Ipswich/South Africa: Referee Howard Webb wasn’t the only Englishman at last night’s World Cup final in Johannesburg – former Ipswich School pupil Nick Ames was another from these shores inside Soccer City.

The 27-year-old has enjoyed a trip of a lifetime in South Africa – and it came to a magical finale when he took his seat at the greatest show on earth to see Spain triumph by a goal to nil over Holland.

Nick, a member of the press team at Premier League big boys Arsenal, secured his ticket in the first Fifa ballot – and has spent months planning his adventure.

“It was the most incredible atmosphere I have ever experienced at a football match,” said Nick of last night’s dramatic World Cup climax.

The only let down for Nick was the result – he had adopted the Dutch as his team after England’s early exit.

Nick enjoyed nine World Cup matches during his three-week trip to South Africa – including Portugal’s memorable 7-0 demolition of North Korea and two of the quarter final ties.

He also managed to visit Zambia where he braved white water rafting.

Aside from last night’s spectacular, one of the highlights of the holiday came in Johannesburg when Nick enjoyed a game of football with youngsters from a township.

“Playing football in a Johannesburg township was a really humbling experience,” he said.

“It’s been the most remarkable trip of my life and I have been very humbled by what I have seen.”

n Read Nigel Pickover’s World Cup blog online at www.eveningstar.co.uk