No.1 Crusaders fan dies
Doreen Searle, the Crusaders’ number one fan, was following her team right up until she died of a heart attack in hospital on Sunday night.
Last Friday, senior players Sam Whitelock and Matt Todd – two of Doreen’s favourite Crusaders – visited the 96-yearold for an hour, her niece Linda Cattermole said.
‘‘She couldn’t believe them turning up. She got very excited when she saw her boys.’’
One of eight sisters, Doreen was the only one who never married – but thanks to her passionate support of the Crusaders, she had a whole squad of children.
‘‘They’re my boys. I just live for them, they’re my special people,’’ she said in 2013.
Over the years, some of those players returned the favour in a variety of ways, including an
80th birthday card from Todd Blackadder, Whitelock personally delivering her 89th birthday cake and, for her 95th, a signed copy of Dan Carter’s autobiography.
Although she didn’t manage to see the Crusaders game on Saturday night – she was feeling too unwell – Doreen was able to watch the Hurricanes play the Chiefs on Friday.
Another niece, Liz Reeves, said Doreen was on such a high after her visit from Whitelock and Todd earlier in the day that she celebrated watching the game with a small glass of sherry.
Doreen had followed the Crusaders’ progress closely this season and was extremely pleased with the team’s form, Reeves said. She always dressed up in red and black to watch the team’s games on television and had a house full of Crusaders memorabilia, along with a row of original Lancaster Park seats.
BNZ Crusaders chief executive Hamish Riach said the Crusaders were working through how to honour Doreen.
‘‘The Crusaders were fortunate to have a wonderful connection with Doreen, who was one of our most loyal supporters,’’ he said.
‘‘Doreen was an important part of the Crusaders family so we are deeply saddened by the news of her passing and our thoughts are with her family at this sad time. As a mark of respect, we will be honouring Doreen in the lead up to our game this weekend.’’
Doreen’s funeral will be at Lamb and Haywood’s Rangiora chapel. Cattermole said it will be a celebration of her life.
Doreen will be carried into the chapel by family members to the backing of the Crusaders song, while her coffin will be draped in the team’s flag.
The Crusaders’ number one fan, right to the end.
understands the detective took car parts found at the scene of the crash, including what appeared to be part of a right-hand wing mirror, to car yards in the city, where staff identified the make of car.
On his way back to the station he spotted that type of car up a driveway, which had part of its wing mirror missing.
Police seized the car and forensically examined it.
Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Cottam would not discuss