A football fan who has collected almost every match day programme for Swindon Town FC since 1947 says he needs just one to complete his collection.
Ken Bridgeman, 81, has more than 3,000 of the magazines – worth over £20,000 – and has carefully recorded every last one in a handwritten logbook.
Which is how he knows he has just one programme missing, for the away tie against Brighton on September 17, 1947.
He started collecting in April that same year, aged just 10.
Ken says he has attended countless programme fairs, scoured catalogues and quizzed fellow collectors, but the elusive magazine has never been found.
All this hot weather means we could run out of crisps
Now hes offering a £100 reward to anyone who can help him find the missing puzzle piece.
Ive tried everything but no-one has the last one Im looking for, he said.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Everyone says Im mad, but altogether the programmes are worth more than £20,000.
The grandfather-of-two, who lives in Rodbourne in Swindon, Wiltshire, has been hooked on the club since he was a boy.
I went to my first game on April 26, 1947, when Swindon played at home against Queens Park Rangers, he said.
I still remember that match as if it was yesterday. Swindon were defeated 3-2, and that was the day Queens Park Rangers got promoted.
He has dedicated an entire room of his home to his massive collection and says he spends hours reminiscing about the games.
I cheer when they win and get disappointed when they lose – its been a rollercoaster over the last few years, he said.
Ken even sold the clubs programme for a number of years alongside his wife Jenny, but now only sees a match once every couple of years.
But I always listen to matches on the radio, he said.
Going to matches is a special occasion for me now. Ill pay £50 or £60 to sit in the executive suite so I can watch them in comfort and get to the bathroom easily.
He added: Ill be amazed if anyone does have one, but it would be nice to get it.
Advertisement
Advertisement
[contf]
[contfnew]
METRO
[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]