

Having grown up supporting the Minstermen as a young boy, the place holds plenty of fond memories for Dunn.

“I used to go as a six-year-old kid with my dad and those games were so exciting," he said.

“We’d walk down Grosvenor Terrace to the ground and you can’t beat that feeling.

“I remember as a kid being so small that I could be thrown over the gate to get in, while my dad would pay his way in.

“I used to stand on the terracing behind the home dugout and get lifted up onto the fence and watch the game from there.

“I watched some bad teams to be honest - we got re-elected a few times! But it never stopped me going season after season.

“I was a ball-boy there for a lot of games and watched a lot of games from up close.

“I made my debut there and scored and, being a hometown lad and having my friends there, that brings back some amazing memories.”

Dunn was also part of the York squad when David Longhurst tragically died on the pitch against Lincoln City in 1990.

“Of course, there’s some sad memories too,” said Dunn.

“Longy was a really good friend of mine and a lovely bloke and for him to die at Bootham Crescent was heart-breaking for everybody and something that I’ll never forget.”

Dunn added: “The good memories are there for everyone to remember. I’ve got plenty, even though I didn’t play in the best (York) team myself, I watched plenty of them.

“I think back to the Dennis Smith and John Ward eras. I had friends in those teams like John McCarthy, Andy McMillan, Steve Tutill.

“The place holds a lot of dear memories for my family and my friends.”