Pic: Blyth Spartans FC
WE all know that Non-League is crammed with dedicated supporters who travel to watch their sides across the county but not many could match Lucas Martins.
The 21-year-old Brazilian travelled from his home in Sao Paulo to Blyth, via Berlin, to watch the Spartans take on Salford City.
He became obsessed with the club after playing as them on popular computer game Football Manager and his epic journey was rewarded as Blyth won the Evo-Stik NPL Premier top-of-the-table clash 2-1.
He was given VIP treatment by the club, meeting boss Tom Wade as well club officials and the players. Despite coming from a country that has given football the likes of Pele and Ronaldo, Martins says his football hero is Spartans’ Robbie Dale!
“The people at Blyth treated me so well, it’s a shame I’m quite shy and couldn’t show how thankful I was for everything they’ve done for me,” he said.
“I met just about everyone in there, from the regular supporters to the groundkeeper, to the players and the chairman. One of the most astounding things I noticed was how much work is actually put into running a Non-League team. It’s amazing what everyone does.
“It was great meeting the players – especially (Robert) Dale, who’s one of my football heroes.
“The atmosphere was incredible. I didn’t know 1432 people could be so loud! Every other game I’d been to in my life was a big game, so I had never seen football that close and that intimate.
“I can honestly say the atmosphere was just as good as watching a sold out Copa Libertadores match.”
