THEY say news travels fast and that’s certainly true for one man who manages to keep abreast of all that goes on here in Swindon, despite living just one mile away from the Big Apple in New York.

Simon Rumbold, 29, who lives in Stamford, reads the Adver online every day and is most likely better informed about what happens in Swindon than some who live here.

Simon, who has been in America for 10 years, teaches football (soccer to the Americans) in schools, colleges and summer camps and is a keen follower of all the sports news in the Adver.

He held a Swindon Town season ticket before he moved to the States and still likes to keep a keen eye on the club’s progress.

Mum Sarah, 56, of Blunsdon, said: “He is a real home lad and he likes to keep up with all the sport in Swindon. Being a former season ticket holder at Swindon Town he still likes to follow them closely.”

Simon was brought up in Blunsdon and attended Cirencester College before moving to the States to studying English at Cleveland State University.

He initially wanted to become a journalist after graduating but soon decided his real calling was teaching the Americans how to play England’s most famous sport.

Sarah said: “He has really landed on his feet and has a lovely life. He loves his football coaching and he works 7 days a week.”

Last month Simon’s family made the 3,000 mile trip to New York to celebrate his marriage to fiancé Kara on May 28.

Sarah said: “We were there for two weeks for the wedding and it was absolutely wonderful, we wouldn’t have changed a thing.

“Sometimes if Simon can’t get home for Christmas we go over in January or February and it’s absolutely freezing. But last month the weather was glorious.”

His gran Delia Davis, 81, of Highworth, said: “I think it’s great that he still keeps up to date with the news in Swindon.

“He often tells us things that are happening before we know about them.”