BBC News
BBCA football fan who travelled 5,000 miles (8,047km) to see lower league side Brigg Town play on Saturday said he was “overwhelmed”.
Rohan Chowdhury, 27, from Kolkata in India, became a fan of the Lincolnshire club during lockdown.
Mr Chowdhury, who watches every game online, said the sport brought people together, “making the world a smaller place”.
After a tour of the club, he travelled to North Ferriby where he led Brigg Town out on to the pitch for their pre-season friendly against Hull Utd, which they won 4-2.
Mr Chowdhury, who is a sports journalist in India, was visiting England for the first time to cover the cricket series and took the opportunity to visit the club.
“I’m a huge football fan”, he said. “I have always had a fascination with non-league football in England.”
Brigg Town competes in Northern Counties East League Division One.
Mr Chowdhury began chatting with managers at the club from afar and was soon helping out with their social media channels.
“Everyone was quite surprised that someone from Kolkata was actually interacting on social media on a regular basis and it was quite fun,” he said.
Jim Huxford, the club chairman, met Mr Chowdhury at the railway station at the start of his visit.
“It’s nice when you get attention from half the way across the world,” Mr Huxford said.
“I’m quite emotional anyway, so I had a little tear in my eye. I gave him a big hug.”
The stadium at Wrawby Road has recently undergone a £1.5m refurbishment, with the work due to be completed soon.
“I think it’s such a lovely connection that sports bring to you,” Mr Chowdhury said.
“I am from a different country altogether and there’s no physical connection, so this friendship gives you a message that’s also much bigger than the sport itself.
“It brings people together and makes the world a much smaller place.”
Mr Chowdhury said he intended to return to Lincolnshire to watch the club play again.
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