Big names delight for Baggies fan

The Baggies’ return to the Premier League is a dream come true for all Albion fans, but schoolgirl Patricia Downes has netted an extra special memory.

Season ticket holder Patricia ended up with signatures from the whole of the team.

She also has souvenirs from their Wembley trip. The 14-year-old had made a scrapbook detailing the players’ careers and gave it to her hero Kevin Phillips outside Watford’s ground on April 12 for him to show the players. Her mother Maureen said: “She was really proud of it.

“When we gave it to him, we said ‘That’s for all of you to look at’. Other people joked that he would just put it down and forget it, and we were astounded when a steward came looking for us at Monday night’s match with Southampton to return the book.”

But an even bigger surprise lay ahead.

When Patricia, of Hampshire Road, Hill Top, opened her treasured scrapbook she saw that each of the players had signed it and had given her two of their Wembley passes from the FA Cup semi-final as a memento.

Patricia, who attends Wodensborough High School, said: “This is the first time I had made a scrapbook.

“I cut the Wembley picture of them all lined up with the mascot and some other pictures out of the Express & Star after the semi-final. I couldn’t believe it when it was given back and I saw what they had done. I had put my seat number and season ticket details in, so that’s how they knew to find me.

“I have met some of the players before but only to get their autograph, although once we were playing Preston North End away and Pedro Pele was sitting behind us and I talked to him.”

Mrs Downes, husband Gary, Patricia and their other daughter Katie, 12, are all avid Baggies fans and have had an Albion flag outside their home since before the game at Wembley, which they attended.

Mrs Downes said: “I am amazed that on such a big occasion, when the players were under so much pressure, they still thought about the fans and making them happy.”