He has eaten monkey in India, played football against the Indian army, swears by a touch of whisky every morning and was shot in the knee while on horseback in the Second World War.

But for Cyril Goreham, who celebrated his 100th birthday on January 6, there is no doubt what memories he cherishes above all others.

For the passionate Norwich City fan spent 25 years as a matchday steward for the club which runs in his green and yellow blood.

When he was born in 1912, City were playing Swindon Town in the Southern League at their then home of the Nest, on Rosary Road, and the Norwich linesman was Mr Goreham's dad, Charles Burton Goreham, who had left his wife's bedside to be at the match, which Norwich won 4-3.

And that dedication to the club's cause has continued with Mr Goreham, who can claim to have been a fan all his life, being seen to shepherd fans into their seats and keeping a watchful eye on away supporters in three decades of Norwich ups and downs.

To celebrate reaching three figures Cyril, who lives on Russell Street by Old Palace Road and retired as a steward in the 1980s, was given a Norwich City shirt with the number 100 on the back.

He said: 'Football was a lot different to what it is today. We used to show people to their seat, in the enclosure and the main stand. Some used to forget where their seat was, and we had to show them.

'In the enclosure, if it got too much we used to push them together and we'd keep pushing them until we got more in!'

As for what makes Norwich great, Mr Goreham is in no doubt.

'The supporters, they are the best in the world, and there's more now than there was when I used to go there. All the ticket holders got to know me, we used to have some good times, I think they are about the best times I can remember.'

Mr Goreham remembers being paid �2 at a time for his services, but says he would have done it for free if it meant watching the game.

For Mr Goreham, Martin Peters was the best player that ever played for Norwich. 'He was a footballer, and a gentleman, very good, very good he was,' he said.

Mr Goreham joined the army in 1938, and was stationed in India and Afghanistan in the Queen's Royal Regiment.

Mr Goreham's nephew, 60-year-old Ray Goreham, of Heywood Road, Diss, said: 'When we phoned Norwich City about the shirt they said they'd never had a request to put 100 on the back. Cyril was excited to receive a card from the Queen, but equally excited by his shirt. If only it could have been presented by Martin Peters!'

However, Mr Goreham said: 'I think the card was the best, because this isn't the first shirt I've had!'

Mr Goreham has a son, Calvin Goreham, who lives on Hall Lane in Wacton, south Norfolk, and all the Goreham family are local to Norfolk.

Is a member of your family turning 100? Call Joe Wilkes on 01603 772439 or email joe.wilkes@archant.co.uk