FOR more than 70 years Clive Baldwin has been standing on the terraces at Worcester City's St George's Lane ground.

Come rain or shine, the loyal spectator stands with his friends by the refreshment kiosk on the Brookside for every home match.

He is also a regular on the away supporters' bus, travelling the country to follow the team he has supported since he was seven-years-old.

Clive, who was due to be in Barrow for tomorrow's FA Trophy clash before it was postponed, celebrates his 79th birthday on Monday and his special day was announced as a surprise at half-time during City's 2-1 defeat to Leigh RMI last weekend.

Over the years, Clive has become one of the crowd and enjoys the camaraderie he has built up with fellow City fans, particularly on the away days.

He said: "The last couple of years I have been going to away games more. I see them home and away now.

"There's 16 and 17-year-olds on the coach all the way up to me and we have all got the same affections for the club and it doesn't matter what age we are. It's a great crowd."

The St John's resident, the eldest of five brothers, has many fond memories of life with City over the past seven decades.

From making his weekly pilgrimage to the ground, where admission was 4d, along the towpath from his Lowesmoor home, Clive has seen it all.

He even painted the old Brookside stand roof in red paint when he was a 15-year-old.

But, as with every City supporter, it is the action of the pitch which sits most memorably with Clive.

"There are certain games that stand out," he said. "When we won the Southern League First Division North in 1977 we didn't get beaten until the last game.

"The Liverpool game has to be the greatest. I was there. I remember the referee giving a penalty for Liverpool to make it 2-1 and it got a bit nervy towards the end!"

However, his least favourite match was a 6-1 home defeat by Gillingham during the 1946 Southern League campaign.

When it comes to players, the pensioner has no hesitation about his favourite .

He said: "To me, the best player I have ever seen is Barry Williams and the most charasmatic was Harry Know-les."

Clive one day hopes to watch Worcester away from the Lane in a new stadium.

But he said: "I have spent a few Saturdays there and hopefully I will spend a few more."