Tourist now life-long fan of football club after getting lost on supporters' boat
An Arizona man thought he'd joined a sightseeing boat tour in London, but accidentally got on a party boat full of Southend United fans enjoying a ride out before a match
A travelling American is now a lifelong fan of a non-league football club after its fans looked after him when he got lost in London.
Evan Johnston, from Arizona, thought he had joined a sightseeing boat tour in London, but instead boarded a party boat full of Southend United fans enjoying a day out in the capital ahead of their National League clash with Sutton United.
“I had originally planned to board the river cruise boat for the Hop On-Hop Off tour, which I assume was located on the same dock,” said Evan, 21.
“The cruise would last an hour or so and then I planned to spend the rest of the day touring the central London area on the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus.”
He said his suspicions were aroused when he heard chants and songs coming from the Shrimpers supporters who all “seemed to know each other” as he boarded at Tower Millennium Pier.
Evan explained he figured if his ticket was wrong he would just be turned around when he tried to board.
He was not, and instead ended up in the shadow of The Shard on the river looking a little confused.
Among the first to make Evan feel welcome was Andy Ward.
He said he was told there was a young man on the wrong boat and went to see if he was OK.
Andy said: “When I found him he was drinking and dancing with other Southend fans and even though you could see he was nervous everyone was just trying to make him feel welcome.”
After finding new friends and disembarking at Blackfriars, Evan attended the playoff outsiders’ 1-1 draw against Sutton.
He said: “I had so much fun I plan to go to another Southend game next weekend and hopefully they can pull out the win.
"I’m a Southend fan till I die now.”
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