This tractor boy out to sink Norwich
DEVON knows George Friend will have some stand- out support today. You won’t be able to miss them, looking for a ‘ quiche’ of the action – just keep an eye out for the wellies, fl at caps and the occasional tractor parked up on Wembley Way.
Among the 38,000 fans backing Middlesbrough in the £ 120 million Championship play- off fi nal against Norwich, will be a band of Friend’s family and pals enjoying a full- on jolly from the defender’s native West Country.
Mum Christa and dad Andrew lead the fan club and Friend said: “My dad has become well known for bringing plenty of food to games, great big quiches and stuff like that. Whoever’s sat next to him will get plenty to eat.”
Barnstaple- born full- back Friend hails from proud farming stock and said: “There’s quite a few family and friends coming up – farmers taking the trip out of Devon to come to Wembley!
“They’ll probably get lost on the tube or something, so they won’t make it for kick- off. You won’t be able to miss them, they’ll be the ones wearing welly boots and fl at caps, with their tractors parked on Wembley Way, that kind of thing.” Distance has proved no obstacle to Friend’s nearest and dearest continuing to support their man.
“There’s a direct train service from Tiverton Parkway near my family base up to Darlington, it’s about seven hours in all and my parents are regulars.
“Dad likes to walk up and down each carriage having a chat with everyone. If you’ve been on that line, you’ll have bumped into him.
“Teessiders are great people and have been very welcoming to me and my family,” added Friend, who moved to the North- east in a £ 100,000 move from Doncaster in 2012.”
Friend hopes to put Teesside back on the map by helping Boro end their six- year exile from the top fl ight and said: “This part of the world gets an unfair reputation but often it’s judged by people who haven’t even been here.
“I’m from the south but have lived most of my adult life in the north and I love it here. Don’t knock Teesside until you’ve tried it.” prove it at Wembley today in the Championship play- off.
“I don’t think anybody really knew me when I arrived – not even most of the players,” he said.
“But that may have helped me because there were no preconceptions and I haven’t had to change one thing in my football philosophy.”
Since he replaced Neil Adams, Norwich have been arguably the most consistent side in the Championship, winning 16 and losing three of his 24 games in charge.