THE sight of 23,000 fans turning their backs on a match was something that former Hereford goalkeeper Wayne Brown had never witnessed before.

South African’s reigning champions Supersport United were losing to Orlando Pirates when supporters gave them the cold shoulder.

It’s a world away from Edgar Street or Bury’s Gigg Lane, from where the popular Brown left in the summer.

“Our fans were still making a noise but they faced away from the pitch,” said ‘Superman’ Brown, who spent three years at Hereford and made 132 appearances for the club.

“My family came to watch the game and they couldn’t believe the noise. It was like a big disco.”

Brown is the only Englishman playing football in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League.

“I am flying the flag for England over here,” said Brown, who is playing for Supersport, the league champions for the past three years.

“Another thing is the racism over here. It’s going to take a long time to get rid of racism in South Africa,” he said.

“I’m English, white and I am taking a South African job.”

Brown and his Swanky Boys’ team-mates have time off over Christmas.

He is planning a trip with his family to Cape Town.

“We are going to Cape Town for five nights. I will be surfing on Christmas Day which will be strange.”

He moved to Pretoria in the summer with his girlfriend Leeanda Carroll and her daughter Molly.

The 33-year-old admits it was a difficult decision to leave his daughter, Mia, behind in the UK.

“Mia was the big thing I had to consider, but so far it's been OK. She comes to visit every six or seven weeks and Skype has helped a lot.”

Brown saved two penalties in his first match and has been playing in the place of the injured Emile Baron, South Africa’s international first-choice stopper.

“I was on the team coach for my first game and the lads starting singing,” he said.

“They sang solidly for two hours right up to kick off. They do it to calm themselves before a game.

“Every team has their own song. The players pray before and after matches. It’s a bit different to the shouting you get in the UK.”

The ex-United player of the year has been very impressed with the new stadia which were built for last summer’s World Cup.

“The stadia we play in are amazing - Soccer City, Green Point, Durban and Ellis Park.

“We played Orlando Pirates in front of 36,000 people and then the Kaizer Chiefs at our place in front of 30,000.

“There’s just been a cup game where there were 91,000 at Soccer City.

“It was a bit different to Accrington away. I'm not going to lie - it was frightening,” he said.

“It’s been an eye opener but we love it here. The people are great and the country is amazing.

“Crime is a big problem over here and that was a big concern. But most of it is in the townships.

“We live in a Gary Player golf estate. It’s secure and safe. My garden backs on to the 17th tee. We've spent a few times in the pool watching the golfers in action.”

Brown, who is 34 next month, has lost two-and-a-half stone since arriving in the hot country.

“The major thing is the altitude. It's 1,500 metres above sea level and even walking up the stairs was a battle at first.

“The playing standard ranges from League 2 in England to the middle of the Championship “It’s not physical at all but the players are tuned to run. The league is all about showboating. If you’ve got a trick then you will do well here.

“They've also taught me a different style of kicking with a very flat strike. It’s pretty effective if it comes off.”

Brown is also training seven days a week.

“It’s a bit old school but pretty good and we're bonding as a team. I’ve got a Hampshire accent and they find it hard to understand my English.

“I am not sure they're used to a white guy screaming at them. I've got some of the team doing a Cockney accent.”

The goalkeeper admits he misses the players’ banter in the changing rooms and the team nights out.

“I miss the player-crowd interaction and this might sound weird but I also miss playing in the rain,” he said.

The former Hereford goalkeeper’s aim is to play as many games as possible for Supersport this season.

“We have the South African number 1 goalkeeper at our place but he got injured just before the World Cup,” said Brown.

“Liverpool were looking at him a while back. I’ve just got to keep going. I’m not stupid enough to think that I am better than Emile but I'll give it my all with a smile.

“I've seen some of the saves he makes in training and I wouldn't have got anywhere near some of the shots let alone get a finger to them.”

l Pretoria-based Supersport United are one of the top sides in South Africa and compete in the Premier Soccer League.

They were originally known as Pretoria City and play at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, which has a capacity of 28,900.

They have won the championship in each of the last three seasons and have not finished outside the top eight during the last 10 seasons.

The club have a partnership with Tottenham Hotspur after previoulsy being linked with the Dutch side Feyenoord.