Lifelong Bradford Bulls fan Charlie Ebbage will play a vital role in tomorrow's Grand Final.

Honorary vice-president Mr Ebbage, 75, is the team's dedicated timekeeper.

Despite recovering from cancer, he has fulfilled the role at all the team's away games this season and will use his trusty stop-watch once more at Old Trafford.

In rugby league, match officials do not keep time as they do in football - each team has a timekeeper who work together to start and stop the clock. And there is no doubt the Low Moor resident is qualified for the job.

Mr Ebbage first saw Bradford play at Odsal way back in 1938, aged eight, the start of a lifelong love affair with the game.

He said: "My uncle took me. I can't remember who we were playing, but I do remember thinking the playing surface looked like cinders - very different to the pitches today. I have followed them ever since, apart from a few years in the 1950s, when I was in the RAF and worked away from home."

Mr Ebbage has watched most of the stars of the game over the years, with favourite players including Stuart Fielding, Jamie Peacock and the late great Trevor Foster.

But he believes a Bradford side has yet to match the 1947 cup-winning team.

That year saw Northern (the old name for the Bulls) visited Wembley for the first time.

A then world-record crowd for a rugby league match of 77,605, including Mr Ebbage, saw Bradford impose their game on a Leeds side which had not conceded a point in their previous four cup outings - winning 8-4.

"Ernest Ward drop-kicked a goal which put us in front and then Trevor Foster scored a try in the last minute," said Mr Ebbage. "It was a fantastic game and the winners were a fantastic side."

Mr Ebbage, who played league for Bradford's Victoria Rangers in the 1950s and 60s, remains optimistic the current side can match their success.

"I'm very much looking forward to tomorrow's game," he said. "I think we have got a good chance as the team are playing well at the moment."

Fellow die-hard Bulls fan Richard Wright, 25, is also keenly anticipating the season's finale. Fans attending the game should be able to spot the East Bowling resident fairly easily - as he will be dressed as a woman.

Mr Wright promised to show off his feminine side at an earlier cup game which looked like going against the Bulls.

He will be clad in a blonde wig, red blouse, black skirt and amber tights.

"I promised to attend the final dressed as a woman if we made it through," said Mr Wright. "It should prove to be quite cold and quite embarrassing for me.

"I'm looking forward to the game but may well have to sink a beer or two to keep warm.

"Hopefully the effort will be worth it and we will win."