Cleveland

For one mad moment,
we thought we had scored the winning touchdown!

The UK Supporters club took their first "organised" trip to Pittsburgh in 1993. The club flew over to see the 37-14 victory over the New Orleans Saints at Three Rivers Stadium on November 17.

After a week of emptying the Pittsburgh shops, the fans from around England and Ireland, joined the Mon Valley Road Warrior bus for the long journey to Cleveland to see a heart breaking loss.

During the previous week, every Pittsburgh fan they met told the UK fans not to wear their black & gold colours to Cleveland because it would only encourage the Brownies to heap abuse [and possibly more] on them.

Even Myron Cope offered that advice on his Monday night programme. As a consequence, the editor of this site wore a plain black jacket that he borrowed with a London Thunder badge on the front.

While we were sat in our seats a local TV reporter saw our Union Jack flag and then the London Thunder badge. She came up to me and inquired, "You're not from around here, are you?" Now, that's quite a smart observation considering the flag and the jacket!

The conversation then progressed as follows:

Reporter: Why do you support the Pittsburgh Steelers?
Gordon: Because they play with so much passion and commitment.

Reporter: But don't Cleveland play the same way?
Gordon: Cleveland are nothing! They don't even have a supporters club back in the UK. The Steelers are number one!

Needless to say, I don't expect the television station showed that clip. The following day, Pittsburgh's WPIX showed the UK fans at the game and an interview with the UK fans taken at a Penguins practice.

The game itself was a classic. The Steelers led on two occasions, only for Eric Metcalf to return the ensuring kickoffs for touchdowns. Heartbreaking, especially for a first visit to Cleveland. To the fans from the United Kingdom, this was one of the greatest games they would see. For those that had attended Browns games over the years, it probably did not figure very high up in the stakes.