"If there was a heartbeat of what this group is, that was Ian."

As much as the UK and German Sea Hawkers are thrilled to see their team finally play in London, Sunday isn't just about a football game, but also about celebrating a friend they lost too soon.

Ian Robert Smith, served as president of the UK Sea Hawkers and also had a hand in the founding of the German chapter, passed away in 2016 following a stroke. Were he still here today, Smith "would have been absolutely in heaven" knowing the Seahawks were playing in London, Wilson said. "Ian was one of those guys, he was larger than life. It was his infectious enthusiasm for everything having to do with the Seahawks."

Wilson told a story about the trip Smith organized to Seattle with about 40 UK Sea Hawkers coming for a game.

"There were literally tears in his eyes when we gathered before the game," Wilson said, adding that Smith went to Sea Tac to greet each person when they arrived to see if they needed help with transportation into Seattle.

Added Andy Robinson, who is from Manchester and has been a fan since the early 80s, "He became president of the UK Sea Hawkers, and he just threw his heart and soul into it. He recruited everyone, he got more members than anybody. He's responsible for a lot of the success we've had. He's full of life, everyone loved him."

While attending an NFL game in London in 2012, Smith saw Lange wearing a Marshawn Lynch jersey, and eventually convinced Lange to start the German Sea Hawkers.

Because Smith meant so much to so many, the UK Sea Hawkers came up with a plan to honor him during the game. At the end of the first quarter, everyone who has a Seajack flag (a union jack, but in Seahawks colors with the logo in the middle) will hold them up in hopes of creating a sea of green and blue to honor Smith.