The accidental tourist: American college student Evan Johnston turns a mistaken boat trip into passionate fandom for National League side Southend United

Arizona college student Evan Johnston, a 21-year old visiting London for a six-week study program, planned to take a typical tourist river cruise. He ended up a supporter of a National League team instead.

Johnson, it seems, accidentally boarded a boat chartered by 150 Southend United fans at Tower Millennium Pier last weekend. Believing it was a tourist cruise, Johnston found himself amidst passionate football supporters heading to their team's away match against Sutton United.

The game ended in a 1-1 draw after Ben Goodliffe put Southend ahead only for Ashley Nadesan to equalise late in the game to rescue a point for the hosts.

“I had originally planned to board the river cruise boat for the Hop On-Hop Off tour, which I assume was located on the same dock,” Evan told the Southend Echo News. “The cruise would last an hour or so and then I planned to spend the rest of the day touring the central London area on the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus.

“I had some suspicions when I was in line to board behind all of the Southend fans because they seemed to know each other and were making chants I didn’t understand. But I decided to board anyways because I figured if they checked tickets they would just turn me around and there would be no harm done. But they didn’t check tickets so I slipped on the boat undetected.”

Andy Ward, one of the Southend supporters on board, told the Echo: “Someone on the boat told me a young lad was on the wrong boat and I just wanted to make sure he was OK. When I found him he was drinking and dancing with other Southend fans and even though you could see he was nervous everyone was just trying to make him feel welcome … He said someone gave him a match ticket but was unsure whether to go. I said to him come with us.”

Johnston admitted that he is now a Southend United fan for life and plans on going to another game soon.

“⁠I had a blast on the boat and at the Southend game,” said Evan. “I had so much fun I plan to go to another Southend game next weekend and hopefully they can pull out the win. ⁠I’m a Southend fan till I die now. To be honest I never followed much football so this is the first team I actually cared about and I’m rooting for them now.”

A Southend spokesperson told the Guardian: “We’re really looking forward to welcoming Evan to Roots Hall this weekend for our game against Solihull Moors on Saturday. We’ll be giving him a behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium and the chance to meet some of the players.

“After hearing he was one of the 1,459 fans who ended up in the away end at Sutton - by complete accident - we’re excited to show him what a home game with the Shrimpers is all about.”

This incident reflects the broader appeal of English football to international audiences. It demonstrates how lower-league clubs like Southend United, currently in the National League, can attract and create devoted fans through unique experiences and community spirit.

Southend United has invited Johnston to their upcoming home game against Solihull Moors, offering him a behind-the-scenes tour and the opportunity to meet players.