The question which has been asked of me all week is "Are you going to do a Delia at KitKat Crescent?"

For those who know me, this question has nothing to do with anything culinary, because potato dauphinois or come to think of it, boiled eggs, are not my fort.

Although I may be lacking in the kitchen, Delia and I have something very much in common. We share an enormous passion for our respective football teams and are both rare female specimens in the male corridors of the beautiful game.

This week saw Delia Smith storm on to the Carrow Road pitch at half-time in Norwich City's game against Manchester City to address her beloved Canary faithful.

Taking the microphone, she embarked on an emotional rallying cry to try and lift supporters' spirits to spur the team on to a victory, having just conceded a two goal-lead.

Although there was an absence of the well-oiled rhetoric of world leaders, this was an honest plea from the heart.

She said: "We need a 12th man here. Where are you? Let's be having you! Come on!"

So what's all the fuss about? It's because she's a woman and a famous, successful woman at that.

Nobody would have batted an eyelid if the likes of Ken Bates or Arsenal's David Dein had taken it upon themselves to make such a spontaneous appeal. Indeed, the media would have commended them as noble men of football. But instead Delia has faced mockery and the act has been attributed to too much champagne in the boardroom, stating she was a little unsteady on her feet.

Unsteady on her feet? You want to try and walk on a muddy pitch at this time of the season in heels.

The point is she cares and with her team in the midst of a relegation battle, it hurts to lose. I fully understand the emotions because I have been there and just because we are women doesn't mean the pain is any less and that we don't live and breath every kick.

Since Monday's game, the cleavers have been out with Delia facing derogatory comments along the lines of: "Get back in the kitchen, luv." But this sister has well and truly come out of the kitchen and has put her successful cookery career behind in favour of devoting time to running the club she loves.

With the support of her husband, Michael, who introduced her to the Canaries, Delia has invested £8 million in Norwich City, saving them from the brink of extinction.

She is a perfectionist who has brought both passion and professionalism to this provincial club who are, for the time being, competing with the Premiership big boys.

Delia is best remembered for her cookery programmes set in her quaint Suffolk cottage, where she meticulously talks viewers through the intricacies of every recipe. In this environment she is the embodiment of the perfect hostess, but this doesn't mean that's all there is to Delia Smith.

Women are not simply one dimensional; we have many different facets to our characters. Just because some of us may be good cooks or have a passion for shopping or other traditionally girlie pursuits, doesn't mean we can't love football, and be passionate and serious about it.

Today, for the first time at KitKat Crescent the York City faithful will see a female referee, Amy Rainer, controlling the game. I suspect there will be a few raised eyebrows from the traditionalists and perhaps the odd wolf whistle from the Longhurst Stand. But let's give credit where it's due, this woman deserves respect as a pioneer who has no doubt struggled against the odds to achieve her goal.

We're on the terraces, we're in the boardroom and we're on the pitch, isn't it time to take us seriously?

The fee for this column is donated to the York City FC Youth Development Fund

Updated: 16:27 Friday, March 04, 2005