The London Hornets very first season of competitive American football begins at the end of this month.
Competing as newcomers in the Senior League National Division (South Conference), the Hornets have been training for almost two years in Regent’s Park, north-west London.
The team consists of 38 men and women from all over the world, and came together through assistant Head Coach Paul Holmes in the most unlikely fashion.
Former London Blitz junior team coach Holmes was convalescing from surgery in 2010 when his young men lost their final game as youths to Farnham, missing a place in the semi-finals - and received an unexpected knock at his front door that same day.
“I got very close to some of the boys [at the Blitz],” Holmes said.
“They lost to Farnham and came to my house. I had five or six big, tough, inner city lads from Brixton and the like, all sat in my bedroom – and they were sobbing.
“They asked me, ‘Coach, what are we supposed to do now?’ and I said I would make them a team.
“I kept my promise. We made this team.”
Having recently expanded into hosting an under-17s programme and a women’s team, those five or six visitors to Holmes’ home all continue to play for the Hornets today.
Players hail from Spain, Jamaica, Nigeria, the US and Northern Ireland to name but a few of their homes. Along with their patchwork heritage, there exists in the Hornets camp an extraordinary brotherhood between all who play for them, regardless of age, race or gender.
One player has just returned from active service in Afghanistan, whilst others lobbied the league to move their opening game of the season against Ipswich Cardinals on Easter Sunday so that they might fulfil their religious obligations and attend church.
Brook Da Costa has played American Football for most of his life, and after moving around with his military father from his place of birth in Switzerland to Florida and a whole host of other countries, he has settled in London and plays for the Hornets.
“I love this team,” he said.
“There’s a great attitude, people are willing to learn. We’re not really a machine; we’re a family.”
TJ Okiki, a nursing student originally from the United States, is extremely passionate about promoting the sport in the UK alongside his studies.
“I’m a very serious player. The way you all feel about soccer here is how I feel about this, maybe I love this sport more.
“This sport is the one.”
The Hornets first game of the season will be on Sunday 27th April, away at Ouse Valley Eagles.
(Photo provided by London Hornets)
Source: DSG
