Widnes Vikings: International superfans go the extra mile

Feb 2 2012 by Daniel Mckenzie, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

MELBOURNE, Bangkok and Abu Dhabi are just a few of the far-flung destinations die-hard Vikings fans will be returning to Widnes from to be at the club’s historic first match back in Super League.

A trio of super-fans will complete a combined round trip of more than 40,000 miles to watch the eagerly awaited game against Wakefield.

Other international fans are understood to be flying if from Benidorm, Holland, Germany and Barcelona, while hundreds of others will be travelling from all corners of the UK.

Ged Unsworth, 58, (pictured) a Widnes fan since birth, is making the trip from South Australia, and says he would not miss the match for the world.

He told the Weekly News: “I leave Melbourne on Wednesday evening and arrive at 10am on Thursday. With a time adjustment of 11 hours, it will take me 28 hours to get to Widnes. But I just had to get back for this game. Steve O’Connor has done the town proud. The way the man has handled everything to do with this club is a true testament to the spirit of Widnes people.

“He has taken the blows, ignored the scoffs, proven the nay-sayers wrong and done so with his head held high. It promises to be a fantastic night.”

Marcus Booth, another Widnes-born fan, currently works in Thailand but is jetting in especially for the match.

He said: “I have to be there simply to say thank you to Steve O’Connor. He has done so much for this club, this is my way of repaying him, Julie Gaskell, Denis Betts, Paul Cullen and all of the staff and players for making this piece of history possible.

“I fly back to Bangkok on Sunday but it is great to be back in the big time.”

Current Abu Dhabi resident Martin Graeber is travelling 6,940 miles and will be in England for only 48 hours.

He said: “I am really looking forward to showing the world just how far the club has come. It was a game that I couldn’t miss.

“I think we will hold our own this year and hopefully surprise a few people along the way. It will be hard, there is no doubt, but sneaking into the play-offs is possible.”