LONDON — As a teenager growing up in Scotland, Chris Fellowes watched NFL highlights each week during a one-hour television show.
Rams quarterback Jim Everett was among the players that caught his eye, as did the team’s bright colors.
“Glasgow is very dark, gloomy and wet,” Fellowes said on Sunday, “so, a beautiful contrast.”
Fellowes and friends Tom Sloan and Georgia Gorham were among fans in Rams regalia streaming into Wembley Stadium to watch Rams coach Sean McVay lead his team against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Fellowes said he started a team and played American football for 20 years. He has attended more than a dozen Rams games.
“It defines my emotions and well-being,” he said of his fandom. “It’s very important.”
Sloan adopted the Rams because his local soccer team in Darby County is nicknamed the Rams. He said Gorham had no choice but to become a Rams fan as well.
“And then when we got engaged, it became time to get a jersey,” she said.
Claus Rasmussen and his son, Rasmus Kiebitz, traveled to the game from Denmark.
Claus Rasmussen and son Rasmus Kiebitz traveled from Denmark to watch the Rams against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in London.
(Gary Klein / Los Angeles Times)
Rasmussen said he has been a Rams fan since 1999, enjoyed watching Torry Holt and the “Greatest Show on Turf” teams from St. Louis, and once saw the Rams play the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
Puka Nacua and Matthew Stafford are Rasmussen’s current favorite Rams players, and he still holds a soft spot for retired defensive lineman Aaron Donald.
“I hope he comes back,” Rasmussen joked. “He looks fit.”
Tommie Fawkes, his wife Kate and Simon Batten all had different roads to becoming Rams fans.
Rams fans (from left) Tommie Fawkes, Kate Fawkes and Simon Batten stand outside Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday.
(Gary Klein / Los Angeles Times)
Kate was born and raised in Los Angeles.
“Hometown pride always,” she said.
Fawkes said he used to follow the Tennessee Titans, but dropped them for the Rams when he got married. The couple attended a Rams game last year when they visited Kate’s family in Southern California.
Batten, a farmer, said that when he was in school he was going to choose to support either the Houston Texans — because of the bull’s head in their logo — or the Rams.
He opted for the Rams.
“I nearly dropped them when they moved to L.A.,” he said. “But I came back when McVay came in.”