'Football Manager' Player Travels from Brazil to Watch Blyth Spartans

What's the farthest you've ever travelled for a non-league football game?

Chances are you might be outdone by Brazilian fanatic Lucas Martins, who made the trip to Northumberland to watch his favourite team—seventh-tier Blyth Spartans.

The 21-year-old Martins was given quite the reception at Croft Park, meeting the team and making the local papers before witnessing a 2-1 win over Salford City last week.

But to make things even more extraordinary, he revealed that he started supporting Blyth after playing Football Manager.

"I first became interested in Blyth Spartans around 2008 or 2009, while playing Football Manager," he told Spencer Brown of the Chronicle Live. "I had played the game ever since I was a little kid with my older cousin, but had always picked my hometown club, or Manchester United."

Martins, who lives in Sao Paulo, said he used to be a Manchester United fan but became disillusioned with the club following Sir Alex Ferguson's departure.

"

I didn’t know this trip to Blyth would become such a big story, honestly.

— Lucas Martins (@sportswithlucas) February 2, 2016"

"I decided I needed a new challenge—to manage a club without resources and in a lower league," he said. "I decided I was going to pick a club from the very last league available in England and the name ‘Spartans’ really appealed to me.

"After a few years playing Football Manager as manager of Blyth and achieving moderate success, I got attached to the club and went on the Internet to get some news and follow the real club’s matches."

Soon after, he was "hooked," and now he follows the club when he can on the radio and on social media.

While on holiday in Berlin, he was fortunate enough for a home game to fit into his schedule, though it still was a tough ask. 

"The journey to and from Blyth was a long, crazy one, lasting 35 hours, including four flights (from Berlin to London, from London to Edinburgh and back), two coaches (from Edinburgh to Newcastle and back) and lifts to and from Blyth with their media team," he said.

Get that man a medal.

[Chronicle Live, Twitter, BBC Newcastle]