NFL stars touchdown in the county
TWO DAYS OF SPORT KICKSTART LOUGHBOROUGH’S PARTNERSHIP WITH AMERICAN FOOTBALL GIANT
STARS from the NFL descended on Leicestershire as the University of Loughborough and Loughborough College kick-started a new partnership with the American football giant, writes Dan Trussell.
As part of a new agreement to host the NFL Academy in the region, both the NFL Academy trial day and the NFL Flag National Championships were held during two action-packed days of sport.
The NFL Flag National Championship was attended by a host of American football icons including NFL Flag ambassador Russell Wilson, quarterback for the Denver Broncos.
He was joined by Efe Obada, who plays defensive end for the Washington Commanders, Inverness-born New York Giants punter Jamie Gillan, known as the Scottish Hammer, Minnesota Vikings’ wide receiver K J Osborn, Houston Texans players Ogbonnia Okoronkwo and Adedayo Odeleye, a current Loughborough student, and former NFL player turned BBC pundit Jason Bell.
Flag Football, a non-contact version of American football, is one of the fastest-growing sports in the US and is enjoying a boom across the Atlantic.
It is now played by 20,000 children in the UK across 300 primary schools, who have all been competing in year-round nationwide tournaments.
Loughborough University also held the NFL Academy’s trial day, which has been three years in the making and sets out to unearth the next generation of American football talent.
Little Ealing Primary School, from West London, were crowned champions of the NFL Flag National Championships, winning a tense final 7-6 in overtime against St Mary’s Hall Stonyhurst, from Manchester.
The winning school will now claim the ultimate prize – a trip to Las Vegas to represent the UK at the Flag Pro Bowl against other international teams.
The sport, which is also in contention for inclusion in the 2028 Olympic
Games in Los Angeles, can be played by people of all ages, genders and abilities.
Jo Simpson, Commercial and Facilities Director for Loughborough Sport, said: “I am so proud. This is a fantastic event and to see all these young primary school children playing competitive sport and having so much fun is exactly what
Loughborough is all about. The key thing for us is getting young people involved in sport, as it changes lives.
“Whether that be participating, or officiating, there’s lots of opportunities and I think if they see it here on Loughborough campus, that also makes attending university achievable.
“Some of the players who have come – like Russell Wilson– it’s unbelievable.
“These kids are getting coaching from iconic NFL players who have flown over especially from the US, and they’re here in Loughborough.
“That’s the benefit of events like this – young kids that might not even think about coming to university experience Loughborough and think ‘I want to be here.’”
From September, all football and academic operations for the NFL Academy will move to Loughborough, where a partnership between the college and the university will provide an opportunity for young players to become part of a worldrenowned centre of sporting excellence.