The 2013 Big Ben UK Tour

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July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London994 viewsBen with Kelly Raynor.

"Had the most amazing time at Ben's meet and greet in London, in fact I'm still buzzing 24hrs on and I think I have probably been pretty unbearable all day. Got my shirt signed, my photo taken and of course Ben was the perfect gentleman answering everyone's questions and really taking the time with all of us. This was a once in a lifetime experience and a night I will never forget. Even got to see myself on Sky Sports this morning sitting next to the man himself." -- KellyJul 03, 2013

July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London995 viewsKelly was thrilled to see herself in a Sky Sports broadcast on the event sitting right next to "the man himself"!

Photo: Kelly RaynorJul 03, 2013

July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London984 viewsKelly finally got her #7 jersey signed!Jul 03, 2013

July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London1246 viewsBen with KB Jones.

"Great evening at the Grosvenor House with Big Ben talking football, game winning plays and golf!" - K.B.
Jul 03, 2013

July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London1001 viewsBen with Lauren Carrington.

"It was awesome - surreal to see him drawing up a play to show us and watching that Super Bowl footage with him sitting right there was incredible. What an amazing night, I still can't believe it happened! He seemed like such a humble and genuine guy. Thoroughly enjoyed myself." -- LaurenJul 03, 2013

July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London993 viewsBen with Simon Chester, wearing a Big Ben Miami jersey!

"As a Steeler fan since the age of 10 and now staring 40 hard in the face I have seen a number of Quarterbacks under centre for the Pittsburgh Steelers but having missed the Golden Age of Terry Bradshaw I never appreciated the position as much as when the Steelers drafted Ben in 2004.

I do not consider myself to be "starstruck" by celebrities at all given that my day job is working on concerts and sporting events I meet a lot of "stars" on a daily basis but have to admit a sense of awe when seeing Ben walk into the room to meet the fans.

Looking surprisingly refreshed and relaxed given he had only arrived in the country that morning and following a busy day doing press events I found Ben to be engaging and humorous as he answered the hosts questions or those from the fans. He seemed to be genuinely pleased to see so many Steeler fans in attendance and was especially taken by a banner made by our Steeler Nation UK fan club keen to have a photo taken with it.

While all the questions, were I am sure ones he had had many times before, he seemed happy to talk to an excited groups of fans eager to hear him talk. It was good to hear his confidence in his young offensive line and his confidence the ability of Heath Miller to be back in time for the start of the season.

He stopped short of guaranteeing a Superbowl victory but inspired the attending fans by suggesting he had high expectations for the season ahead. When he watched highlights of his Superbowl winning pass against Arizona you could feel the pride and passion as he talked about the emotions of that moment and at the same time the sense of unhappiness and disappointed he felt personally after Superbowl XL despite the victory.

At the end of the session Ben very graciously posed for photos and signed an item for every fan there finally posing for some group shots at the end much to the delight of everyone.

I briefly spoke with his wife who was watching at the back of the room, and found her to be as engaging and gracious as her husband, and there is no doubt all the fans there had had a fantastic given the conversations we had as we left the hotel." -- Simon Chester
Jul 03, 2013

July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London1327 viewsBen and Jets-UK fan Bill Badger.

"I was taken aback at how down to earth and unassuming Ben was. Even though I am a Jets fan I have always been a fan of Benâ€™s and it was great that he seemed to be as happy to be there as we were! He didnâ€™t try to rush off, he had time for everyone and even asked for a photo with everyone in front of the Steelers UK flag which was terrific. Thought I was lucky to get a place and very lucky to have been able to be part of such a unique event." -- Bill

Jul 03, 2013

July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London2632 views"Ta da!!!!"

Ben poses in front of the Steeler Nation UK banner!

Photo: Andrew DuncanJul 02, 2013

July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London1272 viewsBen poses with fan Andrew Duncan at the NFL-UK Meet & Greet.

Andrew wanted to give those fans that were not in attendance an idea of what transpired at the Meet & Greet between Ben and NFL-UK fans last evening at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London:

Tuesday evening in London, England there was a unique event put on by the NFL to promote the International Series football games that will be played during the regular season at Wembley Stadium.

Twenty six English football fans were invited to attend a meet and greet session with Ben Roethlisberger. The audience wasnâ€™t entirely made up of Steelers fans, but as will happen in September when the Steelers play the Vikings, Steeler Nation UK were out in force.

Via the Steeler Nation UK Facebook group, many fans were encouraged to enter their names with NFL UK to ensure Ben was greeted by a friendly audience. Steeler Nation met up in Henrys Bar, Piccadilly, which will be the meeting place for Steeler fans from around the world in September the evening before the Minnesota game.

The proud sight of Steeler fans, dressed in their Ben shirts with their Terrible Towels walking the streets of London to the Grosvenor House Hotel would have a sight for English sore eyes. With a few fans of other NFL teams in the room, twenty UK Steeler fans made their entrance and overwhelmed the event with a sea of black and gold.

Ben appeared and was introduced to the fans by Neil Reynolds, Sky TV presenter. To begin the session, Neil showed a clip of Ben avoiding tackles against a Dallas defense and asked if there was any logic in what Ben was doing as he ran around the field trying to find an open receiver. Ben retorted that the first thing he intended was to try and not get hit!

Saying he recalled the play, Ben continued to explain what happened against â€œthe perfect defenseâ€ shown in the clip eventually making a completion to the ever reliable Heath Miller.

Neil suggested the improvising shown in the clip was playground football and Ben agreed, commenting that he grew up playing football in the backyard and playing in the schoolyard, "My competitiveness doesnâ€™t allow me to just give up on a play. I canâ€™t do it. As coaches know, we live by the sword, we die by the sword."

Ben moved on with his talk by expressing the feelings of coming to London to play football and how excited he was to tell his teammates that, "weâ€™re going there because we have fans there. It makes me happy, itâ€™ll make the guys happy and I have always said the Steeler fans are the best fans in sports. Weâ€™re playing for the fans and thatâ€™s whatâ€™s exciting. Itâ€™s not just about making money for the NFL, itâ€™s about playing for the fans."

Looking at one of the Terrible Towels the fans were holding, Neil suggested that he shouldnâ€™t touch it as he wasnâ€™t a Steeler fan. Ben laughed and commented, â€œYou can touch it. But donâ€™t disrespect it. Donâ€™t step on it. Just donâ€™t do anything bad with it.â€

During the question and answer session with the audience, Ben responded to questions that included his golf enthusiasm, his memories of the first game as a Steeler, the return of Heath Miller and the changing personnel, his favourite and the worst place to play (Baltimore).

Ben then moved to a flip chart to draw Xs and Os for a couple of plays that could happen on the field. Ben first joked that he would draw the whole playbook, before suggesting Pictionary. Addressing the enthralled fans, Ben drew a base play describing each move and option.

He also explained that NFL playbooks change every week and players have four or five days to learn the new plays, the terminology and what everyone is doing. Acknowledging that there could be 210 plays in a game plan, for each game, Ben confirmed he would talk to offensive co-ordinator Todd Haley every Friday and if he didnâ€™t like a play he can ask the coach to take it out.

When the Steeler Nation UK flag was unravelled, Ben was very enthused and keen to have his photo taken with it and the fans.

The session ended with Ben having his photo taken individually with each fan.

*Thank you Andrew!Jul 02, 2013

July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London1239 viewsAnswering questions from fans.

Photo: Andrew Duncan

*CLICK on LAST UPLOADS (above) to see photos in the proper order!Jul 02, 2013

July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London1193 viewsFans asked questions of Ben during the Meet & Greet which was held at The Grosvenor House Hotel in Londonâ€™s Park Lane.

Photo: Andrew DuncanJul 02, 2013

July 2, 2013 - Big Ben in London1671 viewsBen puts on a little game planning seminar.

Photo: Andrew DuncanJul 02, 2013

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