Corrie's Gary Windass spotted in stands for Stourbridge FC match

Mikey North, who plays Gary Windass in the soap, was spotted enjoying Stourbridge FC's win over Redditch United on Boxing Day.

It came after his character, who was a loan shark, was shot in the arm after a confrontation with gunman Derek Milligan on Christmas Day.

Stourbridge FC fan Chris Smith, who works as a senior sales consultant for the MNA, said: "It was in the first half and someone went past and said Gary Windass was in the shed end.

"He was at the Halesowen and Stourbridge game last year at Halesowen on Boxing Day – his wife is from Hagley and he's been to a few games last season.

"He's a good luck omen for us – we won on Boxing Day last year and now this year as well."

The 33-year-old actor ditched his villainous persona as he posed with fans for photographs in the aftermath.

Chris, aged 43, said: "There was a few people waiting and he was a lovely bloke – he did some videos as well as taking photos with people, he was very approachable.

"When I had my picture taken with him there was a few people waiting in line and I quickly told him my two daughters were big fans of his.

"He was being held at gunpoint on Christmas and then he's watching a match on Boxing Day."

The team were made to fight hard against bottom-of-the-league side Redditch United, triumphing 1-0.

But Mr Smith, from Oldbury, criticised the game, adding: "It was very poor game, but to be fair we dominated but it was only 1-0 – but it gets you out the house on Boxing Day."

Clive Eades, first team secretary at Stourbridge FC, said the club had "no idea" the actor had visited until they saw posts after the game.

He said: "It is what it is – he visited and there's a lots of jokes going around that he got shot on Christmas Day and was at the match.

"People were saying that the NHS in the West Midlands were fantastic.

"Obviously he's not the first celebrity to visit and hopefully not the last one either."

Mr Eades said it was not a "great performance" but it was the three points which mattered.

A fan tweeted: "Bloke got shot Christmas Day, down Stourbridge the next, what a trooper #garyintheshedend."

Others joked it was "Weatherfield away", referencing the name of the Corrie location, with another adding: "So the guy who got shot on Corrie was at Stourbridge FC.

"Wondering if the NHS know just how good watching Glassboys is?"