SAM Allardyce proved a real winner when he popped in to wish happy birthday to one of Wanderers' oldest fans.

Big Sam planted a kiss on the cheek of Annie Lord-Hatton and helped to kick off her 100th birthday celebrations in style.

He was the icing on the cake for lifelong fan Annie and a party was held in her honour at the Alderbank Nursing Home in Melville Road, Kearsley, where visitors gave her a large number of flowers and cards.

Annie's face beamed with delight when Sam arrived.

Earlier she had told her niece, 52-year-old Sandra Stevens, that she remembered Sam for his great skills on the pitch when he played for Wanderers.

Sam gave Annie a birthday card signed by the first team, a Wanderers pennant -- and a big kiss.

Annie became a Bolton fan when she was seven and went to Burnden Park with her father.

She has followed the team ever since and only stopped watching them on TV four years ago when her eyesight began to fail. She was born on November 3, 1903, in Great Lever and grew up in Cecilia Street.

She worked in a mill and as a postwoman before opening a fish and chip shop in Rusholme, Manchester, with her second husband, Oliver, who died 15 years ago aged 62. Her first husband was Alf Longworth.

She said: "I really enjoyed meeting Sam. I'm a Trotter and used to love it at Burnden Park. You would never catch me supporting Manchester United."

Annie's favourite player was Nat Lofthouse.

Her niece Mrs Stevens said: "Annie is a lovely woman and was so pleased when Sam Allardyce came to her party. She's supported Bolton all her life and loves the club."

Sadly, the recent postal strikes in London meant Annie did not receive a congratulatory telegram from the Queen on her big day.

Post bosses made up for it, however, when they turned up at Annie's door with the late telegram and a bouquet of flowers.