Alice has supported the Dons for almost six decades
It was certainly worth the wait for 80-year-old Alice Dunnett on Saturday as she finally got a chance to lead her beloved Wimbledon out after almost six decades of supporting the Dons.
birthday was in February, lifelong fan Mike Richardson said Alice deserved something special to mark the occasion and he helped pay for the mascot package on Saturday.th Alice, who is pictured above with Wimbledon captain Alan Bennett (photograph by Simon Roe), had a belated birthday celebration for the Shrewsbury match as she was one of the club’s mascots. Though her 80
But Alice only agreed after it was arranged that her great grandchildren Daniel, nine, and four-year-old Hayden, could share the mascot duties.
“I was having a meal here before a game in February and Mike said that we should do something to celebrate because I’d been supporting Wimbledon for so many years,” said Alice. “Then I got an e-mail saying that I was a mascot for the first game of the season. It was all a bit of a shock, but I said I would not do it without my great grandchildren being a part of it. Though his name is spelt differently, Hayden is named after our famous mascot. Hayden is so excited about meeting the ‘Beast’ (Bayo Akinfenwa).
“I got some fans to donate £1 each to sponsor me, but Mike doubled it. I’ve supported Wimbledon since I met my husband Sid 59 years ago. We used to go to every away match, but I have problems getting to them now. I still get to as many matches as I can though.”
Alice was given a rousing round of applause by Dons fans when she left the pitch before the Shrewsbury match on Saturday.