HE HAS been watching the red and whites for 95 years. Now the long-term loyalty of Walter Andrews has been rewarded after he was named Hull KR fan of the year.
Mr Andrews, who turned 101 on Thursday, has been named Brut's Fan of Pride.
His son Brian said his father had been going to matches since the age of six.
"He saw the first and the last game at the old ground," he said.
"His greatest day as a fan was when Hull KR beat Hull FC at Wembley, and he turned to me and said to me 'If I die now, I die happy'.
"That was 1980."
Mr Andrews even celebrated his 100th birthday at the club, with some of the players coming along to pass on their best wishes.
Brian said: "He was a very active supporter up until his late nineties.
"There isn't a ground in the country that he hasn't been to – he wouldn't miss a game in the late Seventies and early Eighties."
To celebrate his Fan of Pride award, he was paid a visit by his favourite current player Michael Dobson, who visited him at the Durham Care Home in Hull.
Mr Dobson said: "Hull KR has some of the most passionate fans in the business – to have guys like Wally who have supported the club for 90-odd years, that's when you know it's a special place.
"He still knows everything about the game, it's amazing to have people like him supporting you."
Brut, the official partner of Super League, organised the competition to find a loyal supporter for each club and someone who also contributes to their community.
To the west of the River Hull, the winner of the Hull FC vote was Graham Knowles, 60, who has taken black and white as far as anyone.
Mr Knowles, who has supported the club since he was five years old, has a garden full of plants blooming in the black and white colours of the club, a bar at the end of his garden and cycles around on a Hull FC- themed bike.
"I played football, but I've always loved rugby league, it's 80 minutes of excitement," he said.
"I love the club and it brings some colour to the roads – I'm always stopped by people asking questions, but it's good to share my passion for the club."
Mr Knowles received the award from Hull FC player Richard Whiting.
"The big games in our season this year, when the club has needed the fans, they have really been there for us," said Mr Whiting.
"The rivalry between the two clubs brings out the passion, and it's great to have fans like Graham behind you."
By winning Brut's Fan of Pride award, both Mr Knowles and Mr Andrew will receive tickets for the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford in October, as well as some Brut products.
A spokesman from the competition said: "The Fan of Pride is someone who is not only a loyal supporter of their club, but also somebody who contributes to their community.
"During the first half of the season fans nominated those who they thought deserved to be their club's Fan of Pride.
"Then, a panel of judges – including players at each of the 14 Super League teams – shortlisted their club's entrants to be put to an online public vote.
"There is a winner for each club, and these 14 will then go forward to determine the overall Super League Brut Fan of Pride."
The overall winner will be announced later this month.
