By Seb
If you’re reading this article, you’re probably like me – you’ve watched countless NFL games, obsess over all things New York Jets and can never get enough of NFL media. But, I pose a question to you… have you ever played the beautiful game? Have you ever coached American Football? Have you ever stood inches away from the action on the field?
These are questions that, I believe, fans of American Football struggle with on this side of the pond. We get all of the media, we can watch any game we want (if GamePass is actually working) and we consume the same social media content as any fan across the world. However, getting a chance to come close to the action is very difficult. Yes, we have the London Games but other than that, we are rarely offered the chance to see football live in action in the Big Smoke… or so you thought!
By way of an introduction, my name is Seb and I feel like somewhat of a fraud to be posting an article on this site as I actually grew up in Hertfordshire… BUT, I did have a London postcode. To add to this, I lived in Angel, Islington for a number of years but I no longer even live in London as I swapped capitals and relocated to Dublin three years ago! Regardless of my location, I still call myself a Londoner (that’s right, I’ve had a jellied eel or two in my time) and I have likely met a few of you in London at various UK Jets events as I am the founder of the UK & Ireland Jets Fan Club (www.uknyjets.com | @uknyjets).
When I was just a small child, my grandmother went to New York on holiday and brought me back an American football with stitched with the Jets logo. Unassumingly, it sat in my bedroom for many years until I discovered Madden. The opening screen asked for my favourite team and not even knowing any other teams, I chose the New York Jets; the rest, as they say, is history. To say I was consumed by Madden was an understatement and I wanted to talk about the new sport I had fallen in love with to anyone that would listen. However, unfortunately as a teenager at a Secondary School obsessed with football/soccer, I did not have a captive audience. So, one day, bored senseless in a Maths class, I decided to see if there were any Jets fans in the UK on Twitter. Undoubtedly there were some fans out there but there was not a dedicated UK Jets page. That’s the story of how the UK & Ireland Jets Fan Club was founded – that night, I went home and drafted a logo on Microsoft Word (I know, terrible). I made it my mission to connect as many New York Jets fans as possible, creating a platform for all things Gang Green, that had a captive, encouraging and welcoming audience!
I am extremely thankful for the opportunities that this position has offered me: connecting with thousands of fans across the world; interviewing Nick Mangold on the hallowed turf of MetLife; being featured in the New York Post, Associated Press, BBC and much more but that is not why I am writing this article… Instead, I must return to my earlier questions, have you ever played, coached, or stood inches away from the action? This is what so many of us dream of and whilst playing in the NFL is likely improbable for you readers, the action is a lot closer to London than many realise.
London Blitz, London Warriors, London Olympians. Ever heard of these names, other than their historical references? These are just a handful of American Football teams that call the Big (Green) Smoke their home.
At university, questioning my upcoming career choices, working in sports was a real temptation and that was when I came across the London Blitz. As one of the most successful American Football teams in the history of the sport in the UK, they were looking for a volunteer to help with their finances and I threw my name in the hat faster than Breece Hall can run the 40-yard dash. It was at this point that I asked myself one big question, how on earth can I love American Football so much and have never heard of a team that play the sport around the corner from me in Finsbury Park.
So, a few weeks later, I turned up to the famous London park on a weekday evening to watch practice and speak with the Chairman. As I walked over to the Olympic track, I was greeted by two big surprises: 1. there was an American Football pitch in the middle of Finsbury Park and 2. the quality of football was actually pretty good…
I got stuck into helping the team out as they prepared for the season and quickly identified the challenges that our beloved sport suffers at the grassroots level in the UK. The funding is simply not there. Unlike the NFL, money is not flowing through the UK equivalent league – there is little support from organising bodies and the average fan is simply not as invested in the less glamorous BAFA (British American Football Association). In addition to this, and arguably an explaining factor, not enough people know that teams and leagues in the UK exist. Just a few weeks into my volunteering role, the Secondary coach needed a hand because the team could not find an assistant. Before I knew it, I was volunteer finance assistant as well as Assistant Defensive Backs Coach!
Now I would like to think that I know more about American Football than the average fan but I definitely did not know enough to be coaching semi-professional athletes. But this is the beauty of the game in the UK, because it is still largely grassroots in nature, anyone and everyone has a chance to get involved! Learning the intricacies of Safety play was an incredible experience and one that gave me an intense appreciation for the athletes that dedicate their lives to learning this unbelievably complex yet beautiful game.
Despite being (somewhat) coached by novices and attracting small crowds, the level of play was so much higher than I expected. If I told you that there were a number of players in the NFL that started their career in London playing for the Blitz would you believe me? Jermaine Eluemunor and Bamidele Olaseni are two O-Lineman in the NFL that can call the London Blitz their original home meanwhile James Faminu is currently at Temple by way of the University of Houston after being scouted out of the London team!!!!! (here is a picture I took with the 6’6’’, 320 pounder in the bottom corner)
It isn’t crazy to believe, that I could have very potentially coached a future NFL star and so could you! The American Football scene in London, and the wider UK, is calling out for more support. Whether you fancy your chances playing the game, think you could draw up offensive genius trick plays or simply want to watch some American Football up close and personal… I strongly urge you to visit your local American Football team whenever you have a spare Sunday morning!
It may not be the same glitz and glamour as watching the Jets at MetLife but the Blitz at Finsbury Park is a pretty damn good alternative for any NFL obsessed Londoner!
You can find out more about the London Blitz here: www.londonblitzfootballclub.com and find out more about the UK & Ireland New York Jets Fan Club here: www.uknyjets.com
Green Smoke 
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