Dementia sufferer and Harrogate Town legend can't wait to get back to games
78-year-old Jim Hague would go to every game, home and away, until his Alzheimer's got worse.
Last updated 25th Nov 2020
For former player and lifelong Harrogate Town fan Jim Hague (78), this lockdown has hit him hard. He relies heavily on routine, due to suffering with Alzheimer's.
Before matches were played behind closed doors, Jim would got to every home game and nearly every away game supporting the Sulpherites, but he's been unable to do so and it's affected his mental health, according to his wife, Jenny.
She said: "He needs that familiarity and going to the games did that. He would have that camaraderie with the the other guys at the ground but he's stuck inside with me all the time.
"I would drive myself mad if I was stuck with me 24 hours a day. He needs the male company and I can't give him that.
"It has definitely impacted him, particularly that we can't go out."
A maximum of 4,000 fans will be allowed at outdoor events in the lowest-risk areas when the four-week lockdown in England ends on 2 December.
But there won't be that many at Wetherby Road, as it only has a 5,000 capacity, seated and standing.
Up to 2,000 people will be allowed in tier two areas but none in tier three.
Indoor venues in tiers one and two can have a maximum of 1,000 spectators, with capacity across indoor and outdoor venues limited to 50%.
Jim can't wait to be able to get back in his seat, telling me how he loves that he's a lifetime member of the club.
He said: "Even after my playing career finished, I've wanted to do things at the ground. It's kind of my life, really.
"I miss it a lot. I miss the guys who work on the ground.
"I can't wait to be able to sit and watch them in person. It's their first time in the EFL and it's one thing I've wanted them to be in the football league.
"I think they'll do quite well. Definitely in the top half of the league."
But he has been able to see the side in EFL action, thanks to their son, Jason.
He sets up the match livestream every week, so his dad can watch his beloved team.
Jim's not only a legend on the pitch, but also off of it.
The former striker remains their youngest debutant - starting for the side when he was just 14 years old. He made a record 402 appearances, scoring 135 goals.
Since then, he's served on the club's committee and took over as the club's groundsman.
He was working at Wetherby Road stadium right up until the second lockdown, helping the team of volunteers every week, despite his condition.