Man changes name to 'Mr Dorking Wanderers'

A man has described how he woke up one day and spontaneously decided to change his name to honour his favourite football team.

Keith Thripp told the BBC he has now become "Mr Keith Dorking Wanderers FC Thripp" after falling in love with the Surrey side.

But the superfan said he is not even from the local area - and instead lives in Portsmouth.

"I have to drive hours to watch the home games," he told the BBC.

Thripp said he had fallen out of love with football after going through some difficulties in his personal life.

However, he said he stumbled upon Dorking Wanderers on YouTube three years ago.

"It then just grew on me," Thripp added. "I love the club's story.

"It is a great thing to be a part of."

Formed in 1999 by Marc White and his friends, Dorking started playing football in a park.

It has since been promoted 12 times - peaking in the National League - and now plays in the sixth tier of English football.

"But for me it's not just the football," continued Thripp. "It's the passion, the environment, the people, the whole package."

Thripp told the BBC: "I was sitting on my bed one morning, getting ready to go to work, before I had this idea [to change his name].

"I went online, did the forms, paid £60, and got it changed," he continued.

"It was quite a spontaneous thing to do".

The 62-year-old added he also had a tattoo of Dorking Wanderers' founder and manager Marc White on his leg.

"He goes above and beyond the call of duty for fans and the club," he said.

Thripp said he would never regret the name change or tattoo.

"I am in it for the long haul," he told the BBC. "I enjoy it too much to be able to walk away."

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