FRANK Burt, Aldershot Town’s oldest supporter, died on February 5 at the age of 102.

He had been ill for two weeks, during which time he celebrated his birthday, and died peacefully at his home in Ash Green with his family around him.

Over 90 years of watching the Shots, his dedication to the club never wavered, through promotions, relegations, liquidation, reformation and many famous names and games.

From 1927 to 2016, the Recreation Ground was Frank’s second home and the club his second family. He epitomised the proud spirit of a club which has endured against the odds.

His last Aldershot game was on Saturday, January 9, when he enjoyed a 3-1 victory against Chester.

His recall of matches, long forgotten by most, was astonishing, able to pin-point details at a distance of 70 or 80 years with an accuracy and sharp sense of humour which would have been a credit to supporters half his age.

His humility was striking and he received praise with a modesty which suggested that he couldn’t quite understand what the fuss was about. Yet he did everything he could to help the club, including once offering his extensive but somewhat undulating back garden as a new training ground.

Frank Burt attended Aldershot FC’s first ever fixture, a 4-0 victory over Grays Thurrock, in August 1927, and continued to attend as many home matches as possible, in later years watching from his own seat in the directors’ box. On his 100th birthday, he said: “I’ve been here a long time and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”

He vividly remembered that first visit to the Rec some 89 years ago, having cycled on an old ladies’ bicycle from Ash Green: “I paid fourpence to go in. There were no stands in the ground, it was just white parapet walls. It looked as though it had been a chalk pit. There were four lime trees on the north side of the ground and on the other side there were railway sleepers. They had different trains then – they were steam trains.”

Like his father, Frank was a keen cricketer in his youth, playing for Ash United’s second team, and he also took great interest in horse racing, but the Shots were always his first love. After outgrowing that bike, he travelled to away games riding pillion on his friend’s motorcycle or in a charabanc packed with fellow fans.

Those early days featured a great FA Cup run which included two of Frank’s favourite matches: a 1-0 victory against second division Millwall and a superb Aldershot performance at first division Derby County in a game played in a blizzard.

During the war, Frank served at the Royal Aircraft Establishment in Farnborough and continued to support a Shots team which regularly featured some of the finest players in the country. Internationals made guest appearances for the club while stationed with the Physical Training Corps.

Frank’s 100th birthday in 2014 was celebrated in the EBB Lounge with a party attended by many Shots legends, including Joe Jopling, Nikki Bull, Murray Brodie and Frank’s all-time favourite player, Ben Herd.

As well as the customary telegram from the Queen, letters of congratulation were received from Prime Minster David Cameron, Prince William and FA chairman Greg Dyke.

Asked that day why he had supported the Shots for so long, Frank Burt simply replied: “They’re just my club”. Aldershot Town has never received a greater accolade and it is doubtful whether it will ever have a greater supporter.