Lakes soccer fan makes 730-miles round trip - to see his teams lose twice! (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Lakes soccer fan makes 730-miles round trip - to see his teams lose twice!

6:10am Thursday 28th February 2013 in News By Tom Murphy, Reporter

Steve Wray and his wife Julie

A DIEHARD football fan drove 730 miles up and down the country last weekend to watch his two beloved teams – only to see both lose.

Life-long Bradford City supporter Steve Wray, of Troutbeck, was born and bred in the Yorkshire city and is also a boyhood fan of Scottish Third Division side Berwick Rangers.

The 50-year-old took to the road with wife Julie, 51, late Friday evening, for a three-hour drive to the border to watch Berwick fall 3-1 to Glasgow Rangers on Saturday.

But Bradford City’s unexpected journey to the Capital One Cup final was an ‘unmissable match’ – so the couple made a mad six-hour dash to Wembley early Sunday morning. The League One team were put to the sword 5-0 by Premiership outfit Swansea.

Steve, who works for the Lake District National Park Authority, said: “When the Scottish league fixtures were announced we immediately looked for Glasgow Rangers and got tickets. But after Bradford went on this incredible run we knew that it couldn’t be missed.

“It was quite an experience to see two different matches in two different stadiums in the space of 24 hours.”

It was the first time Bradford had reached a major final since 1911 – but Swansea’s passing game on the hallowed Wembley turf proved a step too far for the Yorkshire side, who beat three Premiership teams on the way to their date with destiny.

“It’s a shame they couldn’t win but the experience was absolutely fantastic. Wembley is a magnificent stadium, it was great to watch my home town team play there.”