A 93-year-old football fan’s “wildest dream” has finally come true as he proudly leads his team onto the field as the team’s mascot.
Lifelong Hastings United fan Harry Hall, 93, made his football debut at Pilot Field at the weekend after supporting the club for decades.
advertise
Mr Hall is a resident of Hastings Court nursing home in The Ridge and staff there try to ensure he still goes to home games.
He said: “I’ve been a fan my whole life, going to games since the 1940s, to the point where I became friends with the owners and I had a ‘ticket for life’.”
Mr Hall enjoyed a special experience surrounded by friends and family back home before the club’s 3-2 win over Sheppey United.
“I thought when I moved into Hastings I might be able to watch some games with the support of my family – I never dreamed that the team here would be supportive of me continuing to do what I love on a regular basis,” he said.
advertise
He was accompanied by nursing home staff and watched the game with resident Colin Lawson.
Mr Hall was a former businessman who owned Sandra’s Gift Shop in Hastings old town and later ran a fishmonger in Alexandra Arcade.
He and Phyllis, his wife of more than 70 years, moved into Hastings Court, an 80-bedroom care home providing residential, nursing, memory and respite care services.
Residents walked to the edge of the pitch with the team because the ground was too soft to support their walking frames.
Mr Hall was helped out of the tunnel by Hastings player Dylan Bowe and the club thanked Hastings Ground residents for leading the strike.
Follow BBC Sussex Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to south east today@bbc.co.uk Or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.