Echo’s search for Everton, Liverpool and Tranmere Fans of the Year

COMPETITION for the ECHO's football Fans of the Year awards has been tougher than ever this year.Nominations have flooded in with tales of Merseyside football supporters who go to extraordinary lengths to follow their team.The winners will be revealed at the Echo's Merseyside Sports Personality of the Year Awards at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Monday evening.Each Fan of the Year will receive an award, sponsored by Chester-based credit card provider MBNA, from one of their club's legendary players.Among those shortlisted for the Blues accolade is lifelong Evertonian Chris Smith. He first went to Goodison in 1984 and has been a season ticket holder for over 20 years.Chris suffers from FSH muscular dystrophy and is confined to a wheelchair but puts a massive amount of effort and determination into following the Blues home, away - and also into Europe.He travels by train to away games and has also caught the European bug - independently planning trips to Liege, Lisbon and Athens.Paul Croft started going to Goodison when he was a young boy and as a teenager would often be seen on the East Lancs Road thumbing a lift to away games.After marrying wife Denise, their four children all became dedicated season ticket holders.Paul founded the Croxteth branch of the Everton Supporters Club, which now has hundreds of members.A cruciate liga- ment operation threatened to prev- ent him from going to the Blues' clash at West Ham last November.However, having not missed a game for years he refused to be beaten and borrowed a wheel- chair and crutches to make the trip.The gruelling day left him feeling faint and in agony, but the 2-1 win made it worthwhile.Fred Armstrong has been following the Blues for 57 years.The 64-year-old from Everton Brow first went to Goodison with his cousin Tommy when he was seven and they still go to matches together.Fred spent eight years working in Portsmouth but still travelled to every game home and away before returning to Merseyside 18 months ago to work as a plater at Cammell Lairds.A serious leg infection meant Fred had to have his leg amputated last July and that forced him to miss his first Blues game in nearly a decade.He spent five months in hospital but was determined to get back cheering on David Moyes' side and got out for the day so he could make it to Hull in November.

Source: Liverpool_Echo