Have you watched the NFL American Football on TV and always fancied giving it a go? Are you searching for a new sport on the rise to try your hand at? Well it is now easier than ever to get involved in American Football right here in the UK. So if you want to know more about playing American Football and learn what a Touchdown or who a Quarterback is then you need to read this interview with Sam Holder-Mark General Manager of British based American Football team the Plymouth Admirals.
How did you first get involved in American Football?
I started watching in the 80s when it was first shown on British TV. I was about 8 or 9 and I thought it was awesome, I'd never seen anything like it before! I used to watch my local team (I lived in Suffolk then) and I joined them about age 16 when they started an under 18s 'Flag Football' team (non-contact). I joined up and never looked back.
What is your role within the Plymouth Admirals and what does it see you doing on a day to day basis?
I'm the General Manager, so I do a little bit of everything. We have a committee of people who all work hard and we work well together as a team. My main duties are to do with recruitment, organising matches, sorting out equipment and arranging sponsorship, but as I said, I have a hand in most things.
How big is the sport in the UK and is it growing in popularity?
The sport is growing rapidly in the UK at the moment, and there are now several thousand players and well over 100 teams. These teams are at Adult, Youth and University level, so there's something for everyone. In October the National Football League in America are playing their first ever overseas league game in London. The New York Giants and Miami Dolphins will battle it out at Wembley, and choosing the UK just goes to show how highly they rate the game in this country.
Now to play American football safely you need the proper equipment, how easy or expensive is this to come across?
It costs less and is more available than it's ever been before, but I still wouldn't say it's cheap. The Admirals have all the specialist kit needed for newcomers to play without having to buy their own. If you do want to buy your own a full set of all the equipment will be about £170+
How easy is it to find an American football team to play for in the UK?
Very. A new website www.getintoamericanfootball.com has just been launched and it lists every team in the country. Find the one nearest you and look it up!
What is the youth programme like at Plymouth Admirals and how can you join?
The youth program has been very successful this year with 9 people moving up to the adult side, so we're looking to replace them with new players. We have most of the stuff you can need. All you need to take part is some sports clothes, a form filled in by a parent/guardian and LOTS of enthusiasm!
Britain use to have a team in NFL Europe, how hard is it for somebody from the UK to make it in to the American NFL and are there many British people currently plying their trade in the NFL?
Make no mistake, it's VERY hard. There's about 5 Brits in the NFL at the moment, but most of the other players are North Americans who've been training every day since they were very young. That's the main difference between us and them. There is a better chance of representing your country, and several Admirals past and present have played for Great Britain, England or Wales at adult or university level.
What does the future hold for the Plymouth Admirals and how can we find out more about them?
2007 has been a very good year for the Admirals. We want to carry on this progress into the future and we'll need new players and non-players to make that happen. That's why recruitment is our number one priority. If we can get that right we can be a real force in the future.
And finally what advice would you give to any young person wanting to play American Football?
Give it a go! It's an extreme team sport unlike any other game you might have played. If you try it, you might love it just like the other players who've tried it and loved it.
http://www.plymouthadmirals.co.uk/
Clcik here to read Sam Holder-Mark's top ten tips on how to become an American Football player
