'I asked Nick Barmby if he wanted to come back for shepherd's pie" BLOWING kisses and going in for a cheeky bum squeeze, Mary Butcher is like a bubbly 20-something. But the pensioner is in fact 87 years young and, yesterday, all her dreams came true when she met Tigers manager Nick Barmby. At a players' signing event, Mary was first in the queue to get a glimpse of the lads. She blew kisses to the City stars, had cuddles with the team and even invited manager Barmby back to her house for a shepherd's pie. "I love them all, they're lovely," said Mary, who lives in Bransholme. "But Nick is my favourite, he is absolutely gorgeous." Mary queued up to meet the stars at the special autograph sessions at the KC Stadium. Hopping from foot to foot, she looked more like an excited teenager than someone who can remember the Second World War. When the players emerged through the stadium's shop doors, Mary was first to wave and blow them kisses. She said: "I asked Nick Barmby if he wanted to come back to my house for a shepherd's pie. "I think he is going to come – I'll treat him right." It is Mary's energy and enthusiasm which earned her a place in the queue. Not one for a sofa and slippers, Mary is a keen fundraiser. She was presented with a Hull City shirt by managers at Dove House Hospice for raising the second-highest amount of money for the charity in a fun run. She raised more than £400 at Roary's Spooktacular run by walking, jogging and running three kilometres round West Park and the KC Stadium in October 2011. She said: "My twin Annie got breast cancer a few years back. "She's all right now, but it made me want to do things for charity. "I used to do Race For Life but now I do things for Dove House Hospice. "I wish I'd raised the highest amount though – I'll just have to try harder this year." Mary claims she isn't really a fan of football, but is definitely a supporter of the players. With a cheeky wink, she said: "I've met some of the players before when I got Dean Marney's shirt signed. "They'd been training so they were all sweaty and hot – it was great. "I would have happily jumped in the tub with them, but I wasn't allowed in the changing rooms." Mary has 11 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and two great great-grandchildren. Her late husband Leslie was a loyal City fan and would regular head down to the former ground at Boothferry Park to watch matches. Mary would go with him and, in later life, watch games in the living room with him. Accompanying her to the signing yesterday was granddaughter Tiffany Butcher, 16. Tiffany said: "I think it is really good that she is so fit at 87. "I hope I'm that fit when I'm her age. "We've done the Race For Life together in the past and she is brilliant." Mary and Tiffany were among hundreds of fans who queued out of the shop door to get an autograph from the players. Faithful followers waited more than an hour to get a glimpse of their sporting heroes. The event was held during the half-term holidays, so young fans could meet their idols. After meeting Mary and enjoying a quick kiss over the signing table, Nick Barmby was a little flushed from the amount of admiration he received from one of his more mature admirers. He said: "She is certainly something. "She is doing well to be so fit at her age. "Her family should be very proud. Maybe we should get her on the team?" This is what happens when you don't have a match at the weekend. Got a bit of the Harry Enfield sketch about it [video=youtube;C2hgAsi8Ae4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2hgAsi8Ae4[/video]
Found it already but cheers anyway, was looking under sport. Only wanted to see that comment was expecting something brilliant but sadly it wasn't really, still made me chuckle.
Ive green arrowed Gary123, hes right, looking at her comments about getting in the tub she is a dirty old cow
The fotos gave me the biggest laugh, Nick looks positivley scared in the second and the look of concentration on Mcleans face whilst holding a pen, bless him
Nowt like making the manager look like a silly **** in front of all his players. I bet they pissed. If it was Nige, there'd have been hell on! Or a scowl at least...
“She was not first in the queue, as I was and she managed to get in front because she wasn't able to stand up for 10 minutes so that is ridiculous”
