AN unlucky football fan who fell foul of a freak pitch-side accident today continues to support her beloved Ipswich Wanderers - despite losing the sight in her right eye.

AN unlucky football fan who fell foul of a freak pitch-side accident today continues to support her beloved Ipswich Wanderers - despite losing the sight in her right eye.

Diehard supporter Maureen Cobb has remained committed to the team despite being hit by a ball on March 31, 2001 when Wanderers were playing a Jewson League Division One match against Ely City at their Humber Doucy Lane ground.

Mrs Cobb, who has supported Wanderers home and away with her husband Brian for the past decade, said: “I was watching the game from the stand where we always sit when an Ely player cleared the ball out of play.”

Mrs Cobb, of Wincanton Close, Ipswich, was struck by the ball, prompting the referee to stop the game immediately.

She said: “The Ely player came over and apologised.

“When I got home I found I couldn't see properly out of my right eye. I rang my daughter who is a nurse and next day went to hospital to see a specialist. I had an operation and then had to spend a week facing the floor.

“The retina had been damaged and the specialist put a bubble in, and although I could see, everything was distorted.

“So I had another operation that was not successful, and the surgeon then put oil in my eye to put the retina back, but that wasn't successful either.”

“I was sent to Cambridge to see one of the top eye specialists in the country, but I was advised not to have another operation as the eye was so scarred. The specialist couldn't guarantee an operation would be successful.”

Mrs Cobb lost sight in the eye 18 months ago but she has taken a philosophical view.

She said: “It was one of those things - a freak accident.

“I was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Ironically I was not in the seat I normally sat in for that game, but ever since the accident I have sat at the back of the stand.

“It has never put me off going to watch football. I enjoy it and as far as Ipswich Wanderers are concerned, they are a nice club with nice people. The whole set-up at Humber Doucy Lane is good.

“My favourite player is Mark Goldfinch, but I did used to like Winston Harwood when he was playing here.

“We enjoy watching football very much and it's nice to do things together.”