One family, three generations, more than 100 years of supporting Huddersfield Town.

John Burton Drew, from Marple, near Stockport, left Yorkshire at the age of five, but the blue and white stripes have remained firmly in his heart.

Following Town was passed down by Wilfred Watson Drew to both his sons, John, 82, and the late Gordon, and in turn, John’s sons Ian and Stewart are lifelong fans.

Wilfred was born five years before Town’s 1908 formation, and watched his first match during the 1913-14 season, Town’s fourth as a Football League club. He died in 1983.

John and Gordon, who died in 2010, began watching the club after the War, while Ian, aged 48 and well known as the John Smith’s Stadium drummer, went to his first match in 1973-74 and Stewart, 42, in 1980-81.

“It’s definitely in the blood, and I’m proud of the family’s long association with the club,” said John, who served in the RAF before working in insurance.

“My father came from Normanton, near Wakefield, and later lived in Heckmondwike.

“I’ve lived in London, Somerset, the Midlands and now Marple, but I’ve never stopped supporting Town or coming to watch them.

“Ian, who has done all the Pedal for Pounds cycle rides, lives near me and Stewart in Chorley, but they are just as keen supporters as I am, and we meet up and come to the games together.”

John’s 80th birthday was marked by a special stadium celebration before Town’s home Championship game against Birmingham City, which finished 1-1, in January 2013.

And other matches which stand out include the 2-1 top flight win at Arsenal in April 1947, the 3-0 defeat at Manchester United, also in the original First Division, in October 1955 and the 6-3 home Second Division (now Championship) win over Portsmouth in October 1959.

“Peter Doherty, a player I very much admired, scored the winner against Arsenal despite having his arm in a cast,” recalled John.

“The Manchester game sticks in my mind because I hitch-hiked to Old Trafford from my home near Birmingham.

Peter Doherty - HTAFC Legends

“On the way back, I had to walk more than 20 miles of the journey, and didn’t get in until four in the morning.

“The Portsmouth game was incredible because we were three down after a quarter of an hour.

“We pulled two back before half-time and then ran away with it in the second half.

“Bill Shankly was our manager and I remember Ken Taylor scoring one of the goals.”

Tom Johnston was in charge and Town were in Division IV when John and Ian went with the team to a game at Brentford.

“The club were running an offer where you could pay to go on the bus,” explained John.

“It was a very interesting experience, the players were impeccably behaved, and they all made a fuss of Ian.

“I remember Steve Smith, another player I liked, coming to chat to us, and it was a real insight into a footballer’s life.”

John later sponsored a home Division II game against Cambridge United in 1983-84, when Town won 3-0.

Steve Smith