TRUE-blue Kate Giffard stunned BBC bosses when she turned down a dream prize of a day with Manchester United . . . because she wanted to watch her beloved Shakers instead.

The 16-year-old student, who lives in South Royd Street, Tottington, showed her true colours after winning BBC GMR Talk Radio's 'Young Sports Journalist of the Year'.

One of the rewards was a visit behind the scenes at Old Trafford, with the chance to "shadow" the BBC reporter on a Reds' big match day.

But Kate told competition organisers that the blue and white of the Shakers was more her colours. And she told them: "I'd rather go behind the scenes at Gigg Lane please."

Fortunately the other part of the prize was a VIP family day out to watch Swinton Lions rugby team, who share the ground with the Shakers at Gigg Lane.

Kate has been a season ticket holder at Gigg Lane since she was a young girl, and her mother Eve, explained: "My husband David has been going to watch Bury since he was a boy and he introduced Kate to the game. So going behind the scenes at Bury to watch how the professionals do their match reporting tasks means more to her than doing it at Old Trafford.

"She also feels it will be more helpful in putting her own feelings for the team aside, attempting to watch the game objectively as a reporter."

Kate is keen to become a newspaper or radio reporter when she leaves Bury's Holy Cross Sixth Form College, where she is studying for A Levels in English, German and Media Studies.

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