A Manchester City fan has pleaded for help after a 50-year-old club scarf he inherited from his late father was stolen in a raid on his van.
Andy Hazeldine, 48, was left devastated when the blue and white City scarf – decorated with soccer badges – was snatched from the seat of his works vehicle.
His father Derek Hazeldine had acquired the scarf in 1964 and took it all over Europe following his team, accruing around 70 sewn badges from a number of the club’s biggest games.
Derek posed with the garment with a then 10-year-old Andy at the 1976 League Cup final where City played Newcastle – and it became a family heirloom.
Later, when Derek passed away from cancer five years ago aged 73, the scarf was passed down to his son, Andy.
Andy, a building company manager, only wore the prized possession to City’s recent games at Wembley and their famous victory at home to QPR which secured the 2011 Premier League title for fear of losing it.
FATHER AND SON: Andy on a City outing as a young boy
But disaster struck when he accidentally left his blue Renault van unlocked in the driveway of his home in Hazel Grove, Stockport – with the scarf draped over the middle seat.
Season-ticket holder Andy has now began a campaign on social media in the hope the scarf will be returned.
A Facebook page called: ‘Return The Scarf’ has already amassed 2,000 ‘likes’ and his plight has been retweeted by celebrities including former Manchester City star Francis Lee and Blues fan and comedian Jason Manford.
Married father-of-two Andy said he and his mother Maureen, 71, couldn’t stop crying when they realised the scarf had been taken.
He said: “To anyone else it’s just a scarf but because it’s been in my family so long it means more. My mum said ‘look after this for your dad’ when he died.
”He had it for 50 years and he always wore it. The first thing I did was put it on the headrest in the van because it meant so much to me for my dad to leave me it.
“When I found out it was gone it was like my dad dying again. The badges are sewn on – that’s how old they are. It’s just something really close to my heart and I’m just hoping that someone or someone’s parents will see that and give it back.
Andy says he didn’t report the theft to Police because he thought they would have more pressing matters than looking for a stolen scarf.
“I’m 48 and was crying like a baby when it was gone. Unless it was yours or you had lost someone so close you never think it would hurt that much.
“It’s not about football, it’s not about City or United or anyone – it’s about what it means to me and my family.
REST IN PEACE: His dad’s treasured scarf at his grave
“My dad had cherished the scarf for 50 years but I feel like I have let him down because I could not look after it for more than five. It is dear to my heart and I just want it back.”
Andy and his two children Sam, 19, and Max, 17, who is breaking into the first team at League Two Accrington Stanley, has only missed one of Manchester City’s away European games in the last seven years.
Andy’s father, Derek got his first season ticket as a young boy when he used to watch the team with his father and bought the scarf in his late teens.
He went home and away until his late 50s when he was struck down with cancer – but that didn’t stop him going to games with Andy who would encourage him to wear the scarf if they drove to Maine Road in the van.
Andy, who watched City win the Capital One Cup at Wembley on Sunday, added: “The final was a bit of a sombre one.
”It did not feel the same without the scarf and I kept looking at other fans to see if I could spot it. It would not be the same if I tried to replace it. It just meant so much to me.”
”I am not bothered about who took it, I just want it back. They can leave it on my drive or contact me and arrange for me to collect it from somewhere.”
