Meet Ipswich Town’s new ‘lucky charm’

For the most avid Ipswich Town fans, meeting all your favourite blues stars in one go at the end of a game is perhaps something you could only dream of.

But one little four-year-old Tractor Girl’s dreams came true when she got the chance to pose for photos and get autographs of every player after a winning game – and was even called the club’s new “lucky charm”.

Bella Wade only started watching football during the World Cup, when she – like many people across the country – got swept up in England fever on the Three Lions’ journey to the semi-finals.

With her father Chris Wade being a life-long Ipswich fan, she immediately asked if she could go to a match and experience the beautiful game for real.

And her first game could not have been more special, as she met Paul Hurst and Luke Chambers when they entered Barnet’s Hive Stadium for Saturday’s pre-season friendly and then saw all the players as they left at the end of the game.

Ipswich Star: Bella Wade meets Ipswich Town players at the Blues' pre-season friendly against Barnet. Picture: CHRIS WADE Bella Wade meets Ipswich Town players at the Blues' pre-season friendly against Barnet. Picture: CHRIS WADE (Image: Archant)

“She only started getting into the football during the World Cup,” 29-year-old Mr Wade explained.

“When England were doing so well, she was getting really excited and asked if she could go to a match.

“We got the train down there and as we got to the stadium, she saw some of the players going in.

“After the game they all came out and they all made plenty of time to speak to her.

“Luke Chambers even said: ‘Can you come to every game? You’ll be my lucky charm.’”

Mr Wade said his daughter had a “big smile on her face” even before meeting the players, shouting out during the match like the most ardent of football fans.

Of meeting the players, Mr Wade, of East London, said: “She seemed a bit star-struck at first but she soon got used to it.

“She’s normally really shy but she came out of her shell.