A Stoke City mad student from Market Drayton has shown true dedication to his team by jetting across the world to see his idols play in the FA Cup Final.
Nicky Hughes, who is 24, is currently studying Tourism and Hospitality Management at the University of the West Indies in Barbados.
But nothing was going to prevent him from seeing his beloved Stoke CIty in the FA Cup final last Saturday so he jetted 4210 miles all the way to Wembley Stadium.
Sadly on the day Stoke were beaten 1-0 by Manchester City but Nicky said despite the defeat the journey was worth it.
He said; “The day was amazing. I’ve lost my voice through all the shouting and singing but the atmosphere was awesome - despite the defeat we all had a brilliant time.
“I went down thinking no matter what happened I was just going to enjoy it and I think all the Stoke fans went with the same attitude.
“Man City might have won but for 90 minutes all you could hear was the Stoke fans sing. After the game we went in a few pubs by the ground and the Stoke fans looked more happy than the Man City ones - it was a great day out, I saw so many people from Market Drayton down there – there were literally tons of us.”
Nicky spent £700 to secure a return flight to watch the game – but when he landed back in the UK he still didn’t have a ticket.
He said: “I was trying everything, I entered competitions, my dad wrote to the club and I called everyone I knew. I’ve got a contact at the FA and he managed to come through for me in the end. There was absolutely no way I was going to miss the game.”
The former Grove School pupil is well known to Stoke fans after previously working as the clubs official mascot Pottermus the Hippopotamus and also worked with their Football in the Community scheme.
He is now back in Barbados continuing with his studies.
He said: “It was great to be back to see my family and also my mates who managed to get to the game. I’m flying back on Tuesday and going straight to a class - I’m only going to make it because there is a five hour time difference otherwise I’d have had to miss it.
“Throughout my time in Barbados I have made sure that everyone knows I’m a Stoke City supporter. Because we’ve got Ricardo Fuller and Kenwyne Jones they’ve got a small following - although they’re not quite as big as Manchester United ad Liverpool yet.
“I’ve supported Stoke all my life and so do my mum and dad. To see them get this far is just incredible but I’m hoping we go one better next season.”
By Joseph Masi