England’s oldest football fan has died at the age of 107. Dedicated Ivy Haynes was a long-term season ticket holder at Bristol City FC and attended every home game in her wheelchair.
However, the centenarian, who was born in 1902, was forced to miss several games this season due to ill-health. She passed away earlier this week and her funeral will take place on Thursday with donations going to CLIC Sargent, for whom she was a keen fundraiser.
A spokesman for Bristol City FC paid tribute to their biggest fan and offered condolences to her daughter Hazel Greenman, who also supports the club. He said: ”She continued to actively support the team up until last season. It is thought Ivy was the oldest active football fan in England. The club would like to extend their deepest sympathy and condolences to her daughter Hazel and all her family and friends.”
Ivy, who lived in Winsley, near Bradford-on-Avon, Somerset, was just a small child when Bristol City FC reached the FA Cup Final in 1909. This was to be the highpoint of the club’s history but she has continued to support them ever since. The keen fundraiser was well known for her work supporting CLIC Sargent and raised thousands knitting jumpers and organising coffee mornings.
