Perry Thompson's love affair with Manchester City began with one very Bermudian requirement.

The team couldn't wear red.

Growing up as a St George's supporter, Mr Thompson wanted an English football club that wore the same colours as his home team. Supporting anyone whose kit reminded him of Somerset was simply out of the question.

“I had to pick a team that wore my home club team colours,” he said. “No way I could support a team that wore red. Bay and Somerset? No chance of me being for Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United — any team that wore red.”

So, in the 1980s, long before Manchester City became the powerhouse it is today, he chose City.

His allegiance even came before fellow Bermudian Shaun Goater eventually joined the club.

“I was glad that he happened to end up at Man City,” Mr Thompson said.

By then, however, there was no question where his loyalty lay.

Over the years, that loyalty has taken him across the Atlantic again and again, with Mr Thompson estimating he has watched City play in person around two dozen times.

His first match was at Maine Road, the club's former stadium, against Sunderland.

“It was like a 1-1 draw,” he recalled. “This was when we were trash. The old Man City.”

That makes what came later even sweeter.

Mr Thompson remembers watching City during the era when players including Sergio Agüero and Mario Balotelli were helping transform the club's fortunes.

“It was the greatest feeling ever.”

One of his favourite experiences came in 2014, when City met Sunderland in the League Cup final at Wembley.

It was Mr Thompson's first visit to the stadium, surrounded by a crowd of almost 90,000.

City won 3-1.

“The greatest experience was seeing Man City win at Wembley,” he said. “My first time in Wembley, 90,000 people. City won 3-1 against Sunderland.

“It took me right back to the beginning.”

Following City has occasionally required considerably more effort than buying a match ticket.

For one Manchester derby at Old Trafford, Mr Thompson was already planning to travel to England when another opportunity appeared: a friend secured him a ticket to the Masters golf tournament in Georgia.

Naturally, he decided to do both.

“I had to change my flight and fly to Atlanta and then a direct flight to Manchester, which is probably the worst flight I've ever experienced in my life,” he said. “I was sandwiched in the middle, the smallest plane ever.”

The journey paid off.

“I ended up at Old Trafford to see Man City beat Man United, and then I flew back to Atlanta to see Tiger Woods play in the Masters, all in one trip.”

His football travels haven't stopped with City. They have also taken him to Spain, where he attended El Clásico and watched Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo play against each other — twice.

“Yes, it's expensive, but you can't put a price on that.”

These days, some of the logistics are easier because Mr Thompson belongs to a Manchester City supporters' club, which can help members access tickets and make arrangements around matches.

“If you support a club, join their supporters' club,” he said. “You know how Bermudians are. We will fly up and we will spend the money.”

Once he arrives in Manchester, however, there is one ritual he has maintained from his earlier years of travelling to matches.

He doesn't wear his City colours outside the stadium.

“I remain neutral to and from the game,” he said. “When you're travelling alone, that can be unsafe. I've seen the hooligans act up out there.”

His City gear stays in his bag until he reaches his seat.

“I put it all on at my seat and then when the game's over, time to leave, everything comes off and goes in a bag.”

Although he has attended plenty of matches at City's home ground, Mr Thompson actually prefers following the club away.

“The hardcore fans go to the away games,” he said.

Old Trafford is a particular favourite. He estimates he has watched City play there six times, with four wins, one draw and one loss.

And when the final whistle blows, the experience isn't necessarily over.

“When the game is done, they leave the City fans there for an hour while they clear the Man United fans,” he said.

“We just sit there and sing and sing.”

There is still one experience missing from his football travels.

Mr Thompson wasn't able to attend when City reached the Champions League final. If they make another one, he intends to be there.

“If they get back into a Champions League final, I definitely would want to go.”

After more than four decades of supporting City, around two dozen matches and countless flights, the pull hasn't disappeared.

The club he chose because he couldn't bring himself to support anyone wearing Somerset's colours has taken him considerably further than he could have imagined.

But some rivalries, it seems, travel very well.