Someone is trying to make Sunderland AFC the most popular football club in North Korea; 26-year-old Tom Fowdy hopes flooding Pyongyang with Black Cats shirts will help win over fans in communist country.
Byline: Ian Johnson
A Sunderland AFC fan wants to make the Black Cats the biggest club - in North Korea.
Tom Fowdy thinks the secretive communist state could be the perfect place to find new fans.
And he's planning on winning over North Koreans by donatingSunderlandshirts to them.
"(It will allow) North Korean people to have more access to them than any other foreign football club in the world," said the 26-year-old.
"Whilst North Koreans are more aware of international football than most people realize, their access to direct merchandise is extremely limited, sometimes jerseys do trickle in from China, but never has this been done as part of a consistent or organised effort."
Tompreviously made national headlineswhen his firm, Visit North Korea, sponsoredBlyth Spartans.
He admits facing an uphill battle.
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The businessman, who operates tourism trips to the closed state, says people in Pyongyang know "very little" about Sunderland.
"Some in Pyongyang might be vaguely familiar with the name due to its time in thePremier League, but that is it.
"It's likely most have never heard of it," admits Sunderland-born Tom.
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But Tom lives and works in Asia. Through work, he's possibly spent more time behind Korea's iron curtain than most in the North East.
Knowing the people and culture like he does, he doesn't foresee a struggle in convincing a nation of people who aren't even supposed to watch Premier League footy to start supportinga League One side.
"North Korean people are very curious about the outside world and have a fond appreciation for foreigners who show an interest in their country and culture," said Tom.
"The gratitude they would have for such an effort will ultimately overcome any limitations which Sunderland's profile as a club might face."
And if there's one thing that can overcome seemingly insurmountable political and cultural hurdles, it is the beautiful game.
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According to Tom...
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