LIFE-LONG Bulls’ supporter Tony Baker will have an ideal send-off at his funeral service next month.

The family of Tony, who died on Sunday, aged 71, insists that people wear Hereford United colours to the service at Hereford Crematorium at noon on Wednesday, September 3.

Gerald Powell, who travelled with Tony on coach trips to United’s away matches, said his friend was told of United’s result against Dorchester before he died peacefully.

“Like all of us, the thought of the football club depressed us a bit– because Hereford United was a huge part of Tony’s life,” said Gerald.

“Tony followed the club for 60 years. We had some great times following Hereford United at Edgar Street and at all over the country and he was a lovely man with a heart of gold.

“On away trips, we often joked that Tony would start eating his sandwiches before the coach had even got out of Hereford.”

Gerald added: “Last season, I would pick up Tony at home and we would always be at Edgar Street an hour before the supporters’ bus departed.”

Tony, who lived with wife Edie in Holme Lacy Road in Hereford, went to every United home match last season and some of the away games.

Gerald said: “It was great to see Tony at matches last season and he was at Aldershot on the last day of the season. It is going to be hard to get used to him not being there – it’s hard to lose a character like Tony.”