When it comes to Rugby League, John Spellman certainly knows all about commitment and loyalty…
The 75-year-old fan has not missed a Swinton Lions game home or away in 44 years. John even turned down invites to family events if they clashed with any of the 1,438 matches he has seen. He once left his grandaughter’s Holy Communion early to catch a second half.
John saw his first game aged 12 and the last one he missed was in October 1979. He said: “I was doing a bit of shopping for my mum one Saturday morning and I saw a mate of mine from school and he said, ‘Are you coming to Swinton this afternoon?’ I said, ‘Yeah why not? I’ve got nothing better to do.’ He stopped going 40 years ago, but I’ve still not found anything better to do.”
John Spellman (far right) pictured before a game played against Papua New Guinea at Station Road, 1987 (Courtesy John Spellman / SWNS)Greater Manchester club Swinton have won the Rugby League Championship six times, the last in 1964, and the challenge cup trophy three times. But while their fortunes declines, they have since scooped three lower division titles, including League One in 2011. John, of Monton, Gtr Manchester, watched Swinton beat Papua New Guinea in a 1987 clash at the club’s Station Road stadium.
The ground once held international matches, but it has since been demolished and a housing estate stands in its place. Swinton have played home games at 15 different stadiums since leaving Station Road 1992 and are now at Sale.
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John cheering on his team in 2020 (Lee McLean / SWNS)Retired steel tube salesman began attending away games aged 16, when he had started work. Not even Covid would break John’s amazing record of consecutive games as he was volunteered to help with social distancing. He has now ditched his replica shirt and scarf for a suit on matchdays as part of the club’s hospitality unit.
- Do you know a fan more loyal than John? Contact mirrornews@mirror.co.uk
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