THE CASKET CASE OF HUDDERSFIELD

Bringing new meaning to the phrase ‘diehard fan’, one Terriers supporter plans to show her dedication from beyond the grave

“I could get hit by a bus tomorrow and my kids would say: ‘She he was 65, she was a grandma – let’s have a quiet farewell with some nice hymns’,” says Annie Simmons, a Huddersfield Town fanatic since 1966. “Well, on your bike with that. When I die, I want to make a statement. And the Terriers are my life.”

Annie is the first person in the UK to book a pre-paid, football club-endorsed funeral plan. For £4,195, she’ll get a coffin in Terriers colours, a blue and white floral bouquet and hire of a club function room for the wake. The club song, Smile Awhile, will be blasted out at the ceremony and her ashes scattered at the stadium. There will even be an announcement made at a home game to mark her passing.

“Two years ago a close friend of mine died and left her children with the bill,” says Annie. “I kicked around the idea of getting a pre-paid plan, because my children have families and I don’t want to burden them.them For years I’ve said I’d like a Terriers-themed funeral, but everyone pooh-poohed it apart from my best friend,friend who said she’d break into the stadium to scatter my ashes, if needs be. So when I saw this, I had to go for it.” Annie asked that we change her name for this piece: with a wicked cackle, she reveals that it will be “a surprise” for her loved ones.

The idea of marking your own personal final whistle with a club-themed farewell was conceived by Adam Fisher, business development manager at Avalon Funeral Plans. “I’m a Manchester City fan, so at 50 I’ve suffered for most of my life,” he says. “Football is a passion, and increasingly people’s passions in life are being used at their funerals. Football elements at a service aren’t new, but what is new is a proper, bespoke plan, conducted in partnership with the club.”

Huddersfield are the first to adopt the idea but a number of other clubs are in talks with Avalon. “The club get a cut, so it makes sense from a commercial point of view,” says Adam. “Some people on forums have said ‘clubs are ripping us off again’ – but you don’t have to buy one. And most people have responded very positively. This is something to help make people smile on a difficult occasion.”

Annie couldn’t agree more. “I like the fact the club benefits,” she says. “Doing this will be my little contribution to help Town live on for my grandkids.”

Find out more at terriersfuneralplan.co.uk