A FOOTBALL fanatic mum who hasn't missed a local soccer final for more than half a century will finally get her hands on the cup this year.
Anne Beaumont is due to present the Barlow Cup to the winning team following the final at the Galpharm Stadium next month - her 60th final in a row.
The Barlow Cup is the premier cup competition for teams from the top two divisions of the Huddersfield District League.
Mrs Beaumont is the daughter of the late Alf Richardson, who had been president of the Huddersfield and District Football League and Football Association.
She attended her first Barlow Cup Final aged 10 in the 1945/46 season, when Lindley Church won the trophy.
She said: "I was born into it.
"When my father came out of the RAF after the war I started going with him when I was about 10. I've been going ever since. I've never missed one."
Mrs Beaumont, from Wooldale, said she carried on the football theme by marrying husband Frank, the current president of the district league and association.
She added: "I'm steeped in football and at the end of every season it's just a tradition that I go to the final."
Mrs Beaumont, now 73, said she had seen many memorable matches.
One of her favourites was in 1950, when Polish team KS Silesia won the trophy.
She said: "One of the stands at Town's old Leeds Road ground got set on fire and burned down, so it was an interesting day.
"After the match we all went to what was St Patrick's Hall on Fitzwilliam Street to celebrate."
Mrs Beaumont has been invited to present the trophy to the winning team at full time this year. She said: "I've polished it a few times, but I've never presented it.
"When it comes to it I think I will fill up a little bit.
"It has been such a tradition, it will be magic."
BARLOW CUP WINNERS
1946 Lindley Church
1947 Bradley Rangers
1948 Lowerhouses and Longley
1949 David Brown Tractors
1950 KS Silesia
1951 Scapegoat Hill United
1952 Kirkheaton Rovers
1953 Kirkheaton Rovers
1954 Bradley Rangers
1955 Emley
1956 Huddersfield YMCA Seniors
1957 Turnbridge WMC
1958 Clayton West Utd
1959 Milnsbridge YMCA Seniors
1960 Meltham
1961 Holmes Holset Utd
1962 Holmes Holset Utd
1963 Kirkheaton Rovers
1964 Holmes Holset Utd
1965 Holmes Holset Utd
1966 Emley
1967 Bradley Rangers
1968 Emley
1969 Wooldale Wanderers
1970 Wooldale Wanderers
1971 Wooldale Wanderers
1972 Kirkheaton Rovers
1973 Golcar Utd
1974 Old Holmevalians
1975 Bradley Rangers
1976 Brackenhall Utd
1977 Brackenhall Utd
1978 Brackenhall Utd
1979 Brackenhall Utd
1980 Huddersfield YMCA
1981 Upperthong SC
1982 Almondbury Utd
1983 Almondbury Utd
1984 Almondbury Utd
1985 Little John FC
1986 Brackenhall Utd
1987 Brackenhall Utd
1988 Netherton
1989 Storthes Hall
1990 Storthes Hall
1991 Netherton
1992 Storthes Hall
1993 Hepworth Utd
1994 Storthes Hall
1995 Storthes Hall
1996 Honley
1997 Storthes Hall
1998 Brackenhall Utd
1999 Britannia Sports
2000 Wooldale Wanderers
2001 Wooldale Wanderers
2002 Diggle
2003 Meltham Ath
2004 Meltham Ath
