A DEVOTED Bury FC follower who has taken disabled fans to the team’s away matches for 20 years has been honoured with an invite to Buckingham Palace.
Stan McGowen, has been driving the length and breadth of the country to help disabled supporters watch their favourite team since 1993.
His disabled son Paul, was only able to attend home games, until Stan stepped in.
He now takes fans and volunteer helpers to every away match in a specially-decorated Bury FC Disabled Supporters Club minibus.
The Football Association (FA) has now invited 150 football volunteers, including Stan, from across the UK to celebrate their achievements at a ‘Grassroots Heroes’ reception at Buckingham Palace on Monday 7th October.
Prince William will host the event as president of the FA and will present each lucky volunteer with a medal in recognition of their commitment to the sport.
Stan, from Little Lever, said: “It is a massive honour for me to be able to represent the Bury FC Disabled Supporters Club and Bury FC as a whole at Buckingham Palace.
“If it was not for all the volunteers and the sponsors on the side of the bus we would not be able to support the club in this way.
“It is not just me – I only drive the bus!”
The celebration, held to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the FA, will also see a football match between two of England’s oldest amateur clubs, Civil Service FC and Polytechnic FC, take place in the Palace gardens.
Stan, who was also named supporter of the year by the Football League in 2007, became a Bury FC fan after meeting wife Zandra, who has always lived in Bury.
He added: “I love doing it and have no plans to stop – we go everywhere.”