Birthday card appeal for veteran's 101st celebration

John Cunningham was described as the "perfect gentleman" by staff at De Brook Lodge

A care home has launched an appeal for 101st birthday cards for a football mad centenarian who survived the bombing of a Merchant Navy ship during World War Two.

John Cunningham was born on 14 December 1923 and has been an avid Manchester City fan since attending his first match at the age of six.

His care home at De Brook Lodge in Flixton, near Manchester, has appealed for people to send in cards for the "perfect gentleman" so he can "fill his day with lots of love and laughter".

Mr Cunningham served on the Ocean Peace cargo ship that was bombed by enemy aircraft and sunk in the Mediterranean in 1943.

The care home said it would like to be able to put up 101 cards for the father-of-our so he has "one for every year of his incredible life".

Mr Cunningham, who will be celebrating his big day with family and friends, has said his birthday wish was "to be able to meet my favourite player Erling Haaland at the Etihad stadium and score a goal against him".

He was a season ticket-holder and member of the Manchester City Social Club until his late 80s.

Danielle Aikenhead, a manager at the home, said: "To mark this amazing milestone birthday, we're rallying together to get John at least 101 birthday cards – one for every year of his incredible life.

"It would mean so much to John, reading the well wishes and messages from others in the local community."