Liverpool FC Forum

by **NANNY RED** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 12:26 pm

Ah rest in peace love, takes some doing all them games,

http://www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/news....le.html

Quote
Tributes to 'Ann of Anfield'
Thursday, January 28, 2010, 06:30

SHE mixed with some of football's greatest heroes, and they kept a place in their heart for her – the family of a much-loved great-grandmother tell reporter CONRAD EMMETT about the extraordinary life of Grimsby's number one Liverpool fan, who died recently.

ANN North became known as Ann of Anfield because of her passion for Liverpool Football Club – she saw all seven European Cup Finals and missed only 20 games in 40 years.

Locally, she was also a founder member of Grimsby's Liverpool Supporters' Club, and became friends with the likes of Kenny Dalglish and Phil Neal.

She died at her daughter's home in Staines on January 10, age 77, following a short illness.

Ann was born in Grimsby, the eighth of 13 children on July 1, 1932, and grew up on Elsenham Road in the West Marsh.

She met Denis North in 1952, and the couple married at St Aidan's Church the same year.

They had their first son, Richard, in August 1953, followed by Leslie in May 1957 and then Denise in 1959.

A love for football soon became apparent to them. "Mum always had a passion for football, and used to go to watch Grimsby Town, taking us with her – rain or sunshine," Denise said.

"Then about 40 years ago Rick took her to a Liverpool game, and she never went to watch Grimsby Town again, unless it was against Liverpool.
"She would eventually become known as Ann of Anfield, and as far as she was concerned, there was not a bad person in Liverpool."

It seemed nothing could stop the pair seeing their favourite team: "She and Denis once crashed their car on black ice. She punctured a lung, and dad broke his knee – I thought they were dead – but it still didn't stop them."

She became a regular face; and as such built up a camaraderie with the players.

"She never needed to have a season ticket in the 80s because she used to take (former Liverpool player) Phil Neal fresh Grimsby fish.

"Following the Hillsborough disaster, which she saw first-hand with dad and their nine-year-old granddaughter Katie, she sold all her memorabilia in a fundraising effort – Kenny Dalglish bought her football shirt, and then gave it back because he knew it meant so much to her."

When she was diagnosed with cancer, she went to live with Denise in Staines where they made a list of things they wanted to do before she died – which they called "The Bucket List".

"We took her on a trip to Paris first class on the Eurostar," she said.
"She also got to spend time with Seventies football legend Brian Hall, who organised her day out at the Melwood training ground, and along with my daughter met Rafa Benitez, taking pictures with the whole team."

And just as Ann never forgot the footballers, they in turn remembered her.
"Phil Neal rang her just a week before she died, when I put the phone to her ear it lit her up. It was so fantastic to see. She came back.

"Everything was complete and she did what she wanted to do; and because of this, my mum's funeral will be a complete celebration of her life."

She also leaves behind grandchildren Thomas, Katie, John-Jo, Chris, Adie, Nicola and Shane, as well as great-grandchildren Joseph and Ben.
Funeral details

Her funeral will be held at Grimsby Crematorium on Friday at 1.40pm. Flowers may be sent to J W Embersons Funeral Directors, 81, Macaulay Street, Grimsby.

by **Greavesie** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 12:33 pm

RIP

true red

by **maypaxvobiscum** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 12:42 pm

thats heart stirring

RIP

by **andy_g** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 2:04 pm

RIP ann. a sadly dying breed. (no pun intended).

by **J*o*n*D*o*e** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 9:46 pm

R.i.p Ann, ynwa

by **matrix** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 11:12 pm

fantastic story...

she was drawn in by watching liverpool for the 1st time wonderful honestly...

rip ann of anfield YNWA

by **ConnO'var** » Fri Jan 29, 2010 6:40 am

RIP Ann.

YNWA

by **fivecups** » Fri Jan 29, 2010 9:00 am

Amazing lady!

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