Derby County announces death of 'oldest football fan'
- Published
Derek Eley was known as "Mr Derby County"
Derby County have announced the death of a man who they said was "widely regarded" as the country's oldest football fan.
Derek Eley - known as "Mr Derby County" - died aged 103 having supported the club for more than 89 years.
He watched the Rams win the FA Cup at Wembley in 1946 after serving in France and Italy in World War Two.
In a social media post, external, the club thanked Mr Eley for his "incredible support".
The Derby County "superfan" was a guest of honour at a match at Pride Park Stadium in 2019 - an experience he described as "a shock to me".
"I never, ever, expected such attention in my life," he said.
Honour for football superfan
When he was a teenager, Mr Eley used to travel to watch matches with the former club chairman Sam Longson.
"Eventually I got a car of my own and went to all the home matches and most of the away matches until I was 89," he said.
"I started relying on the people who I'd gone with in the early years - the grandsons of Sam Longson - and I've carried on ever since."
Dozens of Rams fans paid tribute to Mr Eley following the club's announcement.
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It is not known when Mr Eley died, but speaking to the BBC in 2019, a friend said: "If he dies watching Derby County he will be a very, very happy man."
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- Published29 November 2019
