One of the Scottish Premier League teams, St. Johnstone fan Ricky Marshall came to Eskişehir, traveling 4 thousand kilometers, to watch the match of his club’s sister team Eskişehirspor against Ottoman 1453 Sports Club tomorrow.
Eskişehirspor-St., played in the Europa League 2nd Preliminary Stage in 2012. The two teams, which became “brothers” in the Johnstone match, have continued to support each other for 12 years. Living in Perth, Scotland, St. Ricky Marshall, 62, a Johnstone supporter, arrived in Eskişehir by High Speed Train from Istanbul, where he arrived by plane to watch the Eskişehirspor-Osmanlı 1453 Sports Club match, which will be played in the 3rd week of the Regional Amateur League tomorrow.
Ricky Marshall, in his statement to the journalists, stated that their brotherhood with Eskişehirspor is progressing day by day and said, “I have correspondence with Eskişehirspor fans on the internet. I have friends in Eskişehir that I have been seeing for years. When I come, I also have the chance to be with them.”
Marshall stated that the Scots and the Turks are competitive and that they are doing their best to help their teams progress. Stating that he last came to Eskişehir 2 years ago, Marshall added that he wanted to repeat his visit in the future.
On the other hand, the match between Eskişehirspor and Osmanlı 1453 Sports Club will be played tomorrow at 19.00 at Eskişehir New Stadium.
Ricky Marshall: The Scottish Superfan Traveling 4,000 Kilometers for Football Love
Ah, the world of football—where passions run high, friendships bloom in the most unexpected places, and sometimes, common sense behaves as though it took a mandatory vacation! Take, for instance, Ricky Marshall, a 62-year-old St. Johnstone supporter who has more frequent flyer miles than your average travel blogger. This lad opted to embark on a staggering 4,000-kilometer journey just to watch Eskişehirspor, his club’s sister team, battle it out against Osmanlı 1453 Sports Club. Now, there’s commitment for you—or a slightly eccentric love for football! You decide.
The Types of Fans We Need
Imagine this: a Scottish fella, with a heart as big as the Loch Ness monster, slicing through continents like a hot knife through butter, all for a match in Eskişehir. Ricky left the misty highlands of Perth, Scotland, and gallantly galloped—much like a footballing knight—via a high-speed train from Istanbul. That’s right! The man traveled halfway around the world! And for what? To watch a match that in the grand scheme of things, looked about as enticing as the casual snack at the bottom of your grandma’s handbag. But you can’t put a price on the love for your team!
Brotherhood on the Pitch
Now, Ricky hasn’t been hitting the Turkish delight—although we wouldn’t blame him if he did. Instead, he’s been fostering a beautiful brotherhood fueled by mutual love for the sport. “I have correspondence with Eskişehirspor fans on the internet. I have friends in Eskişehir that I have been seeing for years,” he said, clearly missing the larger point that most people prefer to stay in touch via memes rather than letters. However, who can argue with loyalty? This is practically football’s version of pen pals, and it’s only existed for over a decade since their teams faced off in the Europa League back in 2012. Talk about long-term commitment—a ten-year relationship, and no one’s even swiped right!
Competitive Spirit
Ricky goes on to mention that Scots and Turks are both competitive, which is wonderfully charming, as if letting slip that they occasionally indulge in a wee bit of rivalry. Anyone who has watched a World Cup knows the good old “we don’t talk about the football, we play the football” cheekiness. But isn’t that just part of the fun? And let’s face it: without some healthy competition (and maybe a couple of dodgy refereeing decisions), where would the drama be?
It’s Not Just a Game
As Ricky packs his bags and prepares to be part of the local football festival—ays that unlike some of us, he last visited Eskişehir two years ago. That’s longer than most soap operas take to resolve their love triangles! Yet he’s itching to plan his next adventure to join his Turkish pals again, just as soon as he can. Looks like this chap really knows how to roller-coaster emotions in style—zooming through life like a red card in the hands of a referee at a particularly fiery derby.
The Match Details
So, for those intrigued by this tale of international camaraderie, get ready! The clash between Eskişehirspor and Osmanlı 1453 Sports Club will take place at 19:00 at the Eskişehir New Stadium. Pen your notes; you may even want to catch the action live if you’re in town -—who wouldn’t want to witness the glorious expression on Ricky’s face as he cheers for his sister team? Grab the popcorn!
In conclusion, dear readers, here’s to Ricky Marshall, the embodiment of everything lovely about football fandom—a dizzying whirlwind of energy, friendship, and a smidgen of cheekiness transfixed on a far-off pitch! Perhaps we could all learn a thing or two from his boundless enthusiasm and adventurous spirit. Whether you’re traveling two blocks or two thousand miles, it’s the love for the game that truly counts (wink-wink). Cheers!
