This article originally appeared on VICE Sports UK.One of the hallmarks of London's NFL International Series games is the sea of jerseys in the stands. In an act that often bewilders American fans at the matches, us Brits seem happy to wear the colours of whichever team we love – regardless of who is actually playing. It means that, on every Sunday that the NFL is in town, all 32 teams are represented somewhere around Wembley Way.
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These are no fair weather fans, either. Most have followed their teams for years, even decades. Some have travelled to America to watch their favourites compete on home soil. A few even support the Cleveland Browns through choice.How do Brits find such love for teams that are based thousands of miles away? Ahead of the International Series game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Indianapolis Colts, we travelled to Wembley to find out.It was 13 years ago; I was watching a game of Monday Night Football. They were playing the Super Bowl Champions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and they were down 21 points with four minutes left. But, they tied the game and took it to overtime and kicked a winning field goal – off the upright and in. I'm a Colts fan.This is the first time I've ever seen the Colts. It's not my first game, but the first time I've ever seen the Colts. 13 years a fan and I'm so excited!
Matthew – Indianapolis Colts
(Left to right): Jason, Kif, Jordan, Jack, Chris, Dave, and Glenn –– a real mixture
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Glenn: It's the one day of the year you can be American.Dave: The first game I ever watched was the [San Francisco] 49ers against the [New York] Giants. It was Montana and Rice, and I just started from there. That was in the '80s. I was in the forces then, and I was watching with an American unit when I first started. I've cheered them on since.
Jason: I went on the NFL website and they had this little calculator, "Which team should you support?" Then I watched the Super Bowl when New England beat the Eagles, and from there they were going to be my team. We started really getting into it a few years ago, so I just stuck with the Patriots.Kif: Eminem. I like Eminem and obviously he's from Detroit, and they were the first team I watched. I've only been watching it a year, something like that. I was at a friend's watching it and they were like, "You've got to pick a team," and the Lions had a player called Megatron (ex-Lions WR Calvin Johnson). I was like, got to pick them. And it stuck.Chris: The Dolphins.Dave: Dolphins, so Ace Ventura?
Chris: No, everyone says that but it's not. The actual story is, when I was 16 I was doing my exams at school, my GCSEs. My whole family went on holiday to Florida and I couldn't go because I had to stay home and do my exams. They brought me back an American football with a Dolphins Super Bowl winners logo and all of that, so I adopted the team. Still crying about it now.
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Glenn: I support [the 49ers] because of my Dad; he passed it on. But that's my brother [Jack], and he's a Cowboys fan.Jordan: We've tried to have it so that we all support a different team, so we can watch every game and enjoy it every Sunday.Dave: On days like this, it doesn't matter who you support.
Stephen: I follow the Steelers because my uncle worked out in Pittsburgh in the '70s, and brought me back [Terry] Bradshaw stuff. Gold and black all the way, plus I'm a Watford fan so the gold and black went nicely together. I've always been a Steelers fan; been over to see them play a few times in the States.Paul: I've supported [the Patriots] probably since they got absolutely annihilated in the Super Bowl and I felt sorry for them*. Trouble is it sticks in your head. You watch [the game] on the telly and you go "Oh bless them…"*Paul is referring to Super Bowl XX in 1986, where the Chicago Bears beat the New England Patriots 46-10. It, sadly, was indeed an annihilation.
Paul (New England Patriots) and Stephen (Pittsburgh Steelers). Both London Monarchs, still
Laura and Scarlet –– Jaguars (for the day)
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Paddy –– Cleveland Browns
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Face-Painted Fans
Steve (far right): I've got two teams: I've got the Jags and Tampa. We went to Florida a few years ago and we actually wanted to see an NFL game for my brother's 40th birthday, so the first game we ever saw live was Tampa Bay vs. New Orleans Saints. Then the International Series came up, Jags were the home team, so we went for the Jags and here we are.Dave (back row, 2nd from right): Because of [video game] Madden. Played it career mode, three games in a row I was drafted for the Jets so it was inevitable, really.Joe (back row, centre): My brother got me into NFL. I started to support the Broncos because my favourite colour is orange, and I've followed them ever since, really.
Roy –– Jacksonville Jaguars
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Bears and their Cubs
Lars, the Norwegian Referee
I can't afford [to travel to other games], it's rather expensive. This is the best way that we can watch NFL games from Norway. It must be hundreds of us who come over. People come from all over Europe for this game.
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The referee is neutral. Today, I hope for overtime!
Daryl (Washington Redskins) and Vanessa (Dallas Cowboys)
Craig, Oli, and Sam –– Jacksonville Jaguars
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Oli: If you'd relocate the team and come here I'd over the moon!