American Football… in the North West of England?!
Being a Midlander coming up north there’s one thing I’ve noticed- the folk up here ADORE their sports.
Well, generalising a bit here, most of Britain care about sport, we’re a passionate bunch!
The North West however are especially proud of their sporting prowess and over the years have developed a sort of rivalry against the south (London) to prove who has the best clubs and who produces the best athletes.
For many years London have in particular dominated the BAFA and the sport of American Football.
Some would say it’s because they have the best facilities in the country, some would say otherwise and make accusations but I’m not getting involved in that discussion…
But what I do know is that Lancashire is starting to develop it’s own successful ‘franchise’.
Training at the Blackburn Rugby Club, the Lancashire Wolverines in recent times have became a force in the Premier Division of the BAFA leagues, coming after back to back promotions in 2011 & 2012 to reach the top division.
I recently had the pleasure to interview the newly stated chairman of the Lancashire Academy of American Football, Nathan Sharrocks, in which he speaks about the Wolverines, the state of British American Football and there’s even has a training teaser in the background!
(Quick note before you watch the video. If you’re not from England then I tell you one thing… the weather here is highly unpredictable! With further photo proof found on the clubs Facebook, it did indeed begin to hail and snow just as this interview began. In the middle of April it snowed… unbelievable!)
Nathan told me that from a young age he was introduced to American Football but he firmly believes that anyone at any age can get involved with the sport.
“ The Lancashire Academy of American Football caters for American football in the county for ages 7+. Players, coaches and off field members welcome”
Furthermore, I then spoke briefly to a player who before moving to Preston for university had never played one minute of American football in his life.
Max, and a lot of the other players at the training session. only spoke positively about the club and about the sport even if they gave up their evening to run around in Baltic conditions!
With the numbers for the SuperBowl rising each and every year (cue stereotypical infographic below) it’s only matter of time bigger crowds start to form at the gridiron- that’s the name for an American football pitch.
Though 12.3% is still some what small, Repucom states that within those 4–5 years “that increase is the equivalent to there being an additional 1.86m NFL fans in the UK alone.”
The sport is becoming a whole lot bigger in Europe as well and with the story of Moritz Böhringer, European ‘ballers’ are being starting to be recognised by the elite and, sure it might not be you but, the positives massively outweigh any negatives.
So if you’re ‘umming and ahhing’ about getting involved with a gym, a new sport or just looking to fill your time, consider American Football.