If there is one man who can’t wait to get to the United States for Crystal Palace’s pre-season, it’s Rob Holding: NFL fan, baseball enthusiast and country music guru.
The Eagles head to Annapolis and Tampa to take on Wolves and West Ham, bringing all-Premier League action to an ever-growing and increasingly passionate American fanbase.
Tickets are still available for both games, with Palace first travelling to Annapolis – the capital of the state of Maryland, not far from Washington D.C. – to take on Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday, 31st July (kick-off 20:00 EDT local time / 01:00 BST Thursday UK time) at the 34,000-capacity Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
Palace will then journey to Tampa, Florida, where they will face London rivals West Ham United on Saturday, 3rd August (kick-off 19:00 EDT local time / 00:00 BST Sunday UK time) at the Raymond James Stadium, which seats around 69,000 and is home to NFL outfit Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
For Holding, it’s a chance to bring the very highest level of soccer to the United States – but also a chance to talk about some of his own favourite sports.
“I’m a big NFL guy,” he told the Ryan Ripken Podcast. “I actually saw the [Baltimore] Ravens in London, either last year or the year before. It was when Zay Flowers got his first career touchdown. He got it in London, which is good.
“I did a podcast with [quarterback] Marlon Humphrey when I was, when we were over there on tour as well. I got to hang out with him, he was a cool guy, and then I saw him at the game and he gave me a little shout-out when we were on the sidelines, so that was cool.
“I've got some love for the Ravens. I've actually got a big helmet that they give me.
“It's going to be an exciting year for the Ravens, with Derrick Henry being there now. I mean, we've got some heat in the backfield!”
Holding has set his sights on being among the crowd in the States when the regular season gets back underway, although he may have a tough choice when it comes to which ground to attend.
“My bucket list is to go and see an NFL game in America,” he explained. “I've never been to do the whole tailgating thing and watch a game. I've not been able to do that yet, because of just the way the seasons link up.
“Spending so much time in Northern California, up in Sacramento, the family that I was always with, they were big Niners fans, so I sort of got thrown into the Niners.
“This was before they started getting to all the Conference finals and Super Bowls in the past sort of five years. Every time I say Niners, people go: ‘Oh yeah, he's watched the last three Super Bowls and he thinks he's a Niners fan.’
“But no, I've been loyal to them for a while, and it's nice to see the pushing. They just haven't got over the hump yet, but hopefully this is the year.”
It’s not just football that draws Holding in, however. He fancies his chances with a bat in hand – although admits that it will take some time to shake off his cricketing instincts to smash a few home runs.
His interest in baseball was sparked by a meeting with Bryson Stott, second baseman for the Philadelphia Philles in Major League Baseball.
“The Phillies had a game over here, and I think he did an interview and he shouted me out in it,” Holding says.
“It was actually an ex-girlfriend who went to UNLV out in Vegas. I was flying out to see her, and we went and watched a baseball game.
“She was good friends with Bryson, and then him and his girlfriend came over to London and hung out with us, went to an Arsenal game, and then we went out after and we had a good night together.
“He's a good guy. He's a real good guy, and he brought his bat. He gave me a bat with his signature and his name printed on it and stuff, which was dope.
“I've got that – I think it's next to the side of my bed, just in case I have any burglars, so I'm prepared.”
His MLB connections don’t end there.
“I think we got in the cages when I was in Washington a few years ago, and that was fun,” Holding says. “I was friends with [former Washington Nationals, now Chicago White Sox, pitcher] Erick Fedde.
“He went to UNLV as well, and he was a pitcher at the Nationals, and we went out there. They had a game that day.
“We were just throwing around, and then went in the cages for a bit, and I connected with two, so I'll take it.”
While Holding may have his eye on the destination of the World Series and the Vince Lombardi trophy this coming season, there is still silverware to play for in Annapolis and Tampa.
With Wolves and West Ham also playing one another earlier in the week, the inaugural Stateside Cup trophy will then be awarded to the best-performing team across the three fixtures.
Palace’s recent Premier League meetings with Wolves and West Ham have produced plenty of goals and entertainment – the Eagles defeated both teams at Selhurst Park earlier this season, 3-2 and 5-2 respectively.
Make sure you get down to check out Premier League action across the pond – find your tickets by clicking HERE.
Crystal Palace v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Crystal Palace v West Ham United
I’m a big NFL guy. I've got some love for the Ravens.
—Rob Holding
My bucket list is to go and see an NFL game in America.
—Rob Holding
He gave me a bat with his signature and his name printed on it and stuff, which was dope.
—Rob Holding
