Wednesday 26 March 2014 16:07, UK
Leeds United superfan Phil Beeton has been rewarded by Football League sponsor Sky Bet after watching his club play 2,000 consecutive league games.
Beeton, 61, has not missed a league match for over 47 years and became the Supporter of the Year at the Football League Awards 2014.
The die-hard supporter was presented with a limited edition man of the match ball signed by the Leeds first team squad ahead of the club's 4-1 defeat at Bournemouth. He also received a one-off Leeds Sky Bet Superfan T-shirt while the club plan to honour him with a five-year season ticket at Elland Road as a mark of his loyalty.
He said: “I can’t express my gratitude enough - to the Football League, to Sky Bet and of course Leeds. I’ve been overwhelmed by the reaction.
“It’s the end of a long road, and I don’t know where it’s going to go, but certainly 2000 games is a big milestone.
“You start off as a young kid at a very impressionable age. My father dragged me down to Elland Road and it’s just taken off from there.
“The people that you meet and see every week – it’s a great feeling.”
