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Move over soccer, the Buccaneers are in town

Posted Oct 22, 2009 by Paul Stewart

Updated Oct 22, 2009 at 07:56 AM

“They’re changing the guard at Buckingham Palace”.  Davin Joseph is down there with Alice.

Apologies to AA Milne but the only guards making the news this weekend will be the ones either side of Jeff Faine.  And instead for one day, blitz will not refer to the German aerial bombardment of London during World War 2.

Because the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New England Patriots play the third International Series game at Wembley Stadium on Sunday as the NFL continues its attempt to make even more money (sorry spread the word of the game) around the world.

British fans, contrary to popular American opinion, really do get gridiron.  Yes we call soccer “football” and this is “American Football” but at Wembley on Sunday, there will be 86,000 fans who know a zone blitz from a red dog, a bunch formation from a wildcat and definitely know who Erin Andrews is.

And yes they will be aware that the 0-6 Bucs v the 59-0 Patriots is a match-up along the lines of Christians at Lions (and I don’t mean the Detroit variety).  But the records of the two teams are almost secondary to a day when British NFL fans flock to the home of footb .. sorry soccer, for one day of cross-Atlantic indulgence.

The Bucs arrive Friday evening, have a walk through practice at the stadium on Saturday and then play the game Sunday.  But they send in an advance guard as the cheerleaders have been in town for two days already.  Who said that marketing doesn’t work in this country?

And for the 300+ members of the British Bucs fan club, this is the crowning moment of the 25-year history of the club.  Instead of flying 4,000 miles to see their team play at Raymond James Stadium, Mecca has come to them this time.  All they need know is for an upset along the lines of Daniel over Goliath.  Anyone got a slingshot they can send over?