By Ben Hambrook
In 2019, after four and a half years of studying and taking numerous exams, I passed The Knowledge to become a London black taxi driver.
Since becoming a cabbie, I can proudly say it has been totally worth it, and the best decision I made.
Getting to drive the famous streets of London every day never gets old. There’s history around every corner, and each landmark tells a story hundreds of years old. I’m reminded quite often just how iconic the London taxi is whenever tourists stop to take pictures.
There are many hidden gems and interesting facts tucked away. Here are a few examples…
Brydges Place, located off St Martin’s Lane, running 200 yards alongside the London Coliseum, is London’s narrowest alley. At its tightest point, it narrows to just 15 inches (38cm) wide.
A great little bagel shop in the heart of Soho called “It’s Bagels”.
They did a great job during the London NFL games when the Jets came over to play the Broncos.
Then there’s this statue that’s actually called “Taxi”.
It was made in 1983 by American sculptor John Seward Johnson Jr.
It originally stood on Park Avenue and 47th Street in New York. Since 2014 it has stood on John Carpenter Street, in the City of London.
So that brings me nicely onto my fandom for the New York Jets.
It all started back in 2023. Having been a passionate football fan all my life (soccer for the US readers), and Arsenal supporter, I’d got to the point where my love for the game had dwindled, mainly due to the introduction of VAR. I just found I’d lost that connection that I once had.
I was listening to the UK radio station Talksport one day, and they were previewing the upcoming NFL season. I’d never shown an interest in it before, didn’t know a thing about it, other than one of the players throws the ball to his teammates, and that scoring was called a touchdown, that was about it. I was intrigued listening to the presenters, so I thought I’d watch a game or two on YouTube. I had to Google all the rules, what a down meant, and all of the positions. But as I started to study and understand the X’s and O’s, I very quickly became hooked, and have been ever since. I’m just gutted that it’s taken me this long in life to discover this fantastic sport. My new passion had begun.
So why the Jets? As I quite often get asked by our American friends when they jump in the back of my cab, clocking the numerous Jets stickers in the cab.
As I tried to settle on a team, it soon became clear that it was to be the Jets. It was just something about the name and location that reeled me in.
I’ve now been to both London games most recently against the Vikings & Broncos, and even though we lost both, I still absolutely loved it. I’m planning a trip to JetLife very soon, the first of many to come.
Last year I was lucky enough to meet Quincy Williams and Harrison Phillips at a player meet in the New Era shop, Carnaby Street.
Earlier this year, I was approached by the New York Jets in the UK to take some “fans” on a mini tour around the landmarks, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey & Downing Street. Little did I know, the “fans” were actually Jets player Marcelino McCrary-Ball. It was a pleasant surprise, and I got to show him around and had a nice chat with him, he’s a top man, and it was a great thing to be able to do.
I get the chance to talk to many people about American football in the taxi, especially the Americans. They love the fact that a London taxi driver actually knows about the sport, let alone follows a team. And it’s funny seeing their reaction when I bring up college football, as if to say, “how do you even know about that?”. When they tell me where they’re from in the US and I bring up their college team, their reaction is basically: “How in the world have you heard of them?”
I may not have been a Jets fan for very long, but I’ve come to learn through years of heartache and losing season after season, with no playoff football for the past 15 seasons now, that the New York Jets fans are still the most loyal and die-hard supporters in the NFL. And I can’t wait to be part of this fanbase that watches the team get back to winning ways, en route to lifting the famous Lombardi Trophy.
J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets!
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