Sunday 24 September 2017 07:18, UK
"They had unbelievable Shepherd's pie. To this day, I can still never get the same kind of Shepherd's pie in the States."
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone remembers London, and the food, fondly from his time playing for the London Monarchs in the World League in 1991.
Marrone was part of 'The Nasty Boys' offensive line for the Monarchs, alongside team-mate and recreational darts partner, Todd Oberdorf.
"Me and this kid Todd, we would play darts every day, and lose every day. We were getting better, playing for hours a night, but we didn't have a chance.
"Then, finally, we won one game and quit right after. Retiring champions."
Marrone returns to his former home, though not to the oche, this Sunday, when his team host the Baltimore Ravens at Wembley, live on Sky Sports Action from 1.30pm.
While the first-year Jags coach is relishing the return, he's also keen for his team, who are 1-1 after their opening two games of the season, to start delivering on their potential.
"I'm tired of people saying we have talent, we're a talented team," Marrone told Sky Sports. "We have to change that to people starting to say 'these guys are a pretty good football team'.
"The only way to do that is by hard work. We talk a lot about winning the physical battle, being tough in the trenches - build that physicality.
"Also, winning the turnover battle: that's the fastest way to lose games in this league. We talk about ball security on offence, creating turnovers on defence.
"We know the kind of team we are, how we want to play - we're really going to have to fight and scrap and find a way to win. It really is that simple."
The team's new-found physicality was certainly evident in an encouraging Week One 29-7 win on the road over the Houston Texans, with the defence forcing four turnovers - one interception and three fumbles - and Calais Campbell stepping up with four sacks, to lead the NFL.
However, that was followed up by a maddening 37-16 defeat at home to the Tennessee Titans in which the Jags lost the turnover battle 3-0 after quarterback Blake Bortles was intercepted twice and fumbled.
After a strong second season in the NFL, in which he threw 35 touchdowns, Bortles regressed in his third, leaving many to believe that 2017 - his fourth year in the league - is a crucial one for the QB.
"It's big for Blake, but it's big for everyone," added Marrone. "What year is big and what year is not? They are all big. You only have so many of them in your career, and if you don't do well, this league will eat you up and spit you out.
"I like quarterbacks that win football games. But that is a team concept. People will point to Blake having a good season two years ago, but we didn't win enough games [only five].
"We're all here to win. He has to take care of the football, make good decisions and then when we need him to make a play, he has to make a play for us - just like anyone else on this team."
"I'm evaluating this team on wins and losses."
Marrone will be hoping his London return is a happy one and Jacksonville can get another win on the board come Sunday, a win that would be their third straight in the capital.
"It was unbelievable, an outstanding experience," Marrone added on his London playing days. "To get a chance to live among the British people, the history alone that we were able to learn out there, was awesome.
"The people of London, the fans, really opened their arms to us."
Watch the Jacksonville Jaguars face the Baltimore Ravens at Wembley, live on Sky Sports Action (407) from 1.30pm on Sunday.
