A lifelong Ipswich Town Football Club supporter residing in Bury St Edmunds was left stunned by an unexpected visit from her favourite team.

Nora Cowell, 98, has been a Tractor Boys fan for more than six decades.

The visit, arranged by Care UK's Glastonbury Court, where Mrs Cowell lives, saw her spend an afternoon browsing through past match programmes with Ipswich Town's head of health and wellbeing, Sam Oakley, and Under 4s coach, Lauren Revill.

Mrs Cowell has been carrying the torch for Ipswich Town FC since the 1960s, catching numerous games over three decades with her husband and son, John.

Even after her husband died in the 90s, she still loves the team.

She now prefers to watch the games on TV, but her son and grandchildren continue to regularly attend the home games.

Mrs Cowell, Sam and Lauren utilised the occasion to discuss how football has developed over the past sixty years.

Nora recalled how players would smoke during halftime, a practice deemed unthinkable today, according to Mr Oakley, who revealed that modern footballers are encouraged to treat their bodies like temples.

Mrs Cowell said: “I had a lovely time – I could have spent ages talking to Sam and Lauren, and I felt honoured that they came to see me.

"Being able to be the one to tell my family some Ipswich news definitely made for a change.”

Ana Mihai, home manager at Glastonbury Court, said: “Nora never misses a game for Ipswich Town – although she prefers to watch from the comfort of her own home these days.

“The team is an integral part of her family’s history, so we wanted to do something special to help reminisce and reached out to the team.

"We were amazed by how many matchday stories she told Sam and Lauren, and they were too – she truly is the ultimate fan."