Bob’s brother traced the family history back to the 17th century where a William Emley travelled from the village to the new developing country across the Atlantic.

Bob says of his lineage: "William Emley from the Emley village area came to America in the 1670s after purchasing shares of the 'Concessions and Agreements of the Proprietors, Freeholders and Inhabitants of the Province of West New Jersey’. It was described as purchased by Yorkshire merchants and London businessmen, almost all the them Quakers”.

Now retired, the Emley couple have swapped jobs in education for walking trips in far flung places around the world - including Mount Everest and New Zealand. So during a recent visit to the UK to do Wainwright's Coast to Coast walk, Bob decided he would take a detour and visit Emley. He took in the picturesque St Michael’s Church, the Millennium Green and, of course, and the famous TV and communications tower.

According to Bob, the family are a "soccer family” as both his sons played from an early age, so he was delighted to find Emley had a football club. Approaching the ground, Bob and Luann met Emley AFC volunteer Barrie Pettinger who gave the transatlantic travellers a tour of the facilities.

"Our conversation with Barrie was so informative. He gave us a tour of the team locker rooms, stands and soccer field, described the history/development of the team and the process of semi-professional football in England," said Bob who also bought merchandise from the Emley club shop.

Unfortunately Bob didn't get to see a game but he was glad to get to see where his ancestors, and his surname came from: "I thought it would be nice to get a visual understanding of the countryside, the village and some sense from where our family originated. We unfortunately didn't have time to stay for the a game or stop by the local pub for a pint and conversation. Maybe next time."