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American tourist Evan becomes accidental Southend United fan.

Forums New posts
RHB said:
Since we have left the Football League BBC East have forgotten we exist, apart from the occasional 'Ron' bits. It will be interesting to see if they pick up on this story and we get some rare air time.
Click to expand...
Nothing on yesterday's news
 
AN American tourist has arguably become Southend United's most famous fan after a story of him boarding the wrong boat and being "kidnapped" by 150 Blues fans has gone viral.

Evan Johnston - who was visiting the capital from Arizona - thought he was boarding a hop on-hop off sight-seeing tour when he unknowingly joined a group of Shrimpers supporters heading to the National League clash at Sutton United by water.

The 21-year-old student told the Echo on Saturday how he slipped on the boat undetected, assuming his ticket would be checked and he'd be turned around if he boarded the wrong cruise.

However, Evan was soon adopted by the group of Shrimpers supporters who then took him to the game to add to his excitement.

His hilarious story in the Echo was soon picked up by national titles including The Sun, the Daily Mail, the Telegraph and BBC News. This morning, the story was discussed on GB News.

Evan even made the front page of the Daily Star, with the headline: "150 footie lads 'kidnap' lost American tourist...and take him to Southend match".

Now, it has made the news internationally, with American and German outlets covering Evan's journey from unsuspecting tourist to Shrimper "till I die".

Echo's sports reporter Chris Phillips, who broke the story at the weekend, has had more than 25 media outlets contact him since the story has gone global.

“Having supported Southend and reported on them for so long I obviously know a lot of the fans and people around the club," he said.

'The accidental Shrimper' - how The Guardian covered the story (Image: The Guardian)

“I’d seen all about the boat trip and was a bit jealous I couldn’t go as well to be honest but that might not have been the most professional thing to do!

“I could hear chants during the game about someone being a Shrimper but I couldn’t quite make out what they were saying so I texted a friend of mine in the away end.

“It all went from there really. I knew the people Evan was with so contacted them to do a story and it’s just gone crazy.

“At the time I knew it was a good story and I put it together as a nice break from the doom and gloom of the match coverage after Southend conceded late on, if I’m honest.

“But I’ve been at the Echo 22 years now covering Blues and I’ve never known anything like this.

“There was a story a few years ago when Justin Bieber quote tweeted a story and that was popular but this is something else.

“I’ve never had so many emails, texts and calls about a story! I’m just glad it’s a nice story which highlights what the vast majority of football fans are really like.”
 
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On board - Evan Johnstone alongside Southend United's supporters (Image: ANDY WARD)
Southend United FC
Football
Sport.

ACCIDENTAL Southend United supporter Evan Johnston has thanked the Shrimpers fans for their warm welcome.

And Evan has now contacted Blues’ reporter Chris Phillips, who first broke the story, to thank Southend supporters for their kind words.

Southend United’s newest and arguably now most famous fan Evan Johnston with a message for the supporters! pic.twitter.com/qOS8UOwD3f

The American said: “I just wanted to come here and say thank you for the warm welcome.

“I’m looking forward to the game on Saturday.”

Evan initially thought he had gone on board a sight-seeing boat at the weekend but was soon welcomed by a group of around 150 Shrimpers supporters who took him to the game at Sutton United which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Evan will now be at Roots Hall for Saturday’s match with Solihull Moors.
 
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