‘And today’s Banbury club mascot is Brian – aged 75’
BEING a mascot for your favourite football team is every boy’s childhood dream – but Banbury United fan Brian Davis proved on Saturday that age should be no barrier when he led out The Puritans ahead of his 75th birthday!
Mr Davis was asked to lead Banbury United out at Spencer Stadium for their Southern League game against Barwell after being nominated for the honour by three friends ahead of his birthday on Monday.
Mr Davis, who lives in Hook Norton, said: “I was quite taken aback by it to be honest. My friends just came up to me and said that for my present I would be a guest for the day.
“I am disabled and have problems walking any distance, but I decided to give it a go and really enjoyed it.”
On the day Mr Davis was given a personalised Banbury United shirt, a signed programme from all the players and also presented the match ball before the game, which United lost 2-1.
The pensioner moved to Oxfordshire from Staffordshire in 1974 and worked at the Coach and Horses pub in Adderbury for six years. In 1980 he moved to Oxford, where he took over a pub in Headington, before being involved with North Oxford Tennis Club leading up to his retirement in 2002.
“When I was working in Oxford I wasn’t able to go to many of Banbury’s games, but I was able to pick up the scores through newspapers and my friends,” Mr Davis said.
“But after I retired I moved to Swerford and then Hook Norton 18 months ago, so I have been going to games down at Spencer Stadium ever since.”
One favourite memory of Mr Davis’ from his time following United is their promotion success in the 2003-04 season. He was at the game where they beat Sutton Coldfield Town in a play-off to secure promotion to their current division.
He said: “Winning the game put us into the highest level of football we have ever been, and I can remember the game now.
“It went to extra-time and we scored with the last kick of the game, the scorer was one of our current players, Wayne Blossom!”
Mr Davis is an avid football fan, following teams wherever he has lived. He followed Stamford Town while he was living in Staffordshire during the 1970s and watches Hook Norton play at the Bourne. He celebrated his birthday with wife Susan, enjoying a day with family including grandchildren.
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Weather for Banbury
Thursday 23 May 2013
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 4 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 4 C to 10 C
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