Fan with a plan’s Latics love affair

DEVOTION TO DUTY . . . Gary and Yvonne Davies have watched over 100 games involving Athletic teams this season.

SUPER fan Gary Davies is set to break his own record for the number of games attended in a single season.

The Bacup-based 50-year-old, who admits his addiction to all things Latics marks him out as "potty", hit the century mark when attending Athletic's clash against Charlton at Boundary Park on Saturday.

Along with his equally-committed wife Yvonne (44), Gary then made it an incredible 101 by watching Athletic's televised clash at Sheffield Wednesday in the flesh two days later.

His total includes 50 first team, 31 youth team and 20 reserve team fixtures.

If all goes to plan, Gary will end up having watched Athletic 111 times by the summer.

It is all the more impressive a feat for the fact that the former South Chadderton School pupil's circumstances have changed recently.

"I did 109 games last season and got the club's supporter of the year award," said the HGV driver.

"It was easier to get to games then in the respect that I had a problem with my leg which meant I was off work. I just got used to going.

"Now, I am full-time again. I wondered last season if it could be done while working and I suppose this shows that it can.

"It is a lot of time and effort. But once you get past the stage of asking yourself "am I going?" and just accept that you are going, then it just becomes a matter of logistics."

Gary, who runs the online Athletic memorabilia site Museum De Latique (www.museumdelatique.com), helps out at youth team matches at Chapel Road on Saturday mornings.

He prints and distributes team sheets, while Yvonne takes care of the refreshments.

The connection to Athletic's stars of tomorrow was strong enough to persuade the pair not to watch the crunch FA Cup second-round replay against Southend at Boundary Park in December.

Despite the prize for a win, which Athletic claimed, being a trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool, Gary and Yvonne instead watched the youth team in action in their own stellar third-round tie — in the FA Youth Cup, away to Premier League club Norwich City.

"Even though the lads lost 5-0, I was really glad I was there," said Gary of his 370-mile midweek round trip to Carrow Road.

"Because for some of those lads, that night will be the pinnacle of their careers."

Sadly, the plan to double up by taking in both the youth team's home game against Tranmere and the first team's match at Wycombe this weekend have proven to be beyond even this pair's powers.

Time constraints mean it is not possible to watch both, and with Wycombe being such a vital match when it comes to Athletic's fight against the possibility of relegation, the journey to Adams Park for the afternoon kick-off has been selected as the priority.

As for the prospect of topping the 100-barrier again during the 2012-13 season, Gary is loath to commit at the moment.

"I am not sure I will be able to do it all again. It is a bit obsessive. We will have to see how it all pans out.

"Then again, I might change my tune when the friendlies start again in July . . . "