A jet-setting Albion fan is making a 13,000-mile round trip to see his beloved Seagulls play the last game of the season for the 14th year in a row.
Peter Jackson has continued his long tradition of flying from his Malaysian home to follow the Seagulls after flying in for the victory against Leeds on Saturday, April 27.
He will head home again after Wolves’ visit this weekend but has vowed to return for a flying one-day visit in time for the play-off final if Albion get there.
The father-of five is one of a group of international supporters from around the globe who take to the skies every year to catch the end of the season.
They include fans from the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Tunisia, Singapore, South America, Japan and the Isle of Man who often travel back for the end of the season.
Mr Jackson arrived in London with a fellow Albion exile from Sydney on Friday afternoon and rushed off to see promotion rivals Leicester for their Friday night game against Watford before driving to Leeds after the game.
After taking in the Leeds game, the pair went on a tour of American Express Community Stadium yesterday (April 30) before heading to Millwall versus Crystal Palace last night.
The final leg of the football marathon will see the pair heading to the Amex on Saturday but Mr Jackson has vowed to return for any potential play-off final.
The 63-year-old has been following the club since 1977 and saw both FA Cup finals in 1983 and the Notts County play-off final in 1991.
He lived in Haywards Heath before moving to London and then Kuala Lumpur with his Malaysian wife 18 years ago.
Late-night listening
Mr Jackson listens to the club’s matches on the internet, sometimes finishing at 1am local time on a Saturday night.
His Albion love has been passed down to his 20-year-old son Joe who currently travels to Albion games from the University of Southampton.
He said: “I have come back for promotion parties, relegation wakes and mediocrity over the years.
“There’s a whole lot of us on a mailing list that since the internet started have been able to keep up to date with Albion news.
“Malaysia is a great place to live and I wouldn’t swap it for seeing Albion every week.
“It’s great that we are in the play-offs. I think we have a 50% chance.”
Are you travelling from overseas to see Albion’s final games of the season?
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