Tommy's first carp Aug 2018

In June 2012 I went on an Iron Maiden fan club trip to America. The tour was called the "Maiden England" tour, and the two shows we were going to see were going to be at Philadelphia and Washington D.C.

Obviously the shows were great and we had a superb time, but something strange happened to me, just as myself and my friends, Sue and Laz were waiting to get into the show at Washington DC

Suddenly this American chap came up to me and said, "Hey! are you Spug?" "Oh no" I thought, "what have I done this time?" I replied "Yes that's me" prepared for any consequences that may follow and this chap replied, "My name is Tommy Williams, we're friends on Facebook, I gotta tell you, I just love your SpugTV blogs and your posts, can I have a picture with you please?"

Blimey this caught me out a bit, a fan (well so to speak) of my tongue-in-cheek, silly videos, "of course mate" I replied, we took the pic, Tommy shot off and me Sue and Laz had a little chuckle, (in a nice way of course)

We became friends over time and then in 2017, I returned to America, again for another two Iron Maiden shows, this time in Brooklyn, New York, on the mind blowingly brilliant "Book of souls" world tour.

With just 4 days to go, I suddenly realised that I had enough time to try and catch a carp from Central Park, but I needed a landing net and licences to do it! I got hold of Tommy and said, "hey dude, can you help me? I need a licence to fish Central park and a landing net?!"

Tommy sorted it out for me and we arranged a days carp fishing in the park, where hopefully, he would catch his first carp too!

Well I caught one, (see video below) but Tommy didn't and I swore that one day, we would catch him his first carp

So roll on a year to Aug 2018, and luckily for us Iron Maiden are on tour again, on the "Legacy of the beast" tour and Tommy is on his way to England, so we arranged a couple of days fishing at "the secret lake" owned by a friend of mine, after the shows at the 02 in London.

The shows were amazing, and on the second night, me and Tommy went for a beer after the show and I quickly popped to see Adrian and say hello, before we crashed out and then travelled back to Norfolk early the next day.

When we slipped into the bar, I couldn't believe it, there was "Sir Pete Springate", as us fisherman call him, one of anglings true legends, (hence the name) he was there with Dave Short, a keen fisherman, who is a bailiff at Redmire and friend of Adrian's I believe. Now that was a "must have" pic for the album!

(shame I look like a big goon, but hey I do in all my pics!!)

We didn't stay too long, but Tommy had a good chat with Pete, and told him we were going carp fishing in the next day or so, and Pete gave him a few tips to help him along the way, not bad aye? you haven't even caught your first carp and Sir Pete has given you advice!!

Still it didn't really matter as "the master of disaster", "Spug" was going to be taking him fishing, pah! Sir Pete, small potatoes! (only joking of course)

Now obviously Tommy didn't know who Pete was, but when I explained things to him, Tommy was quite impressed!

What that little meeting did do though, so set up a great little story for our fishing trip and consequently our film of it!

Hope you enjoy it!