With the annual London NFL game between the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos held at Wembley stadium being fresh in our memories I thought I would take the time to write an article about American football across the UK and Cambridge specifically. It is a little known fact (at least to the people I talk to) that American football is actually played on our shores and while the standard is not what you may witness if you’re an NFL fan, there are still over 150 active teams throughout the country.

So firstly let me tell you my story. I started my undergraduate degree at the University of Southampton, I had never been sporty, and my school had never allowed us to play rugby (and lets just say I’m not built to play association football), but I had wanted to be involved in a sport. I went up keen and eager to the rugby sign up table, and when I told them I had no experience I was told to move along.

Disheartened I wondered the hall and was eventually accosted by an American footballer. Being such niche sport in Britain it is not very often that the team get anyone who has played before so they were more than willing to take on a complete rookie on board. What followed was a rollercoaster ride of four years playing for the Southampton Stags, playing in two Southern Finals and winning a national university championship. I also had the opportunity to represent my country in a tour of Norway, beating the Oslo Vikings just outside the Olympic ice rink in Oslo. I have also played three seasons in the senior leagues in the UK, winning a senior National championship and narrowly missing out on a second. Whatever anyone might think, there is a thriving American football scene in the UK.

Now many of you reading this will have an image of American football in your head: it is rugby with padding so the players don’t get hurt, somehow making it is a lesser sport in terms of toughness. Rugby for pansies. I beg to differ. Rugby is a contact sport, and by being so is physically tough. American football is not a contact sport – it is a collision sport. The pads do protect you, but at the same time they make you a weapon, willing to run at full speed and smash into your opponent (as pretty much all forms of tackling are legal). If you don’t believe me a short trip to YouTube to view ‘NFLs hardest hits’ might convince you.

On my arrival in Cambridge I knew that there wasn’t an American football team operating within the University; however it may surprise you to learn that there was a team who played from 1988-1997 called the Cambridge Pythons. Now it must be said that I did not find the same opposition to my lack of experience at Rugby in Cambridge and I am happily playing loose head prop for the Fitz XVs, however my thirst for kitting up and smashing into people still resides deep within. With this in mind, I’m aiming to revive the Pythons, and by next year have the team returning to full time competition as part of the BUAFL (British Universities American Football League). That is the theory at least. Oxford have already created an American football team, the Oxford Lancers, who are also looking to enter the league next year. Competing with them would be great.

I’m looking for anyone with any interest to get invovled - I had never played before my time at Southampton and so experience really is not necessary. Basically I would love to create an American football scene in Cambridge. It is certainly possible.

Contact for anyone wishing to get involved is thp24 or www.CUgridiron.co.uk