Geneva Reed, a Dandy Town fan from Chicago, was happy to be back in Bermuda to watch her favourite football team win Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against PHC Zebras at Police Field.

However, it was the final, not semi-final, that Reed was supposed to be here to watch, before a switch in the schedule pushed the final back a week.

Reed, an American, watched Hornets play for the first time a few years ago when in a final at the National Stadium.

She met some of the players who were staying at her hotel the night before and they took her to the game the next day.

The rest, as they say is history, and she has been coming to Bermuda regularly to watch the team play.

“I met them at Grotto Bay [Beach Resort], it was New Year’s Eve and they were staying at the hotel,” Reed said.

Willis Dill, the president of Western Stars Sports Club, said: “They took her to the game at the stadium which they won and every year she has been back to see the team play.

“She was planning on coming back for the [FA Cup] final but because it got moved she ended up being here for the semi-final. She’s never seen the team lose.”

Reed was last here in January to watch the Hornets play Devonshire Colts in the league, winning 8-3 that day.

“She ran into Cecil Lewis, the former president, and he told her we were playing and she came out and surprised everybody at St John’s,” Dill said.

“The team has changed a lot over the last five years when I look at my old pictures but most I still do remember and everybody is great,” said Reed, who is familiar with the older players like Damon Ming and captain Angelo Simmons. She planned this trip despite studying for a doctoral degree.

“I don’t have a favourite player, I love all of them equally but those are the two I’ve known the longest.”

On Sunday at St John’s Field, Reed was presented with a football signed by the team members, having earlier had a photo taken when the players at Police Field.

“When she was here in January for the Colts game, which was when I first met her, she was telling me she wanted a jersey and I told her we didn’t have any, but as soon as we got some I would get one for her,” Dill said. “When the club ordered some recently I asked her size, she sent it, and we ordered it for her and when she came this time the club gave it to her.”

At Police Field on Sunday she wore a Dandy Town jacket that was given to her by another supporter.

“That top is very unique, it’s the only one like it and the club did not bring it in,” Dill said.

“When we were out on Saturday she asked me about a young lady who she met in the US and I told her I knew the family. I called the father, he say ‘bring her over’ and he gave her the top as well as the pants and neither had been worn before.”

Reed describes herself as a sports fan who has fallen in love with football and Dandy Town.

“I’ve been coming here to see Dandy Town play but I’m still learning the game,” she said.

“I’m a big sports fan at home. I feel as if I’m home here, it’s really great and you really don’t have to twist my arm to come to the island.

“I make at least two trips a year [since 1999], but have probably been here every month of the year, including Cup Match time. That was a lot of fun, too.

“I will definitely miss not being here for the final but I’ll be cheering the team on from 1,500 miles away. I have the Bermuda Football Association app on my tablet so it gives me updates.”

Reed returns to Chicago today.