It turns out there is something worse than watching your favorite team lose on their home turf.
A Tennessee man was left “crushed” after saving $5,700 over 18 months to see his favorite UK soccer club play — only to have the match canceled, twice.
Ian Webb, 28, and his wife built their entire 4,000-mile trip to fulfill his dream of watching his beloved non-league Wakefield AFC play at their stadium in West Yorkshire in October.
“There was a Saturday game that the trip was planned around. We had built our trip around being in Wakefield for that weekend to see that home game,” Webb told SWNS.
He had been dreaming of a trip to see Wakefield play since his love for the team blossomed two years earlier when he began playing as them on Football Manager, a simulation game where you take charge of a club.
He quickly became engrossed in the club’s fan culture and was even invited to appear on a local podcast dedicated to them, “All Wakey Aren’t We,” to talk about his support.
Seeing the team play with his own eyes seemed like the next logical step.
Webb and wife Megan, 27, were forced to change their itinerary due to a scheduling change — but the couple kept their hopes high after learning the game had been postponed to another nearby stadium.
Disaster struck three days later when — on the day of the game — torrential downpouring plagued the UK.
The field was completely waterlogged, and the backup match was canceled not long after.
“I was certainly crushed,” Webb, a recruitment manager, said.
“It was one of those things where you get a pit in your stomach. It had been raining most of the day, and it was coming down really hard.
“I think the disappointment was spread out of a few hours. As it kept raining more and more, I could tell that the game was definitely going to be postponed,” he continued.
“It was really hard when I told my wife and got back to the hotel, saying, ‘We are not going to be going to the game.’
“I felt a little bit emotional in that moment, but we had to move past it.”
Fortunately, Webb didn’t head back to the States without enjoying a taste of the Wakefield culture.
He and Megan toured the club’s massive premises with staff, where he said he sensed an electric adulation.
“In America, big NFL stadiums with 60-80,000 seats are a dime-a-dozen. There’s something exciting about being in a huge, packed stadium and the energy that brings,” Webb said.
“But it’s an incredible corporate league, and you’re a customer, and it’s about ‘how many butts can we fit into these seats?’ and ‘how much can we charge?’
“Ultimately, what has always been attractive about Wakefield is it’s more of a local, authentic experience.”
Although he left the UK without seeing Wakefield in action, Webb promised himself he would return to fulfill his fantasy.
“The plan is to come back in a couple of years. The dream is to see Wakefield play in a pivotal game while they’re challenging for promotion,” Webb said.
“That would be incredibly exciting.”
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