A Manchester City fan will live her dream of becoming a matchday mascot this weekend – at the grand old age of 88.
Celia Hodkin has waited almost eight decades to fulfil her ambition, having made her first visit to Maine Road as a nine-year-old in 1933. Since then the Blues have won two league titles and four FA Cups, had 28 managers and moved to a landmark new stadium.
Tomorrow, the Premier League leaders will mark Celia’s 88th birthday by rolling out the Blue carpet and giving her a day she will never forget.
Celia, from New Moston, will be mascot for the game against Fulham after her daughter, Cath Stone, wrote to club bosses to tell them about her mum’s loyal support.
Cath said: “She’s always loved them. She has a book of match reports she used to fill in from when she first went as a nine-year-old.
“I wrote to them and they have been great and have set up a wonderful day for her – she’ll be over the moon.”
Celia, who cares for her 91-year-old husband Syd, will be ferried to the Etihad Stadium where she will meet Joe Hart, Mario Balotelli and other stars as they warm up for the match.
She will be given a tour of the stadium and presented with a match ball by City legend Mike Summerbee, which will then be signed by the players.
The VIP treatment will continue after kick-off, when she will be invited into the players’ lounge away from the cold to watch the match on TV.
After the final whistle she will be given a birthday cake.
Celia, who now watches matches on TV, revealed it had been ‘hard work’ supporting the Blues for so long.
She said: “I first went when I was at junior school.
“I used to stand with my mum and dad in what was the open end.
“Les McDowall and Peter Doherty were my favourite players when I was growing up.
“I can remember going to one game and they called it off because it was so foggy.
“It’s not been easy supporting City for all these years.”
City ambassador Summerbee said: “It’s an honour to meet such a long standing and loyal fan, and we hope it’ll be a great day for Celia.
“I hope she enjoys the experience – as a true Blue she thoroughly deserves it.”
mike.keegan@men-news.co.uk
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great stuff city a real peoples club who puts so much back into our communty, keep up the fantastic work!!!!!
Have a great day Celia, another great gesture from a great club.
I hope we batter Fulham for you Celia - though the last few years against Fulham has left me slightly cynical about it!
We got beat by one bogey team this week - LETS MAKE SURE IT IS NOT TWO....for Celia :-)
The way Dzeko is performing if she takes her boots she might get a game !!!
Have a good day Celia, and enjoy, you deserve it !
What a lovely gesture from City for this lady. Hope she has a great day
Nice one!! enjoy your day Celia I am sure it will be a special day for you X
Now that is a good story.
Have a great & deserved day out, Celia. Well dont to City too, for making this a proper day! This is the sort of thing we want to hear about, rather than the off-field antics of hyped up players - from a Red.
Man City, pure class. Have a great day.
What a lovely story hope you enjoy your day and you get to do lots of Poznans.
I bet she was thinking 'why never me?'
Such a lovely gesture, hope Celia has a great day.
just goes to show the saying is true . you are born a blue or become a pot chaser. Have a great day Celia hope we can cap it off with a great win and 3 points closer to the title
This is our City! Superb story, good luck Celia :)
Nice story from the berties.
On the other hand,the way citeh have been playing recently...she might get a game!!
Well done Celia, there can't be many City supporters who have seen them win two titles, the club should name a stand after you. enjoy your day
Hope we don't get beat and spoil her day!
I know how you feel, Celia: being a Blue gets more and more important the older you get -- some might say it even becomes an obsession -- what Van Morrison might call a Beautiful Obsession. Gestures like this are among the reasons why we love them. Have a great day -- you deserve it.
Celia i am so happy for you, you well deserve to be out there with the boys after your dedication to the club during the up and down years you have followed them.
have a fantastic day and i am sure that you will be spoiled wrotten, by all.
And their could be something in the number of your age and the new player number
maybe its an omen, lets hope its a good one, well done and enjoy every deserved minute xxx
Brilliant story from a club that still remembers its fans are the most important part of any football club. Perhaps Cath could buy her a new coat for the big day that isn't red?
Good on you Celia, lets hope the lads have got their shooting boots on to give you plenty to celebrate.This is why we love our City, this is why we are City Till We Die.
Sums up, in one story, why I am a Blue. Nothing more needs to be said.
have a good day young lady ..you deserve it .....i am a red but i hope they win to make your day complete ..good luck and good health to you xx
Hope you have a well deserved well earned day celia Iwould really like to see those match report,s from by-gone matches ( have got history book report book(s) ) but written by a fan giving their own opinion on the game now thats pure class perhaps someone at the club could either put one write up in a match programme or in the city mag
Great gesture by the club. Have a great day Celia, hope you bring the boys lots of luck - we've not had lots of that stuff lately!. And don't forget to put your snow boots on!
P.S. Some kind sentiments from reds - nice one.