BBC - Five Live - Fan of the Month

PADDY CRONESBERRY – MIDDLESBROUGH FAN

Paddy Cronesberry runs the Disabled Supporters Association at Boro. He is a great fundraiser, having set out to get the cash for a specially adapted minibus to drive fans across Europe to witness Middlesbrough’s UEFA Cup challenge.

As a wheelchair-user himself, Paddy arranged for fellow supporters to drive to Boro’s first game in Ostrava, Czech Republic and the minibus has since become a familiar sight on UK motorways taking disabled fans up and down the country.

In case there was any doubt about Paddy’s love for his team, his commitment was proven last season when he was one of only 100 fans who travelled to Xanthi in Northern Greece, despite there being no official flight.

KATE BEST – TOTTENHAM FAN

Kate is 100 per cent devoted to Spurs and sums it all up in a poem:

I’m a huge Tottenham Hotspur female supporter
My Dad knew how to bring up his daughter!
I get behind the team at home or away
Cheering them on and singing during play.
I won't have anyone say a bad word against them
I've seen some good times and some I won't mention!
I have a small THFC tattoo, so everyone knows where my loyalty lies
My husbands a fan - there's no surprise.
I got married at White Hart Lane nearly a year ago
Even the Tottenham garter was on show!
I want to win so everyone knows
I’m Tottenham forever…. that's how it goes.

JOHN HANCOX – SHEFFIELD UNITED FAN

John Hancox's football travel ritual consists of leaving his house in County Cavan, Ireland at 3.30pm on Friday. He then travels two hours by bus to Dublin City Centre and catches another bus to Dublin Airport.

John then flies to Liverpool and stays overnight with his daughter in Warrington. At 10am the next morning, John, his daughter and her husband drive two hours to Bramall Lane where John stands for two hours greeting the players before the game.

After the match, the family of Blades drive back to Warrington ready for John’s return to Ireland on Sunday.

Such dedication is all the more surprising as he is legally blind and makes the trip every two weeks by himself. John also had a kidney transplant on 20 February and did the round trip to Sheffield with his staples still in, less than three weeks after his operation!