'I'm travelling 2,000 miles to watch Sunderland - and then flying straight back to Malta again!'
‘I wasn’t going to miss this. It is the icing on the cake’
A Sunderland fan set off at 3.30am today on a 2,000 mile journey to watch the Black Cats in Europa League action.
Colin Backhouse, who has followed SAFC for 53 years said: “I wasn’t going to miss this. It really is the icing on the cake.”
Colin, who lives in Sliema in Malta, faces an epic journey to watch the team he loves take on AZ Alkmaar at the Stadium of Light.
He flew from Malta to Manchester at 5.45am and then planned to transfer to a train to take him to Durham.
Then on Thursday, he faces the whole journey in reverse but this time he will get a train to Edinburgh before flying back to Malta.
But every moment of travelling will be worth it for Colin who said: “I have travelled away to Accrington Stanley, away to Plymouth and night games at Norwich and Ipswich . I simply can’t miss this one . I’ve done 73 away grounds in total and now wish to add some European ones.
“One thing I miss about living away apart from my family is Sunderland football club.”
Colin has lived in Malta for 12 years. The former Penshaw resident still gets to the Stadium of Light at least four times a year, even though it costs more than £850 a time.
And when he doesn't get to Wearside, he follows the Black Cats with up to 30 fellow Mackems a time at the Salisbury Arms in Sliema.
He added: “ We’ve had hundreds of Sunderland fans visit us over the years. We even have a Mackem cocktail. Four of us who are based here have season tickets which is not bad I’d say.”
The former Shiney Row Comprehensive School pupil worked for Barclays Bank for 13 years before moving to Malta.
He added: "If anyone is coming on holiday to Malta, feel free to join us on match days at the Salisbury Arms in Sliema."
We want to hear from more expats willing to share an insight into their lives - and to share their predictions on how the Lads will do in the Europa League.
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