closeicon
Community

Manchester City fan Vera Cohen, 102, and sister Olga Halon, 98, are team's mascots

They have been season ticket holders since 1930

articlemain

Manchester City's Spanish midfielder David Silva (L) holds the hand of 102-year-old mascot Vera Cohen at the start of the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Fulham at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on September 15, 2018. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

A 102-year-old Manchester City fan and her 98-year-old sister walked out with the players as the club's mascots.

Vera Cohen and her sister 98-year-old sister Olga Halon, who have been season ticket holders since 1930, walked out with the players on Saturday ahead of their 3-0 victory over Fulham.

Mrs Cohen walked with David Silva.

Before kick-off, the pair met City manager Pep Guardiola.

Mrs Cohen, a member of the Shaare Hayim Sephardi community in Didsbury, said: "Pep said hello to me and I said thank you for all you’ve done for this team. Things used to be very different from how they are today.

"They didn’t have a scoreboard when I first came – a man used to come around with a blackboard with the score on it."

Last year, Mrs Cohen and Mrs Halon both met City captain Vincent Kompany when he dropped in for a cup of tea.

Mrs Cohen told the JC at the time: "We got the shock of our lives... He gave me a big kiss. He’s such a gentleman.”

Mrs Cohen presented a £23,000 cheque in August to the Manchester’s Christie Hospital. She has raised money through baking in memory of her daughter Jennifer who was treated there before her death 16 years ago.

Share via

Want more from the JC?

To continue reading, we just need a few details...

Want more from
the JC?

To continue reading, we just
need a few details...

Get the best news and views from across the Jewish world Get subscriber-only offers from our partners Subscribe to get access to our e-paper and archive