MPH Posted 14 February 2009 Posted 14 February 2009 Met this chap on justin.tv today... http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/content/art...n_feature.shtml Football crazy, football madHugh MacLachlan is originally from Melbourne, Australia. But his passion for Leicester City has brought him over to this part of the world. For many people football is more than just a game, it's a way of life. And for one Leicester City fan, this rings true. It's a real passion which has forced him to travel eleven thousand miles to watch his favourite team for one season. Hugh MacLachlan originally comes from Melbourne, Australia. But the love of the game has made him give up his life down under for a year, so he can support the Foxes in action. He's been living in Leicester since April last year, and has been travelling up and down the country to watch the games live. Leicester v Sheffield Listen: From Melbourne to Leicester BBC Leicester's Bridget Blair been to speak to Hugh, whose dedication it seems knows no bounds... * Listen: Interview with Hugh MacLachlan > Help playing audio/video Hugh explains how his passion started at a young age. He says: "I started following Leicester when I was thirteen, back at home. "I just picked up the paper and saw the league table and Leicester just jumped out at me." Fourteen years later, he still supports them. But last year he made the decision to travel half way across the world to see them in action. "I wear about 18 layers at games and I still freeze, but it's still worth it." Hugh McLoughlin, Leicester City Supporter from Australia Lifestyle change Hugh now works in Birmingham, and plans to return home at the end of the season, but says that plan could change if his team does well. He says between his work and watching football he doesn't have time for anything else. He explains, "Part of the great thing about supporting Leicester is you get a sense of what the real football is like. "For a lot of Australian football fans, its either Manchester United or Arsenal, Liverpool or Chelsea. It's the big teams they follow. "The great thing about league one is going to these crummy old stadiums, just absolute tin-sheds. I'm seeing the whole country as well, which is the other great thing about it." Hugh has also become something of a local celebrity with Foxes fans. He adds, "I talk to more people on the away trips on the bus, and a lot of the people know me now." Hugh says his biggest disappointment this season was when he missed the game against Leeds United. He explains, "I came down with the flu two days before Christmas and missed the biggest game of the season." Hugh has now made Leicester his home for now, and says he's adjusting to life in the city: "I quite like the place. Leicester is much smaller than Melbourne. I do like the pub culture, but the freezing cold is started to get to me. "I wear about 18 layers at games and I still freeze, but it's still worth it. "
Dan Posted 14 February 2009 Posted 14 February 2009 top bloke I have a Hartlepool ticket and went to Carlisle thats not bad is it?
morris1234 Posted 14 February 2009 Posted 14 February 2009 and i would walk 500miles and i would walk 500 more.........................probably
MPH Posted 14 February 2009 Author Posted 14 February 2009 met him on Justin.tv in one of the boxing rooms. :-)
Lillehamring Posted 15 February 2009 Posted 15 February 2009 take note SoccerooFox, you lazy git. well, i made a 16 hour journey to watch the game yesterday, that's pretty hard of me. even though it should only have been about 8.
ACF Posted 15 February 2009 Posted 15 February 2009 take note SoccerooFox, you lazy git.well, i made a 16 hour journey to watch the game yesterday, that's pretty hard of me. even though it should only have been about 8. What about me? Can I be lazy too? Though i have seen the foxes twice!
Matt Posted 15 February 2009 Posted 15 February 2009 This is the pretty much the main/only (Probably not only tbf) reason that puts me off going to live in Australia...It would mean missing actually going to games, I think I could quite easily keep up to date with all the news and results but the whole part of supporting and being interested in football is actually going to games for me. Sad I know.
ACF Posted 15 February 2009 Posted 15 February 2009 This is the pretty much the main/only (Probably not only tbf) reason that puts me off going to live in Australia...It would mean missing actually going to games, I think I could quite easily keep up to date with all the news and results but the whole part of supporting and being interested in football is actually going to games for me.Sad I know. That is the reason i miss England, there is soccer coverage, but at 2 am (Unless you live in Perth), and its not as big as the UK. And not being able to get to games is really hard.
turkish14 Posted 15 February 2009 Posted 15 February 2009 I think the PA announced at the Oldham game that there are fans who drive from Newquay to each game. I think that is dedication
OzFox Posted 15 February 2009 Posted 15 February 2009 Not bad, but lets see him leave the ground at 4.45pm and make the 9pm flight to Sydney from Heathrow, as I've done on a couple of occasions...
Webbo Posted 15 February 2009 Posted 15 February 2009 the furtherest I've ever been is either Oldham or ManUre. I can't see me going much further tbh.
portsmouthfox Posted 15 February 2009 Posted 15 February 2009 as the name gives it away, season ticket holder 300 miles round trip for a "home" game, i make about 15 home games a season with about 10 away.
Corky Posted 15 February 2009 Posted 15 February 2009 as the name gives it away, season ticket holder 300 miles round trip for a "home" game, i make about 15 home games a season with about 10 away. Were you featured in a programme a few seasons ago, in the "Faraway Foxes" section? I seem to remember a fan from Portsmouth was profiled.
Matt Posted 15 February 2009 Posted 15 February 2009 as the name gives it away, season ticket holder 300 miles round trip for a "home" game, i make about 15 home games a season with about 10 away. I'm not sure - Not worked it out, but if you only make about 15 home games would it not be cheaper to buy tickets for games rather than pay for a ST? I've not worked it out recently but a few years ago when I worked it out think you could afford to miss about 5 games otherwise you were cheaper to buy tickets game by game, as I said not sure, and I guess you would have worked out the cheapest option?
Corky Posted 15 February 2009 Posted 15 February 2009 I'm not sure - Not worked it out, but if you only make about 15 home games would it not be cheaper to buy tickets for games rather than pay for a ST? I've not worked it out recently but a few years ago when I worked it out think you could afford to miss about 5 games otherwise you were cheaper to buy tickets game by game, as I said not sure, and I guess you would have worked out the cheapest option? It may help though if we get to cup/play-off finals or with allocations for big away games
Guest Posted 15 February 2009 Posted 15 February 2009 I do a 200 mile round trip for each home game and have only missed one so far. Only missed 3 away games too so I think I've done my fair whack of travelling this season following city. Here's to another 900 odd miles this week
GLC Posted 15 February 2009 Posted 15 February 2009 What about me? Can I be lazy too? Though i have seen the foxes twice! On tv
Alexikokopops Posted 15 February 2009 Posted 15 February 2009 as the name gives it away, season ticket holder 300 miles round trip for a "home" game, i make about 15 home games a season with about 10 away. Bravo that man, you've got an extra hundred miles on me a week! I'm not sure - Not worked it out, but if you only make about 15 home games would it not be cheaper to buy tickets for games rather than pay for a ST? I've not worked it out recently but a few years ago when I worked it out think you could afford to miss about 5 games otherwise you were cheaper to buy tickets game by game, as I said not sure, and I guess you would have worked out the cheapest option? I think I paid £320 for my season ticket in the Kop at the beginning of the season (I've since moved to L1). 15 games at £23 costs £345. So 14 games is the key in that case. It'll be slightly different elsewhere. With my move to L1 mid-season it works out that I need to make 13 games to pay for the ticket. I've missed six so far, and I'm definitely missing the Stockport game too. I do a 200 mile round trip for each home game and have only missed one so far. Only missed 3 away games too so I think I've done my fair whack of travelling this season following city.Here's to another 900 odd miles this week Do you drive? I don't do Tuesday games because I don't want to risk missing the 10pm train back or else we're looking at a £41 train back the next day
Corky Posted 15 February 2009 Posted 15 February 2009 I do a 200 mile round trip for each home game and have only missed one so far. Only missed 3 away games too so I think I've done my fair whack of travelling this season following city.Here's to another 900 odd miles this week I have a 230-mile round trip for each home match. Only missing Stockport from now on. Plenty of away matches still to do- Hartlepool, Bristol Rovers, MK Dons, Peterborough and Southend definitely, maybe Millwall and Crewe as well.
pete Posted 15 February 2009 Posted 15 February 2009 i fly to UK once or twice per season, at easter again for Hereford away and Leeds homegame It'll be my fifth visit, first was spring 2007 (yeah it took quite long to make first trip but after that it has been obsession
portsmouthfox Posted 15 February 2009 Posted 15 February 2009 Corky, sorry m8 problem with the washing machine had to fix it, Yes i was in the match programme a few seasons back and also the mercury. As regards the season ticket yes it is cheeper to pay for single match tickets the main reason other than i have a seat where i want & i'm priortiy 2 on away games so i can usually always get an away ticket, priority 3 i've missed out a few times!
Guest Posted 15 February 2009 Posted 15 February 2009 Do you drive? I don't do Tuesday games because I don't want to risk missing the 10pm train back or else we're looking at a £41 train back the next day Yeah i generally drive up and back. Because I work shifts it generally means I leave at random times to avoid traffic, and spend a day or two back in Leics sometimes. £41??? Bloody hell
Dan Posted 15 February 2009 Posted 15 February 2009 This is the pretty much the main/only (Probably not only tbf) reason that puts me off going to live in Australia...It would mean missing actually going to games, I think I could quite easily keep up to date with all the news and results but the whole part of supporting and being interested in football is actually going to games for me.Sad I know. Not sad really, thats the only reason i'm living in Leicestershire for as long as possible.
Alexikokopops Posted 15 February 2009 Posted 15 February 2009 Yeah i generally drive up and back. Because I work shifts it generally means I leave at random times to avoid traffic, and spend a day or two back in Leics sometimes. £41??? Bloody hell Yeah, the fun of peak rate trains!
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