A PENSIONER, who has supported Bolton Wanderers since she was seven years old, has only missed one home game in 42 years.

Mary Hulme, aged 77, first went to the Whites’ former ground at Burnden Park in 1951 with friends before she got a season ticket in 1976.

She said: “I don’t know why I first started liking football but after I went to my first game in 1951 I was hooked.

“It was addictive, I loved going. I have only missed one home league match and that was because I was on a bus when it was going on.

“It was bad planning from me. I didn’t realise that the game was on that day and I had already booked my ticket.”

Mrs Hulme, who lives in Morris Green, now goes to the games at The Macron with her 11-year-old grandson Jack Hulme but said that the game had changed since she stood on the terraces at Burnden Park.

She recently met some of her heroes when she was invited onto the Macron pitch to meet the players and present the man of the match award against Oldham Athletic.

She said: “It is nice that Jack comes to the game with me. I didn’t persuade him to be a Wanderers fan, he could have chosen to support anyone, well anyone apart from Manchester United.

“The game has obviously changed over the years. I think the atmosphere has changed now that grounds don’t have standing. But I still love going.”

“I will keep going for as long as I psychically can.”

Over her time as a fan Mrs Hulme has experienced many highs and lows but as Wanderers have now won five games on the bounce she is hoping they can get promoted back to The Championship.

She said: “If we keep going as we are then there’s no reason why we shouldn’t get promoted. We need to keep injury free and playing the way we are.”