LIFELONG Accrington Stanley fan Joe Hurley saw his football team play live for the first time since 1958 at Hereford United on Saturday.

Mr Hurley, who has supported Accrington since the 1930s, met the club's chief executive Robert Heys after the match and was promised a signed programme.

Trevor Marston, landlord of the Brewers Arms in West Malvern and a Tamworth fan, took Mr Hurley to the match as a delayed 80th birthday present after they got talking about football in the pub.

"We thought it was a good idea to go and see the old team," said Mr Hurley, adding that the only disappointment was seeing the players wearing blue away strips instead of red.

The club has existed in various forms for more than 100 years and last played in the football league between 1921 and 1962, when it was forced to resign because of financial problems.

Since it reformed in 1968, Accrington Stanley has been a non-league side but is currently topping the Nationwide Conference.

Mr Hurley hopes his team will win the title and return to the league next season.

Saturday's crunch match between Accrington and Hereford United, currently second in the Conference, ended in a 2-2 draw.

Mr Hurley moved from Accrington to Malvern aged 16, to work at TRE.