A DEDICATED Huddersfield Town fan with a 100% record in play-off final wins he’s attended is flying in from Sweden for the big game.
Ian Berry will be at Wembley on Saturday cheering on the team he continues to follow despite living abroad.
Ian, an artist known as Denimu, is on a high at the moment following a sell-out exhibition of his work at a top London gallery.
He creates his artwork from denim and if Town win Ian may create a vision of the club’s success in his unique art form.
Netherton-born Ian, a former Newsome High School and Greenhead College student, said: “I had booked tickets from Australia, where I lived at the time, for the play-offs two years ago, only for Millwall to beat us in the semi-finals.
“I was a little wiser this time and booked after the final whistle last Tuesday.
“Having not been able to make it last year, as I had an exhibition on in Sweden, I have a 100% record in the play-off finals with wins at the old Wembley in 1995 and the one in Cardiff against Mansfield in 2004.”
Ian hopes Town will make it out of the division they’ve been in for most of his life.
“The last time we were in the Championship it was awesome – big teams coming every other week, bigger crowds and of course a better quality of football.
“Dean Hoyle deserves it more than anyone and is a chairman that should be an envy of any club.
“He may have money, but his heart is in it too – not just thinking of his bank balance or using it as a trophy club.”
Joining Ian in the Wembley stands will be his cousin Kate Berry, from Australia. His uncle and Kate’s dad Adrian Berry was a fan when he grew up in Huddersfield before emigrating nearly 30 years ago.
“I know he was watching at stupid o’clock last week, and Kate’s brother Sam is a big fan and spreads the name around the City of Newcastle in Australia, where probably the Giants have a bigger name as it’s a rugby league city.
“They’re really envious of Kate being able to go. She is teaching in London so is over there, but has managed to get up to Huddersfield to go to a few games with my dad, Eddie Berry.”
And Town will have a few followers in Sweden – for some of Ian’s friends will watch the game on TV.
Ian flies in from Malmo on Friday for the game and returns to Sweden on Monday, hopefully with something to cheer about and inspired by in his artwork.
“Perhaps if we get the win. I may do a denim picture of the day – it’s the right colour,” he added.
