PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Jane Rainear of South Jersey is as loyal an Eagles fan as they come, and that's despite being from across the pond.
“I couldn’t imagine being a fan with any other team. When I remarried, my husband had to be an Eagles fan because that would’ve been a game changer,” Rainear said with a laugh.
Rainear was born in London and grew up in Cambridge, England. She came to the states in the mid-90s and was introduced to our beloved sport of football by her workout instructor, who presented her the opportunity to dance at halftime with the Eagles cheerleader at Veterans Stadium.
After taking in the atmosphere a couple of times, Rainear realized this was for her.
“Just being around all the fans, being in the stadium. I just really enjoyed it,” she said.
Her South Jersey friend Le Dudley says it was amazing watching Rainear learn about the sport.
“She just picked it up,” Dudley said. “And she just studied it and loved it and … She must be a true American. She says she’s all English, but I think she’s really here.”
Rainear — who is also a Phillies fan — is entering her 12th year as an Eagles season ticket holder after her husband put them on the waiting list a decade prior to them getting their seats.
But she’s more than just a season ticket holder. Rainear has been to the Eagles Autism Challenge, as well as Training Camp. She said her chin dropped to the ground when she met quarterback Jalen Hurts last season. Her office and home have photos of the Eagles and she even has Eagles-themed high heels.
“She has a way of just showing her spirit with either what she wears, her recordings on her telephone, her voicemails are like the Eagles songs,” Dudley said. “… She’s just very high-spirited.”
Since becoming a loyal Eagles fan, Rainear has passed some of her fandom to her family overseas. Her brother joined her at the Eagles-Jaguars game in London in 2018. And, with her knowledge of European soccer, she indicated that Eagles fans are nicer than fútbol fans.
In the end, Rainear has optimism going into every season and is very hopeful they’ll bounce back after last season’s collapse.
“I listen to [sports talk radio], especially during the season. … I get angry with people that call in if they bad mouth my Eagles,” she said with a laugh.
To hear more about Rainear’s story, check out this week’s edition of the KYW Newsradio Philadelphia Sports Fan of the Week.