PLENTY of Southend United supporters follow the team’s fortunes from afar.

But hardly any of them can be further away than Dimitri Panagis.

For the 18-year-old regularly tracks the action at Roots Hall, despite being more than 11,000 miles away in Adelaide, Australia.

“I have known about Southend for eight years when I was playing Championship Manager with my older cousin on the computer,” explained Panagis.

“Back then you had to apply for a team to manage.

“I applied for 20 teams and the only team that accepted me was Southend. Tes Bramble was on fire for me that season and ever since then my interest in the club has continued to grow.”

As a result, Panagis now stays awake until the early hours of the morning to listen to live commentary of Blues’ matches online.

He also regularly visits various Southend websites.

But his interest in the Blues confuses most other Australians.

“Everyone I know around here either supports Liverpool, Man United, Arsenal or Chelsea,” said Panagis.

“They laugh at me for supporting a club that they haven’t even heard of, but I’m proud to be a Shrimper and I will always be a Shrimper!

“I also let them know who is the only team in England that has a 100 per cent record over Man United and I have managed to convert three other mates. They now follow the club too but not quite as much as I do.”

Panagis lists Neil Harris, Bilel Mohsni, Mark Phillips, Blair Sturrock and Anthony Grant as his favourite Blues players.

And he dreams of one day coming over to England to his side play live.

“Hopefully in the years to come I can come to Essex for a holiday and watch Southend,” said Panagis. “Hopefully we will be in the Championship and at Fossetts Farm too.”