July 4th, 2013 - Big Ben in Ireland1684 viewsAn early morning round of interviews with the local Irish media for Ben at the beautiful home of Ambassador Rooney.
Photo: Burt Lauten, Steelers Jul 04, 2013
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July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London1245 viewsLook kids! Big Ben....Parliament!
Photo: AP Jul 03, 2013
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July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London1136 viewsBen with Trevor Martin.
Many Fans of Ben and the Steelers will be looking forward to the international series game in London this year. I have never been able to visit the great city of Pittsburgh to watch my beloved Steelers play but have supported them from across the pond for some 40 years!
NFL UK arranged for Ben Roethlisberger to spend an hour in a fan forum with just 30 invitees to win a place at this one had to sign up on their website and apply for Union Jax membership which states â€Opt-in to the Jaguars Fan Club!:
Yes! I want to join the Jacksonville Jaguars UK fan club allowing me to win some amazing prizes and access to exclusive events.†OK I lied!
However the chance to partake in this meet and greet event assuaged my conscience.
Friday morning I got the call from NFL you have been selected to meet Ben on Tuesday would you be able to come?
I wanted to scream, 'try keeping me away' but as I work in a busy office I remained calm..ish. The anticipation for the next four days was huge and I still had to work Tuesday but arranged to leave early to ensure I made it on time.
Members of the Facebook group Steeler Nation UK who had also got the call arranged a nearby Pub to meet in and the seen was set. We walked as a group to the hotel some 15 Steelers fans including 1 who tagged along on the off chance someone would not turn up! – she got lucky and was invited to the meet.
We were shown to the meeting room and were kindly given Photos and Caps and Sky Sports NFL presenter Nick Reynolds arrived to host the meet. About to give Ben a big build up Ben strolled into the room to spontaneous applause that stopped the presenter in his tracks...first laugh of the evening. Ben’s honest, open, and thoughtful answers to questions, not just from host Neil, but from the audience of 30 were an insight into a man who whilst at the top of his sport appreciates the fans. Us Brits are not as familiar with the X’s and O’s as perhaps those brought up playing in school so Ben demonstrated how it works with a “simple†play. He seemed genuinely surprised at the knowledge and enthusiasm of those of us attending.
The Steeler Nation UK Flag some 8 foot wide which is the name of the UK fans website and Facebook group certainly made an impact as his signature now graces it. Ben extended the time from an hour to get a Photo with all those attending and the flag! This was filmed for SKY TV (Britains large satellite broadcaster) and when Ben appeared live on Sky Sports News on Friday Morning he repeated his comment “The feeling is we are coming to London to play football, but seeing the fans, I’m excited to go back to my teammates and tell them we’re not just going there for the NFL, we’re going there because we have fans there.
It makes me happy, it’ll makes the guys happy and I have always said the Steeler fans are the best fans in sports. We’re playing for the fans and that’s what’s exciting. It’s not just about making money for the NFL, it’s about playing for the fans.â€
That was a comment that made all of us proud to support the Steelers and Big Ben!
Perhaps the most interesting reaction to our most lucky evening was probably on return to the bar to share our thoughts on the event. A gentleman noticing all the Pittsburgh Steeler Shirts came across as a resident of the Burgh to ask why we were there. When he found out who we had met he was rather jealous to put it mildly.
Meeting Ben Roethlisberger still feels like a dream 24 hours later. I was honoured and privileged to meet a superstar of the NFL who plays for the greatest team! -- Trevor
*Thank you Trevor!
Jul 03, 2013
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July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London1167 viewsClare Horscroft and Kelly Raynor await Ben's arrival.
Photo: Trevor MartinJul 03, 2013
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July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London993 viewsBen with Kelly Raynor.
"Had the most amazing time at Ben's meet and greet in London, in fact I'm still buzzing 24hrs on and I think I have probably been pretty unbearable all day. Got my shirt signed, my photo taken and of course Ben was the perfect gentleman answering everyone's questions and really taking the time with all of us. This was a once in a lifetime experience and a night I will never forget. Even got to see myself on Sky Sports this morning sitting next to the man himself." -- KellyJul 03, 2013
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July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London995 viewsKelly was thrilled to see herself in a Sky Sports broadcast on the event sitting right next to "the man himself"!
Photo: Kelly RaynorJul 03, 2013
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July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London984 viewsKelly finally got her #7 jersey signed!Jul 03, 2013
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July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London1246 viewsBen with KB Jones.
"Great evening at the Grosvenor House with Big Ben talking football, game winning plays and golf!" - K.B.
Jul 03, 2013
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July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London1001 viewsBen with Lauren Carrington.
"It was awesome - surreal to see him drawing up a play to show us and watching that Super Bowl footage with him sitting right there was incredible. What an amazing night, I still can't believe it happened! He seemed like such a humble and genuine guy. Thoroughly enjoyed myself." -- LaurenJul 03, 2013
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July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London993 viewsBen with Simon Chester, wearing a Big Ben Miami jersey!
"As a Steeler fan since the age of 10 and now staring 40 hard in the face I have seen a number of Quarterbacks under centre for the Pittsburgh Steelers but having missed the Golden Age of Terry Bradshaw I never appreciated the position as much as when the Steelers drafted Ben in 2004.
I do not consider myself to be "starstruck" by celebrities at all given that my day job is working on concerts and sporting events I meet a lot of "stars" on a daily basis but have to admit a sense of awe when seeing Ben walk into the room to meet the fans.
Looking surprisingly refreshed and relaxed given he had only arrived in the country that morning and following a busy day doing press events I found Ben to be engaging and humorous as he answered the hosts questions or those from the fans. He seemed to be genuinely pleased to see so many Steeler fans in attendance and was especially taken by a banner made by our Steeler Nation UK fan club keen to have a photo taken with it.
While all the questions, were I am sure ones he had had many times before, he seemed happy to talk to an excited groups of fans eager to hear him talk. It was good to hear his confidence in his young offensive line and his confidence the ability of Heath Miller to be back in time for the start of the season.
He stopped short of guaranteeing a Superbowl victory but inspired the attending fans by suggesting he had high expectations for the season ahead. When he watched highlights of his Superbowl winning pass against Arizona you could feel the pride and passion as he talked about the emotions of that moment and at the same time the sense of unhappiness and disappointed he felt personally after Superbowl XL despite the victory.
At the end of the session Ben very graciously posed for photos and signed an item for every fan there finally posing for some group shots at the end much to the delight of everyone.
I briefly spoke with his wife who was watching at the back of the room, and found her to be as engaging and gracious as her husband, and there is no doubt all the fans there had had a fantastic given the conversations we had as we left the hotel." -- Simon Chester
Jul 03, 2013
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July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London1327 viewsBen and Jets-UK fan Bill Badger.
"I was taken aback at how down to earth and unassuming Ben was. Even though I am a Jets fan I have always been a fan of Ben’s and it was great that he seemed to be as happy to be there as we were! He didn’t try to rush off, he had time for everyone and even asked for a photo with everyone in front of the Steelers UK flag which was terrific. Thought I was lucky to get a place and very lucky to have been able to be part of such a unique event." -- Bill
Jul 03, 2013
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July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London2629 views"Ta da!!!!"
Ben poses in front of the Steeler Nation UK banner!
Photo: Andrew DuncanJul 02, 2013
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