THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK
Life President⭐⭐🦐
By Chris Phillips. Chief sports reporter.
New fan - Evan Johnston with Southend United supporters (Image: ANDY WARD)
EVAN Johnston became an accidental Southend United fan this weekend – after getting on the wrong boat in London.
Evan – who is visiting from Arizona – thought he was set for an afternoon of sight-seeing in the capital.
But the 21-year-old had actually joined a group of Shrimpers supporters heading to the National League clash at Sutton United by water.
And it did not take long for Evan to realise his day was heading in an unexpected direction.
“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,” explained Evan.
“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.
Made to feel welcome - Evan with Southend United fans on board (Image: ANDY WARD)
“I had some suspicions when I was in line to board behind all of the Southend fans because they seemed to know each other and were making chants I didn’t understand.''
“But I decided to board anyways because I figured if they checked tickets they would just turn me around and there would be no harm done.
“But they didn’t check tickets so I slipped on the boat undetected.”
Evan was soon welcomed by the group of Shrimpers supporters who then also took him to the game to add to his excitement.
And Evan now plans to watch Southend again this weekend.
“I had a blast on the boat and at the Southend game,” said Evan.
Travelling by boat - Southend United fans (Image: ANDY WARD)
“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.''
“To be honest I never followed much football so this is the first team I actually cared about and I’m rooting for them now.”
The boatful of Southend fans set off from Tower Millennium Pier before arriving at Blackfriars Pier and taking the train to the ground.
And passionate Blues fan Andy Ward was among the first to make Evan feel welcome.
“Someone on the boat told me that a young lad was on the wrong boat and I just wanted to make sure he was OK,” said Andy.
“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.
New friends - Evan (left) with Blues fan Andy Ward (Image: CHRIS PHILLIPS)
“When I spoke with him he said someone gave him a match ticket but was unsure whether to go.
“I said to him come with us and I will make sure he got home safely to Kentish Town which he did.”
The match ended in a 1-1 draw which kept the Shrimpers a point outside the play-offs.
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