DEDICATED football fan Derek Eston watched his 2000th consecutive Swindon game on Sunday as Town were upset by non-league Woking in the FA Cup second round.

Ironically, his first game was also an FA Cup second round tie as Swindon beat Sutton United 2-1 in December 1981 and since then has watched Town at every other football league team match, home and away.

Derek said he has continued to enjoy the days out with friends ever since, even if the games haven’t always sent him home happy.

He said: “Many years ago, I was travelling back from an away game with a crowd that I always met up with and someone asked me how many games I’d gone without missing. I didn’t have a clue, so I counted and worked out it was somewhere around the 400 mark.

“I’ve had some good times. When Lou Macari was manager, I sat on the bench against York and went into the dressing room pre-match, at half-time and afterwards, which was an experience.

“The 6-4 win at Birmingham, when we were 4-1 down, back in the day when Glenn Hoddle was manager and getting to the Premier League was a highlight.

“There’s been good days and bad days, but when you follow a lower-level club, you appreciate the good times more; the promotions and the Wembley trips.

Derek, 68, lives in Northampton with his wife, Chris and admitted that while he has been lucky with his health, he would never have been able to continue his streak without her support.

Derek said: “I’ve been fortunate with my health. I’ve had one or two minor skirmishes where I nearly didn’t make games.

“One being where I’d had a knee operation. I came out of hospital at 2 o’clock in the afternoon and Chris drove me up to Carlisle for a Tuesday night game.

“She’s good enough to drive me to and from games, if necessary, so that’s another aspect I’ve been quite lucky in. We’ve been doing this for so long, I don’t think she even thinks about it anymore. I’ve always said if I stop enjoying the day out and going to the games then I’ll pack up, but that hasn’t happened yet so I’m quite fortunate really.”