36 years ago today, York City’s Fourth Division fixture against Lincoln City was abandoned following the tragic death of David Longhurst.
It was a day I remember so well. I was on the living room floor, with my Subbuteo all spread out, playing on my own. I had teletext on, the only way you ever really knew the scores back then, and it came up that Lincoln’s trip to York City had been abandoned.
Dad came in from outside and put the radio on. Only five years on from Bradford, it was a worrying moment, and sadly, it was the result of a lost life: the York City striker, Longhurst. He was only 25, but he had already accumulated considerable Football League experience during a career which began under Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest.
He has progressed through Forest’s youth system and was handed a professional contract in 1983. Although he did not make a first-team appearance at the City Ground, his time there provided the foundations for a career as a quick and determined lower-league striker.
His first opportunity to play regularly came with Halifax Town, whom he joined on a free transfer in 1985. Longhurst scored 24 times in 85 league appearances across two seasons at The Shay, establishing himself as a reliable Fourth Division forward.
He also had an indirect influence on Lincoln City’s history during the final weekend of the 1986/87 season. Longhurst scored as Halifax took a 2-1 lead against Rochdale on May 4th, 1987. Had that advantage been maintained, City would have avoided relegation to the GM Vauxhall Conference. Rochdale recovered to earn the result they needed, leaving the Imps to become the first club automatically relegated from the Football League.
Longhurst’s performances earned him a £40,000 move to Fourth Division champions Northampton Town in the summer of 1987. He scored seven goals in 37 league appearances during his season with the Cobblers before Peterborough United paid £55,000 to sign him in 1988. His time at London Road was interrupted by injuries, but there were still notable moments. The most memorable arrived in November 1988, when he scored a hat-trick in a 3-3 FA Cup draw with Gillingham at Priestfield. Peterborough subsequently won the replay 1-0.
Longhurst scored seven times in 58 league appearances for Posh before joining York City in March 1990. The Minstermen had high hopes for the former Forest trainee, and he began the 1990/91 campaign with two goals in his opening five league matches.
His sixth appearance came against Lincoln City at Bootham Crescent on September 8th, 1990.
The game was goalless as half-time approached. Longhurst had already threatened the City goal before suddenly collapsing while chasing the ball down York’s right-hand side.
Lincoln defender Paul Casey was only a few yards away and immediately ran to help. He later recalled that he initially believed the striker had swallowed his tongue.
“I had just tackled David in the penalty box.
“He was running back into position and the next thing I knew, he was on the floor. I rushed up to him. At first, we all thought that he had swallowed his tongue, so we got him into the first aid position.
“It appears that he might have had a heart attack. There was total shock. We couldn’t do anything. But it goes through your mind: ‘What could I do? What could I have done?’”
Despite desperate attempts to revive him on and off the pitch, Longhurst could not be saved. The players initially returned to their dressing rooms, but an announcement over the public address system confirmed that the match had been abandoned at half-time.
City manager Allan Clarke learned what had happened after answering a knock on the dressing-room door.
“It’s something that I’ve never seen on a football pitch and I hope I never see it happen again.
“There was a lad who’s been running about for 42, 43 minutes, and as fit as anything. He’s having a good game and within a few minutes he’s dead. You just can’t believe it.”
York captain Shaun Reid remained on the pitch in disbelief while tears flowed in the dressing room and among supporters outside the ground. Lincoln managing director Geoff Davey pledged the club’s support to York and Longhurst’s grieving family.
“It’s difficult to be able to do anything. All we can do is express what is our very sincere condolences and reflect on the tragedy itself.
“Obviously, we will be finding out the arrangements for David’s funeral and the club feels that it is important that a presence is made.”
The following day, PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor told the Lincolnshire Echo that the presence of doctors and ambulances meant everything possible had been done to save Longhurst. The tragedy nevertheless raised questions about the medical testing of professional footballers. At that time, players underwent a medical when joining a club but were not required to have further routine examinations. Taylor pointed to the FA’s testing centre at Lilleshall, whose facilities were available to clubs.
An inquest subsequently found that Longhurst had suffered from a rare heart condition. He was the first player to die during a Football League match since Bury defender Sam Wynne in 1927.
York later named a stand at Bootham Crescent in his honour, ensuring that Longhurst remained part of the club long after his final appearance. His name also became etched into Lincoln City’s history because of the opponents on the field that afternoon and the Imps players and supporters who witnessed the tragedy.
For me, the day remained etched in my memory like no other. The eighties and early nineties were beset by tragedy, from having friends at Hillsborough (in a different stand, I must add) to the Bradford Fire. Each time, I remember where I was when I heard the news, as though that even at just nine or ten, the significance of a loss of life at a game really hit me.
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