For The Wellermen, the road into NFL fandom didn’t begin with fantasy leagues or Sunday rituals, but with curiosity, chance and a running back who didn’t feel quite real.

“I think the big one for me,” Jonny Stewart recalls, “would have been when I was in high school, when LaDainian Tomlinson had his crazy season.” At the time, the NFL barely registered in his day-to-day life. “I wasn’t aware all that much of the NFL being covered in the UK,” he admits, “but when a friend at boarding school casually dropped a line — “this guy just had one of the most ridiculous rushing seasons ever” — curiosity kicked in. I was like, “What’s rushing?”

That blend of discovery and obsession now runs through the band’s relationship with the sport. Asked which member would stand the best chance of surviving a single NFL play, Stewart doesn’t hesitate. “Probably me — just through sheer size,” he says. “Put me in the line or at tight end. I like working hard for the team and doing the dirty work… I’d be broken afterwards, but less broken than the others would be.”

It’s said with humour, but the underlying respect for teamwork is genuine. It’s the same instinct that draws Stewart to another pillar of American football culture: tailgating.

“It’s definitely a part of the culture that I wish was more prevalent for football games over here,” he says, remembering attending a Buffalo Bills away game in Carolina. “The Bills fans put on this massive tailgate event — people jumping through tables and Pinto Ron covering himself with ketchup and mustard… It’s a really, really heartwarming kind of way to be together.”

That sense of community doesn’t always mean beers from dawn, though. “A lot of the time,” Stewart explains, “I sing in Sunday morning church services, and Luke is a very active church community member… We’re more likely to be in church and then go to the game, rather than always being on the beers from 9am.”

Community, connection and shared experience also underpin the band’s current creative phase. Asked about their latest output, Stewart laughs. “I’m not sure if we’re talking about the single that came out a couple of weeks ago or the EP that’s about to come out.” he admits, before explaining that the EP is “a collection of some of our favourite songs that we’ve done on tour, but couldn’t quite fit on either the last album or the upcoming album. It’s kind of distilling the very best of what we do in a really punchy EP format.”

The recent single, meanwhile, taps into a quieter emotional space. “It just talks about missing an important person. It’s a very poignant feeling for us, especially having to travel so much for work.” Stewart pauses, then adds, “I could imagine it’d be the same for NFL players as well — being away from home and not being able to see their partners. It’s something people could definitely relate to.”

Would NFL fans connect with a sea shanty EP? Stewart is cautious. “I’m not sure how many NFL fans are sea shanty fans — it’s a bit of an odd crossover,” he admits, before considering one track that might bridge the gap.

“It’s kind of like a chant pub song… a real thump-along tune about this guy who thinks that he’s going to get to be this great big sailor, but signs on to the wrong ship, they get attacked, he loses both his legs and just kind of regrets everything,” he muses. “The content is not very fun, but it’s a great song to sing along to.”

Judging by the response so far, people are listening. “I was working at a lumber yard a year ago,” Stewart says. “So the fact that people are willing to come out and support us across the globe is very surreal.” A recent European tour, particularly in Germany, underlined that reach. “With Germany being a rising hotbed for NFL as well,” he smiles, “I’d love to see a game out there.”

Having previously disclosed an interest in their Anglo-American lineup singing both anthems before a game, Stewart closes with another brainwave. “Forget Wembley,” he says. “Let’s do Munich or Berlin!”

For a full-length feature on The Wellermen, pick up a copy of Gridiron Digital Extra #9. For more on the band, visit www.thewellermen.com