American couple can't wait to resume long trips to watch Fleetwood Town

American Fleetwood Town fans Steve and Natalya VanderClute

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Determined to take his son, Pavel, to an English grassroots football match, Steve attended Fleetwood’s Conference Premier fixture against Crawley in March 2011 and was instantly smitten with Town.

Steve recalled: “I loved the genuine style of football. There was technique, aggressiveness, and no rolling around like I had seen in international and Premier League football on TV.”

Steve and his wife Natalya became season-ticket holders and have remained so ever since. They no longer live in Suffolk but still make round-trips of 300 miles to home games whenever they can from their British base in Lincolnshire.

Steve told the Gazette yesterday: “A Blackpool Gazette reporter called Tom Halstead wrote an article about us supporting Fleetwood in 2011 or 2012.

“I don’t think he believed me at first and I’ll always remember that he called me ‘crackers’ – I’d never heard that term before and it made me laugh.

“My wife and I are still season-ticket holders and attend when I’m not travelling for business in the States.

“Before following Fleetwood I never followed football. I learned to love and understand the game over many matches at Highbury Stadium. Like many others, I can’t wait for football to resume.”

Thanks to Bernard Noble of Fleetwood Town Official Supporters’ Club for help with this article. For information on FTOSC and how to join, please contact 07749408881 or [email protected]