Ex-dinner lady becomes lifetime Barca member

Stella admits to disliking the beautiful game

Barcelona FC - the legendary Catalan club - has signed up a 64-year-old ex-dinner lady from Greater Manchester.

Stella Hughes became a lifetime member of the Catalan giants after unwittingly becoming the 10 millionth visitor to the club's Nou Camp stadium.

She had bought a ticket to the ground during a day trip to the city with her husband.

She can now attend Barcelona games anywhere in the world as a guest of the club - despite admitting to disliking the beautiful game.

I'm gutted - I'm the football fan and the Red and she gets the ticket. It's terrible.

Stella's husband, Neville

Since her stroke of luck, Stella has become a national figure in Spain, appearing in national newspapers and on television.

She was presented with a signed shirt and given a VIP guide of the ground.

And her name has now been added to the club's pantheon of big stars, such as Rivaldo and Kluivert.

She said: "They treated me like royalty and said you're a member of this football team for life.

"And I thought, 'Why me?' - it didn't really sink in."

Swotting up

Her husband Neville - a Manchester United fan - admits to mixed feelings.

He said: "I'm gutted - I'm the football fan and the Red and she gets the ticket. It's terrible."

But Stella has now started swotting up on Spanish football and Barca's deadly rivals Real Madrid in particular.

She added: "I've got a message for Ronaldo (Real's new signing) - 'Watch out, because Stella's about!"