A dedicated Manchester City fan from Weymouth who has been to every game for 38 years has spoken of his football ‘obsession’ which has taken him to 135 stadiums and seven World Cups.

Alan Lawrence, 62, who lives in Chelwood Gate, Charlestown, started supporting the Premier League champions in 1969, citing former player and club legend Francis Lee as a key influence on his decision.

The Dorset man never looked back and has stuck with the side, and since 1985 has not missed a live game featuring his beloved Blues.

His hobby has taken him to all corners of the country and the world, including to Asia and the USA for pre-season tours, and Mr Lawrence says he has become well known in Manchester over time.

The Weymouth resident, who works as a massage therapist in Dorchester, has also set up a Manchester City fan club – Weymouth Blues - which is made up of about 30 members and meets at Wyke Regis Working Men’s Club in Portland Road.

It is not just at club level Mr Lawrence has travelled to see his team – he was also at the World Cup in Qatar last year and was also at the previous tournaments in Spain (1982), France (1998), Japan (2002), Germany (2006), South Africa (2010) and Brazil (2014).

He described his experience at the controversial winter World Cup in 2022 as ‘one of the best trips’ he has taken.

When asked how he can partake in such a hobby, Mr Lawrence said he has previously used all of his holiday allowances to follow City – and admitted he ‘would not want to dream’ about its effect on his bank account.

His keen following has taken him to 1,800 games, 135 stadiums and across several continents.

“I have been all over the world with them,” Mr Lawrence said. “It started off as a bit of a hobby and then it became more of an obsession.”

He explained how he had previously set up a fan club in Weymouth which he was forced to give up due to other commitments.

After consulting with friends on Portland, Mr Lawrence decided to give the club another shot and the group meet regularly to travel to games together via road, rail and air.

“I love City and I love travelling, and they both go hand-in-hand,” he added. “If there was a game on the TV I would not be interested – because I go to all the games I feel it, I am there and part of the atmosphere.

“It is knackering – I  have just done eight games in 27 days. I don’t know how I do it sometimes.

“I had a full-time job and worked 10 hours a day and I used to use up all of my holiday with City. In terms of the cost, I would not want to dream about, but that is not important – the experience has been unbelievable.

“You can’t explain to somebody what it is like – my day starts when I get on that train or drive to Manchester.

“I don’t think anything of it, it is just my life. I am living the dream because I have seen us win the league and the cups, been to Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, all the top sides in Europe.

“We will win the Champions League one day but that does not bother me.”

Search for Weymouth Blues on Facebook to find out more about Mr Lawrence’s fan club.