Jamie Reeson is a massive Hull City supporter – and was heavily involved with the club as a youngster – but has been living in Australia for the last four years
Jamie Reeson (centre) moved out to Australia about four years ago and says the thing he misses most about home is football.(Image: Jamie Reeson)
A Hull City fan living in Australia is making the mammoth journey to see the Tigers at Wembley – though he hasn’t got a ticket yet. Jamie Reeson has already taken a punt on the airfare and will make the 24-hour flight from Sydney on Wednesday and admits to being a bit panicked about acquiring a ticket in time.
The 32-year-old has been a lifelong City supporter and even came close to realising his own footballing dreams having played for the club’s centre of excellence between the ages of eight and 16. Now living on Australia’s east coast he has to watch games online, at “all hours of the night” and only rarely sees another Hull City shirt out on a dog walk.
“I couldn’t miss it,” said Jamie. “Football has always been a massive part of my life. It’s the biggest thing I miss when being out here. It’s an unreal place to live but football is just not the same.
“As soon as we got into the play offs, it got me thinking: “woah, we’ve got a chance of actually playing at Wembley”. I was already searching flights and getting myself a bit excited. As soon as we beat Millwall in that second leg, I booked flights that day.”
Jamie has only been back to UK twice in the four years he has been down under – originally to travel and work on farms before setting up his personal training business. For this trip, he has booked not only flights but a hotel in London and plans to stay with his parents in Market Weighton before flying home again after the game. It has already set him back about $2,500.
He added: “I thought it’d be easy to get a ticket. Every time we’ve gone to Wembley, I’ve been good for tickets but obviously I was living back home then. I thought I’ll do whatever I can; get home and then deal with it. But I’ve been a bit panicked reading about the way the tickets are being released with season ticket holders first, and then people who have gone to games last year.
“I don’t really fit the bill there, and back home my dad goes with other people who get him tickets. It’s going to be a case of waiting for general sale. It’s a bit risky but it has to be worth the risk.”
Seeing the Tigers play is particularly important for Jamie, who had come within striking distance of a career in professional football himself. He was heavily involved with the club – and what became its youth academy – until the age of 16 but unfortunately did not get a contract and settled for being an ardent supporter, alongside his dad.
He added: “I’ve gone to games all my life. And I’ve been to every Wembley game apart from the final. I’ve had a decent record so I don’t want to miss out this time simply because I’ve not been able to go to games while I’ve been out here.”
Jamie has been in touch with the club to outline his situation and check that his account is ready to go, when tickets go on general sale. For now, his alarm clock is primed and ready.
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