The Baggies fans who come from Stateside
West Brom's win in their first match of their mini-tour in California provided a rare chance for Black Country ex-pats to see their heroes up close and personal.
A number of West Brom shirts could be seen in the crowd at Bonney Field stadium, home to Sacramento Republic FC, during Monday's game.
Retired engineer Terry Whitehouse, 68, was one of those watching the team he has supported since he was a young boy - having moved out in 1981, he has not seen a competitive match since 2000.
Originally from Netherton but now living in Pleasanton mr San Francisco, Terry said that he had been looking forward to the team's visit for weeks.
Ahead of the game, he said: "I've been on cloud nine all day. I visited the training camp in the morning and caught the players just as they were heading for their ice baths.
"The first side I remember is the 1954 cup side, with players like Ray Barlow and Ronnie Allen.
"My dad was an Albion so I followed suit. A 10 minute walk from where I lived was the Astle Bridge."
When he moved to the country football was not on television, so he said he started following the American version and the San Francisco 49ers, but as soon as the US channels started showing matches he dropped American football 'like a hot brick'.
About the current team, he added: "I'm very please with the idea of Brown Ideye coming in, he may be another Cyrille Regis in the making , and it would be good if he turned out Iike that.
"But half of the team now I don't recognise because it's been a whole rejig from last season."
Also at Bonney Field stadium to witness the Albion's 1-0 win was Oldbury-born Steven Haines, who made his way to the country as a drummer 17 years ago while on tour with his band Adrenaline Kick and now loves in San Jose.
He is slowly turning his Australian wife into a West Brom fan, and the two sit down together on a Saturday morning to watch every game.
He said: "I was born into this, my mum and dad still live in West Bromwich.
"It was a little bit of a wrench when I came over here and it wasn't on TV, but when it came on I got back into it full on.
"I will switch satellite providers to make sure I can watch the games.
"I was happy they were coming over here just to be able to watch these guys, it was my birthday on Thursday so coming here was my present."
