Sign unveiled for footballer who died during game

Family and friends went to the unveiling of the David Longhurst Way street sign, including his sisters Jayne (far left) and Ann (third from left), as well as his best friend John Salisbury (in between Jayne and Ann)

The family of a former York City FC player who died during a game have returned to the site of the club’s old stadium to unveil a new street sign in his memory.

David Longhurst had recently joined the club in 1990 when he collapsed on the pitch during a home game against Lincoln City, when he was just 25.

Attempts to resuscitate him failed and it was later revealed that he had an undetected rare heart condition.

His sister Jayne Longhurst said seeing him being remembered with the street sign at the Bootham Crescent Stadium site so many years later was “quite amazing”.

She said: “Years and years later, he is still being remembered and probably will be remembered when I’m not going to be here.

“It is quite amazing and it is very touching the fact that he was loved by so many people.”

David’s other sister, Ann Stapleton, added their parents would have been “so proud” to see his memory still being kept alive.

She added: “Being invited here today is more for us to say thank you to York City, to the football club and to the fans for keeping David’s memory alive.”

David Longhurst collapsed on the pitch during a football game when he was 25

After seeing the sign, the family were then invited to the new LNER stadium, where York City now plays, to see a new banner in his memory.

John Salisbury, David's best friend, said: “I think York City have been amazing for remembering him after all these years, and with the street being named after him as well is a lovely touch.

“He only played about eight or nine games for York and for them to remember him after all this time.

“His family and friends think it is amazing and are very grateful.”

Sean Eames, from Persimmon, said the sign was a “really fitting way to preserve the memory” of David.

He said: “At Persimmon we became custodians of the ground two years ago, and we always wanted to make sure that the history and the heritage of the football ground is preserved.

“We asked fans to suggest names to name streets at the new housing development and as you can see, one of them that has been chosen was David Longhurst Way, which I think is a really fitting way to preserve the memory of him.”

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