Kentish Express Ashford & District
Phoenix box-ing clever
American football
American football club Kent Phoenix are branching out into Ashford in a UK-first.
The Maidstone-based outfit have launched a satellite club in the town which will specialise in box positions, such as linebackers, linemen, quarterbacks and running backs.
Based at Godinton Primary School, it’s for players aged 14-18, with coach Ray Allen taking sessions from 2-4pm on Sundays.
Phoenix chairman Lee Parsons said: “It’s something we’ve been thinking about for a while and then a coach I’ve been working with became available and he lives in Ashford.
“It’s the perfect time to do it, especially with American football being a buzz sport at the moment, with so many people looking to try and get involved.
“It’s the first of its kind in the UK to specialise solely in box players.
“The positions we’re trying to develop are specialist positions and require specialist coaching.
“The box positions are always the hardest positions to fill, not in the States because they’ve got big guys, but over here bigger people don’t tend to get involved through fear of not being good enough or fit enough.”
That brings Parsons on to an important point, for American football truly is a sport for all.
“There’s a position for everybody,” he said.
“We had a young lad who started when he was 12 who was getting bullied at school because of his size.
“His mum wanted him to come down because he was spending all his time in his bedroom, he’d given up soccer because of the stick he got.
“He came down and he’s now playing for GB as a lineman and he’s also been at the NFL academy in central London.
“That sums up the sport. There’s a kid who’s given his all and listened to his coaches.
“That’s what makes it such a great sport and once you’re involved it’s a real fun atmosphere.”
Anyone interested in attending the Ashford centre can email info@kentphoenix.co.uk or call Lee on 07725 847145.