TIGER Old Boys FC are mourning the loss of their greatest supporter.

John Morrell (pictured) passed away peacefully at Weston Hospital, aged 70, after being taken ill earlier this month.

Despite his deteriorating health, John supported the Tigers through thick and thin for 11 years.

He had been introduced to the club in 2000 by Evelyn Schneider, his carer, after she noticed that his existence at that point consisted merely of sleeping and watching television.

Initially just turning up and watching "the orange team" each week, John quickly became recognised and embraced by the Tiger Old Boys players and management.

Before long John was travelling on a coach with the players to away cup ties and joining them in the pub after games.

Manager Alan Lott would even pick him up and drop him off home again when Evelyn couldn't attend a game.

John was issued with a Tigers rain jacket, was included in official team photos and became as big a part of the club's success as anyone.

He proved a lucky charm as his team won several trophies, and he won the "club person of the year" award several times.

John also loved animals and an annual John Morrell Cup, which sees the current Tiger Old Boys side play a team of veteran former players and local Sunday League legends, raises money for the RSPCA.

A few seasons ago, John was invited by the Somerset county Football Association to present trophies in an end of season award ceremony. The association said he reflected the spirit of the game.

John also became involved with the Bridgwater and District Sunday League's representative side and would again travel on away trips with them, sitting in pride of place at the front of the coach.

His lucky charm continued to work as Bridgwater won the Mavis Tate Cup for the first time in 20 years.

In later years, he used a megaphone to make sure everyone on and off the pitch heard him celebrate with a ‘blowout’ and, when things were not going well for the team, he would start a two-person Mexican Wave.

In their recent match against rivals Quantock Pride, soon after learning of John's passing, the Tigers players wore black armbands and, together with their opponents, stood to listen to a poem dedicated to John before observing two minutes silence in his memory. The Tigers later dedicated their 5-2 victory to John.

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