BEING a fan of Manchester City means you don't often have something to boast about...

But Leyland man Simon Taylor is the exception to the rule. For the long-suffering City fan is preparing to shoot off to France for the biggest match this year - the World Cup Final in Paris.

The jubilant joiner scooped his golden prize when he signed up for a credit card at NatWest in Leyland. And the win has turned Simon into something of a globetrotter, as he explained.

"The only reason I signed up for the card was because I was going on holiday to Orlando and I was told you really needed a credit card over there.

"I just filled in this extra form entering me into the competition. I didn't expect anything but it was great when they told me I had won. I got the phone call the morning before I went away to Orlando."

Simon will join 50 other winners from across the country on a specially-chartered Eurostar train which will whisk him under the Channel to Paris and the Stade de France for the final on Sunday, July 12.

He will be part of a 105,000 strong crowd who will, dodgy decision by referees permitting, watch the world's two top teams battle it out for the most prestigious football trophy.

And Stuart, a time-served season ticket holder at Maine road, is in no doubts as to who he would like to watch.

"England would have been wonderful, but alas it is not to be. Brazil are a very talented team."

Simon's girlfriend Jenette won't become a football widow - she's coming too.

Leyland NatWest manager said: "It is great to have made a dream a reality."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.