Sir Bobby crown’s Vera’s day

10:59am Thursday 28th August 2008

A LIFE-LONG Newcastle United fan became Sir Bobby's girl on her 100th birthday last week.

Football knight Sir Bobby Robson gallantly crowned a special day for Vera Shuttleworth, from Wolsingham, by signing a club shirt and birthday card. The gesture brought back memories of Newcastle matches when Mrs Shuttleworth stood on the St James' Park terraces with her husband, Victor.

The pair regularly caught a special train from Weardale to Newcastle, taking a post-match tea at Carricks before rounding off the day at the Theatre Royal and then catching the train home at midnight from the Central Station.

Mrs Shuttleworth said: "The biggest game was in the 1930s when there was a record attendance and they had police horses to control the crowds. I think a lot of Sir Bobby. I really appreciate what he has done and I will put the shirt on."

Sir Bobby's card was displayed alongside one from the Queen at a birthday party in Wolsingham's St Thomas' centre. Mrs Shuttleworth still follows Newcastle and enjoys games of bridge. She is recovering in Weardale Community Hospital after a fall when she was shopping at the MetroCentre in March and hopes to be back home soon. She has lived in Wolsingham all her life. Her husband was the well-know village barber and she ran the family shop after his death in 1969. Mrs Shutleworth has one son Vere, a Wear Valley District councillor, grandsons Ian and Andrew, and three great-grandchildren.