A Northamptonshire-based side embodies the "best qualities" of English football, a fan club says.
A group of Greek football supporters who are "crazy about non-league football" have established a continental fan group of a historic club which they said represented the best "qualities" of the British game.
Konstantinos Tsilimpiou and Nireas Habidis help run Egglezoi, a Greek website which specialises in covering English football, and have started a collaboration with Kettering Town.
The group said it had started supporting the Poppies, of the Southern League Premier Central division, after an idea to follow a non-league side for a feature on its site.
Kettering chairman George Akhtar said he hoped the link-up would help Northamptonshire's Greek community feel "more connected" to the club.
The partnership between the Poppies and Egglezoi, which means Englishmen, sees the club and website share content, including club news, match highlights and interviews on each other's social media platforms.
Mr Tsilimpiou and Mr Habidis have also started an official Kettering Town Greek fan group called Paparunes - the Greek word for Poppies - and have ambitions to one day bring a group of supporters to a Kettering Town game.
The idea to follow Kettering was put forward by Mr Habidis after he had watched two Poppies games on previous visits to England when visiting friends.
He explained that he had first attended a Manchester United game at Old Trafford, but was disappointed with the atmosphere which he described as "totally soulless" and likened to a "tourist attraction".
He said: "Two days later I went to Latimer Park to watch a game and it was so much different... the way people experience the football club.
"It felt amazing and I thought 'this is what English football is all about'. That personal link made it easy to make Kettering the club for our project."
'Everything we love about football'
Mr Tsilimpiou, who lives in Athens, said the "passion" of English football fans had inspired the creation of Egglezoi about 10 years ago.
The group now has tens of thousands of followers across its social media accounts.
He said: "Paparunes started with an idea. Non-league represents everything we love about football. The culture, the atmosphere, the tradition and the community around the football.
"Kettering Town was the best example of all of these. We're excited to bring these qualities of real English football to Greek fans."
He added that the "perfect result" of the collaboration would be to visit Kettering Town and meet the people behind the club and build a "strong friendship that will last for many, many years".
Poppies chairman Mr Akhtar said the club had seen a "spike" in its social media following since teaming up with Egglezoi.
"It's early days in the connection," he said. "We just want to see how it flourishes, but it's an example of how social media reaches every corner of the globe.
"It is a great opportunity to spread our name and our wings. It isn't costing us any money, it's a bit of fun... but there is a big Greek population locally and I hope it will make them feel more connected to our club.
Historic Poppies
Kettering Town have never played in the English Football League, but have a rich history in England's lower leagues.
The Poppies, who last played in the top division of non-league football in 2012, have had a number of well-known managers over the years, including Ron Atkinson and even Paul Gascoigne.
They also made history by becoming the first British club to play with a sponsor on their shirts in 1976.
The club also holds the unique record of having scored more FA Cup goals than any other side in the competition's illustrious history.
Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Related to this story
- The lost ground that was town's 'Angel of the North'
- Brother and sister's plan to revive Kettering Town
- McDonald aims to spark Kettering revival
Related Internet Links
Category: General Sports