By Ian Fearn
 (@ianfearn1 - TikTok @iandavidfearn - Instagram)

What was the first stadium to host an Indoor World Cup match? 

An interesting trivia questions for those who like them, but a strange way to open an article on why a 45-year-old Englishman follows a particular NFL team. So keep reading to find out the link.

 But before that, it’s worth saying that I’ve always been into sports. My dad was a football referee and played snooker and darts as well as cricket and lawn bowls actively locally. I have early (1985) memories of him watching Channels Four’s coverage of the NFL complete with snorting 4! No idea what I was doing up at that time as a 6 year old! I can remember knowing who the Chicago Bears were with Walter Payton and the Fridge (William Perry). I knew the Cowboys, the Dolphins and the 49ers. 

After I lost my dad to MND in 1989 I continued to love sports, especially football, an avid Manchester United fan until I realised living in High Wycombe was going to be a tricky place to see them from. So sometime in 1993 I followed my true team the mighty Wycombe Wanderers. 

Fast forward into the 00’s, a move to Swansea and a nostalgic moment leading to watching Super Bowl XLIV in 2010. This brought back memories of my childhood, my dad and the teams I knew of. 

So, who would I choose, it took some time and there were considerations. Should it be the bears, who I now knew were the originators of the 46 defence? Perhaps the 49ers? All I knew was it couldn’t be the Patriots, somewhat in their pomp and I couldn’t be seen as a glory hunter! 

So, it came down to two things. Firstly, during the 1994 World Cup the fact that the Pontiac Silverdome had a roof had stayed with me. 14 year old me was fascinated by this place. And that was, of course the home of the Detroit Lions at the time. 

Secondly as someone who loves football and an underdog, I felt Detroit resonated with me as an Englishman. A team who had a glory period (World Cup 1966) but had been in the doldrums for years and never delivered since. When I delved into some history and the success in the 50’s before the Superbowl era and then the modern day 0-16 season I really felt they were the team for me. 

It's been a rollercoaster, some great players, one particularly bad coach and now some great promise and one I have thoroughly enjoyed. The highlight so far has been watching two games in Baileys Pub New York during a last-minute week there. I was made incredibly welcome and would recommend to anyone visiting that city to find the bar that follows your team. 

But I am hoping that will be surpassed when I visit Ford Field this season in week 4 to watch the Lions play the Browns!