A lifelong Manchester United fan from the Isle of Man has won the club’s Fan of the Year award.
Martyn Murphy travelled from Ramsey to Old Trafford on Saturday for a behind the scenes tour – and was speechless when he met United manager Louis Van Gaal and club legend Ryan Giggs.
Martyn was being given the tour by former United player Quinton Fortune and was met by Alan Keegan, United’s stadium announcer who told him to knock on Van Gaal’s door to see if he was in.
A wary Martyn was stunned to find Van Gaal and Giggs in the office waiting to congratulate him and present him with the award.
They revealed he had been chosen as the club’s first ever Chevrolet Fan of the Year and presented him with a shirt they were going to sign for him.
He was also invited to attend the United Player of the Year Awards with his wife Hannah.
The Fan of the Year award was created by club sponsors Chevrolet to honour one fan for their ‘unbridled enthusiasm and unparalleled pride for football and their beloved club’.
Martyn, who is not a season ticket holder but watches the team play once or twice a year, has been supporting the club since 1988 when he was four years old.
He said: ‘Manchester United is a special club that has been with me all my life.
John Gasloli, from Chevrolet Global Marketing, said: ‘Martyn not only represents the passion of every football fan, he is an example of the dedication and drive the fans give to make the sport they love better.
See the video of Martyn meeting his heroes on www.iomtoday.co.im