ohhh_yeah 2770 Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Brazilian super fan Lucas Martins travelled 18,000 miles - to watch his heroes BLYTH SPARTANS. The journey took him on five flights and two coach rides. Millions of fans around the world might say he was going in the wrong direction if he wanted to see the beautiful game at its best. But he had his reward as his side beat Salford watched by 1,400 die-hards on a cold, windy wintry night in Northumberland. Lucas's obsession with the Evo-Stik premier league outfit started on the computer game football manager when he picked them out at random as a 13-year-old. Shunning the silky skills on offer at his local club Sao Paulo's 67,000 Morumbi stadium, Lucas only ever dreamt of watching the green and whites in action at humble Croft Park. He first flew to Berlin where he spent time on a planned holiday with his family and then flew to London from Germany, travelling again by plane up to Edinburgh, before getting a coach to the Newcastle. Blyth Spartans officials then drove their most loyal supporter on the last leg up to their stadium. Lucas was introduced to the chairman, the manager and the players, as well as being presented with a Blyth home shirt. The awe-struck super-fan said the mammoth journey was worthwhile as he met his hero - Blyth captain Robert Dale, 31 - and said the atmosphere ranked alongside Brazil's famous Copa Libetadores cup competition. He said: "It was great. The people at Blyth treated me so well, it is a shame I am quite shy and could not show how grateful I was for everything they have done for me. "I met just about everyone in there, from the regular supporters to the groundsman, to the players and the chairman. One of the most astounding things I noticed was how much work is actually put into running a non-league team. It is amazing what everyone does. "It was great meeting the players - especially Robert Dale, who is one of my football heroes. The atmosphere was incredible. I did not know 1432 people could be so loud! Every other game I'd been to in my life was a big game, so I had never seen football that close and that intimate. "I can honestly say the atmosphere was just as good as watching a sold out Copa Libertadores match." Lucas, who is a maths student, used to be a Manchester United fan but became disillusioned after Sir Alex Ferguson's departure. "I first became interested in Blyth Spartans around 2008 or 2009, while playing Football Manager," he added. I had played the game ever since I was a little kid with my older cousin, but had always picked my hometown club, or Manchester United. "I decided to pick a team from the very lowest league, and the name 'Spartans' really appealed." He hopes to make another visit to Blyth again in the near future, but hopefully with 'more time to spare' as he only spent nine hours in the north east. Blyth's win, courtesy of goals from Damen Mullan and new signing Wilson Kneesaw, moved them five points clear at the summit of the Evo-Stik Premier League. The crowd of 1432 was the highest attendance for any non-league club on Tuesday evening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fish 8994 Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Love owt like that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 5925 Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Been to most home games this season. We're flying atm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McFaul 35 Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Been to most home games this season. We're flying atm Blyth are as are South Shields too. Newcastle Blue Star were my non-league team playing beside the airport when I was a bairn, but Blyth getting 1500, South Shields having an amazing run getting 2000, would be brilliant if they could make the league. It's not impossible for Gateshead to do it this season, a win at Barrow tonight would put them in with a cracking chance of that play off spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 5925 Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 (edited) South Shields are to non league as Chelsea/Man City are to the Premier League though. The local fans didn't give a fuck until they were bought by a rich bloke The season before they were bought they had an average gate of 70 ffs Edited February 2, 2016 by StraightEdgeWizard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex 30433 Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Aye, tbf teams like Blyth and Whitley Bay have a 'proper' support. But it's still good to see interest being raised and investment being made in a local non league side like South Shields I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McFaul 35 Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 South Shields are to non league as Chelsea/Man City are to the Premier League though. The local fans didn't give a fuck until they were bought by a rich bloke The season before they were bought they had an average gate of 70 ffs I went in 2012 they had about 600 there for a Shields derby, and believe it or not in the club bit after the match part of the circle we were drinking in was John Alder who was killed in Ukraine. Canny but very shy bloke I found. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McFaul 35 Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Aye, tbf teams like Blyth and Whitley Bay have a 'proper' support. But it's still good to see interest being raised and investment being made in a local non league side like South Shields I think. Blyth's proper support were getting 3 and 400 in the Conference North which isn't great at that level. South Shields are at level 9 at the minute and still getting the gates. After all South Shields were a football league club till they decided to become Gateshead. At least they beat the murderers in the FA Cup 5th round in the 50's anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 5925 Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Blyth had 1400 at the Darlo game, 1150 at the Salford game and 800 there against Grantham. Not bad for 3 tier 7 games Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex 30433 Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Blyth's proper support were getting 3 and 400 in the Conference North which isn't great at that level. South Shields are at level 9 at the minute and still getting the gates. After all South Shields were a football league club till they decided to become Gateshead. At least they beat the murderers in the FA Cup 5th round in the 50's anyway. I appreciate that. It's a slightly daft argument anyway as it's natural for a club to have varying gates with their success levels. Also think that local football generally probably benefits from the apathy shown towards NUFC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 34508 Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Beautiful to see Stevie so passionate about South Tyneside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex 30433 Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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