Today marks 36 years since the death of former Northampton Town striker David Longhurst, who died on 8 September 1990 while playing for York City.

David John Longhurst was born in Northampton on 15 January 1965 and came from a footballing family, with his father having played for Rothwell Town.

Longhurst signed for Nottingham Forest in January 1983. After failing to make the grade at Forest, he joined Halifax Town on a free transfer in July 1985 and became a prolific scorer with the club.

He made 97 starts and one substitute appearance for Halifax, scoring 27 goals.

Northampton Town

Graham Carr made several offers before landing his man, with Longhurst joining Northampton Town on 3 July 1987 for a fee of £40,000.

The striker made his Cobblers debut against Chester City on 15 August 1987, scoring his first Northampton goal in the same game.

During the 1987/88 season, Longhurst made 33 league starts and two substitute appearances, scoring seven league goals. He also made two FA Cup appearances, three League Cup appearances, scoring once, and two appearances in other competitions, scoring once.

Competition and injury cut down his first-team appearances.

His final goal for Northampton came against Blackpool on 30 April 1988.

Longhurst made a further league start and one substitute appearance during the 1988/89 season before leaving Northampton on 7 October 1988.

He finished his time with the Cobblers having made 40 starts and three substitute appearances, scoring nine goals.

Peterborough United and York City

Fifteen months after joining Northampton, Longhurst became a Peterborough United player in a £55,000 move.

While at Peterborough, he scored a hat-trick in the FA Cup against Gillingham.

He spent around the same amount of time at London Road as he had at the County Ground, making 63 starts and eight substitute appearances and scoring 11 goals.

His next stop was York City, who he joined in January 1990 for £30,000.

Longhurst made eight appearances for York and scored two goals.

8 September 1990

On 8 September 1990, York City were playing Lincoln when, 44 minutes into the game, David collapsed and died.

The game was abandoned and it was later discovered that David had an undetected heart disease.

The newly covered Shipton Road end of Bootham Crescent was later named the David Longhurst Stand, a name it retained until York City moved away from the ground.