14240/9CORSHAM'S biggest fan Pak Chan was guest of honour for the club's big day on Saturday. Mr Chan, who runs the Hong Kong House Takeaway in the town, was presented with a plaque by club chairman Colin Hudd before the game.

Mr Chan, 62, was disappointed at the defeat and believes the underdogs could have won.

"We hit the post and the crossbar," he said. "I get quite excited when I watch and I was shouting 'oh not again,' at the top of my voice.

"But it was a great day for the club and I felt very proud to be there."

Mr Chan, who has been a huge Corsham Town supporter since he moved to the town 26 years ago, has sponsored the team's shirts for 18 years.

He said: "I'm not able to go to the away matches because of my business, but I go to all the home games.

"Sometimes I have to rush away before the end, but not on Saturday.

"In the evening almost all the players and even the manager came in for a Chinese takeaway. It was a good night for me."

Mr Chan, who is married with four children, came to England in 1960 to work with an uncle in Liverpool.

He was already a big football fan but living and working on Merseyside fuelled his passion even more.

"I used to love football in Hong Kong but we did not have big sides like in England. I went to a couple of Liverpool games while I was living there.

"After I left Liverpool I went to London but I wanted to start my own business and saw one for sale in Corsham."

One of Mr Chan's son Kai went to school with Corsham's greatest ever player Darren Eadie, who went on to represent England at under-21 level and play in the premiership for Leicester City. Mr Chan said: "Unfortunately my son wasn't quite as good as Darren. But when he used to play for England I used to put posters up in the shop window to support him.

"I really love football and I hope more people come to watch Corsham after they played so well on Saturday."

"Some people said to me before the game that Corsham would lose by five or six goals, we only lost by two. I will remember that day for a long time."

Tribute was paid to Mr Chan by manager Colin Bush.

He said: "It is great that a businessman like that supports the club so loyally.

"He is a real character and we like to see him at the ground. He has done a lot for the club and deserved the award."

Mr Chan said: "I do not sponsor Corsham purely for the advertisement for my restaurant. I wanted to be part of this club and sponsored them because I love them."