Ivy's soccer treat

Her daughter Linda surprised her with a tour around the Crystal Palace ground where she was treated like a VIP and presented her with tickets for a home game against Swansea.

Now Ivy, of Ashdown Road, says she still hasn't got over how great that day was.

"My daughter said - I am going to give you a birthday to remember - and she did. It will last me the rest of my life."

Ivy was born in Croydon where she spent her childhood and enjoyed going with her dad to Crystal Palace to watch their beloved team. Ivy was just eight years old.

She has a vivid recollection of throwing up her hat when a goal was scored at a winter game and not finding it until a week later when the snow had thawed and she could see it still lying on the ground.

She grew up and married Reg who was also an Eagles fan and they shared their love of football for 57 years, attending home games regularly as they lived nearby in Thornton Heath, but also travelling around the country to away matches.

"We have really been good supporters," said Ivy.

"All my family were - my brother, my sisters, my children. We just love football."

Reg passed away ten years ago but she remains true to the team, and nothing gets in the way of her catching the scores - she asks all friends and family not to phone when the football is on television.

Ivy was shown around the stadium by the deputy manager as arranged by Linda, and went into the players lounge, looked through old photographs of the team from when she was young, and saw all the silverware in the trophy cabinet. She was then told to go into the club shop and choose whatever she wanted - she came away with a supporters scarf, badge and memorabilia.

The match itself also delivered a birthday treat - a two-nil win and a message for Ivy at half-time in front of 17,000 spectators, which said: "Happy 88th birthday to Ivy Hicks who has been a true supporter of the Eagles for 80 years. Enjoy the match. Up the Eagles!"