Spartans win fans across the globe

Nov 27 2008 by Richard Fletcher, The Journal

BLYTH Spartans have been swamped with calls from across the world amid this season’s FA Cup run.

While an estimated 450 supporters will be making the 13-hour, 740-mile round trip from the North East to Bournemouth to watch the second round clash, new diehards will be following the game from as far afield as America and Australia.

Blyth followers have gone to great lengths to be at the game, and when they could not find direct flights from Newcastle to Bournemouth, some actually considered going via Marseille to make the connection.

Others are travelling up to Edinburgh at 1am to catch a flight, while the supporters’ club looked into chartering a plane.

When the players step out on Saturday afternoon against their League Two opposition, it will not just be the crowd in the stands who are watching.

The supporters’ club shop has received inquiries from Serbia, Italy, America, Sweden and Canada. The club has also received simple messages of support from Russia.

Martin Hunter, secretary of the supporters’ club, said: “I know there will be groups in Australia watching the match and having a party at 4am.

“It has just been ridiculous the last few weeks and we’ve had orders from America, Russia and Serbia. They watch it on the telly and are fascinated by the club. It’s been crazy.”

One man, from Harrisburg, Penn- sylvania, follows Blyth’s matches assiduously – without watching any of them.

When anything happens on the pitch, about 20 supporters send text messages to create a text commentary on a Spartans discussion website, which the American then follows.

Martin said: “We had a couple of games on Setanta and we sent him some of the videos. He said it was weird seeing the players running round.”

The international supporters are not expats, either. Some, who enjoy English football, are attracted by the unusual name. For others, it is the distinctive kit that draws them to the club.

But Martin also believes that some fans, from America, Singapore, Denmark and Greece, follow Blyth after playing Championship Manager. With Blyth being one of the lowest teams gamers can select, they enjoy trying to build up the lowly club – possibly even winning the FA Cup.

And confidence is high for the real thing on Saturday.

Martin said: “People think it’s our cup final, but we’re not going there to get beaten.

“We hear about the magic of the FA Cup and it hasn’t gone for us.

“It’s all we talk about. It’s the only way we’ll get on telly.

“You have to grasp these moments when they come.”