NEWS

MAIL VIP COMPETITION WINNER ENJOYS FIRST-CLASS WEEKEND

SEPTEMBER 23, TUE

A HULL FC fan who won a VIP trip to Wembley with the Mail praised his team for ’doing him proud’.

Colin Sharlotte, a Black and Whites fan for more than 50 years, won the competition to travel to the Challenge Cup Final on the Orient Express Northern Belle.

Mr Sharlotte, of Bilton, East Hull travelled with his wife Vi from Leeds to Wembley, where they enjoyed a champagne breakfast and mingled with Super League legends en-route.

Once at Wembley, they enjoyed prime seats on the halfway line. Following the dramatic conclusion to the game, they boarded the historic train once more, where they tucked into a four-course meal on the way home.

The 68-year-old ex-trawlerman said “The whole weekend was first-class. If it wasn’t for the competition, I would have been sat at home watching it on the television. Instead, I had a magnificent view. We wouldn’t have been able to get tickets like that. Hull FC were watched all over the world and they make me proud to be a supporter”

On board the train, former players Gary Schofield, Earl Crabtree, Mick Morgan and Salford coach Sean McRae gave the winners a pre match analysis.

Mr Sharlotte said “They were very knowledgeable, but they didn’t give us much of a chance. There was a lot of banter. I told Gary I wished he could put on a Hull shirt again and play for us at Wembley. It was a real experience being able to mix with those sorts of people.”

Mrs Sharlotte fulfilled a lifetime ambition to travel on the Orient Express She said: “It surpassed all my expectations. Everyting was so beautiful. The serving staff were brilliant and made us very welcome. We went at a leisurely pace and stopped at lots of stations to let the fast trains go past. It was a fabulous prize to win. A dream.”

The prize was in partnership with IG Sport, a spread betting firm. Mr Sharlotte won the prize by texting the answer to a Hull FC related Challenge Cup question.