A Detroit Lions fan who lives in England has identified the Michigan family that introduced him to the passion 40 years ago. “It was pretty emotional; I was stunned, I have to say,” remarked Alan Bolchover.

Bolchover lives in London but has been a Lions fan ever since 1985. At eleven years old, he was in Ireland on vacation and wound up on a horseback excursion with a family from Detroit.

“I think they might have been the first Americans that I’d ever met,” he remarked. “I mean, for me, they were just so glamorous; I mean, it sounds ridiculous, right? This family is from Detroit, but they were so glamorous, and I’d met them, and of course they were talking about sports, and I adore sports.”

He stated that the family taught him about the glory of Lions football and gave him a Lions hat, and he’s been a genuine fan ever since.

Last month, prior to the NFC Championship Game, he posted on a Detroit Lions Facebook page, claiming he was looking for the Michigan family he met 40 years ago.

“When I uploaded that, I was always thinking, Are people going to believe there’s some limey who’s never been to Detroit now talking about his love of the Lions, but he’s never actually there? So, there’s a little portion of me that was a bit hesitant about posting it. But in fact, it’s been 100% good and so encouraging, so welcome, and so nice.”

He ended up discovering the family; they even had photos from that day. “Through this grainy old 1985 photo, taken with some old camera, I immediately recognized myself,” said Bolchover.

He stated he hopes to make a trip to Detroit shortly to meet the family, visit the city, and, of course, catch a lion’s game.

“I’ve got an insight into the people and the hearts of those who reside in Michigan and Detroit. They’ve truly inspired me and made me feel incredibly joyful.”