Mavis Knight doesn't need a stress counsellor. If the 41-year-old service manager has a particularly hard day at work, she doesn't fret. She just watches a football match and shouts until she feels better.

To say Mavis is a football fan is something of an understatement.

She's booked half-days off so she can watch World Cup games that kick off at 1.30pm and her idea of bliss is and afternoon and evening of non-stop France 98.

"There are three games a day, one after the other, and I'll be watching them all. I've always loved football. I've been a season ticket-holder for eight years. There's nothing to compare to the atmosphere."

Mavis, who lives in Denchworth, near Wantage, added: "The area where I live is divided - some support Oxford United, others support Swindon. I support Swindon because my father always used to.

"Every week, without fail, he'd catch the bus and go off to a Swindon game. Now I'm the one going to the games."

Mavis's husband of 21 years, Pete, knows not to interfere with his wife's passion for the game.

"He does watch it with me, but he's not as fanatical as me. In fact he prefers American football, but if a football match clashes on TV with one of his games, he knows we'll be watching the soccer!" she said.

Mavis has been looking forward to the World Cup since the end of Euro 96. "I went to six of the matches at Wembley, which were all fantastic. I was hoping to get World Cup tickets but I knew there wasn't much chance.

"Pete spent three solid days on the phone trying to get tickets but he didn't even get through, which was disappointing."

Even holidays have to be geared around Mavis's hobby. "Six years ago we went to the States on a holiday we'd booked a long way in advance. And then Swindon got through to the First Division play-offs.

"I spent £70 in phone calls ringing a friend for updates on the live match and then couldn't wait to get home to watch the video."

In 2002, Mavis and Pete celebrate their silver anniversary during the World Cup.

"If it's staged in England, then we'll be spending it at a game. If it goes to the Far East, then the best anniversary present will be to spend the day watching football on TV with our friends."

Although Mavis enjoys football on the box, she gets a real kick out of live matches. She used to feel slightly out of place ten years ago but now she sees many more women at games.

"I've never seen or been involved in any trouble. Very often I've walked along with the visiting fans and chatted to them but I do think it's easier for women to mix with other fans than it is for men.

"I think the World Cup will be watched by lots of women. A lot of them may not normally watch football but there's a great interest in England. If they get into the final we'll all be watching and cheering them on. It's all part of the excitement."

Final day for the Knights will be a trip to Newbury Races with friends, followed by nibbles and beer at a friend's house.

"We'll all be crowded round the telly, cheering the teams on. Although I'd like to think England will get to the final, I don't really think they will.

"It'll be Brazil against Italy and Brazil will win 2-0." I bet it's exciting SAM Gore will be cheering on all the teams in the World Cup knowing she's got a bird's eye view.

No, she wasn't lucky enough to get tickets to any of the games. Instead, she watches the many screens which line the walls of the betting shop she manages.

Sam, 23, has been managing Ladbrokes betting shops for the past four years and, in the Gloucester Green shop in Oxford, which she's managed for four months, her staff are predominantly female.

Although most people who bet on the World Cup are men, Sam has noticed more women taking an interest.

"They don't just head for the World Cup forms and fill them in. They're the ones more likely to take them away and study them," said Sam.

If any women punters want to know more about the footie, they need look no further than Sam.

"I love it. Of course every manager in every shop's been trying to get time off for the World Cup but it doesn't really matter if you have to work - at least you can catch up on what's going on easily."

While Sam was chatting, 81-year-old Alice Jones came in to place a bet on the horses.

Alice is Mrs Lucky when it comes to betting, as she explained how a 'yankee' (a doubles, trebles and accumulator bet) once came in for her 50 years ago and won her £300 off a sixpence bet.

"I'll be watching the World Cup," she said. "I don't know that much about football but you have to watch England, don't you? I'm sure I'll have a £1 bet on it anyway." Famous female footies fans Delia Smith (above) - a Norwich City director

Mel C (Sporty Spice) - an ardent Liverpool fan

Zoe Ball - enthusiastic and vocal football nut

Victoria Adams (Posh Spice) - engaged to England star David Beckham

Dani Behr - serial dater of high-profile footballers

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.