The Minnesota Vikings brought American football back to Newcastle with a flag football tournament for 150 local schoolchildren. The event, held on Thursday as part of the Newcastle Flag Football League, gave pupils from schools across the region a taste of the NFL.
Tournament Details and Participants
Held at Leisure United on Ponteland Road, the championship saw students compete in under 13 and under 15 age groups. The Vikings described the event as showcasing its "ongoing commitment to growing American football participation in the North East."
With the expansion to under 15 teams, more young people took part, including pupils from Ovingham Middle School, Newminster School, Thorp Academy, Gosforth East Middle School, Jesmond Park Academy, Marden Bridge Middle School, and Corbridge Middle School.
Corbridge Defends Title
Corbridge Middle School defended the title they won last year, securing a dramatic victory over Gosforth East in the final. Other students performed chants made famous at Vikings games during the event.
The children also had the opportunity to meet Vikings legend Jake Reed, a wide receiver who shared his experiences of playing for the team in the 1990s.
Vikings Officials Comment
Marking the third consecutive year of the Vikings' presence in the North East, Jake Reed said: "It’s great to see so many young people getting the chance to play flag football, develop their skills and enjoy being part of a team. Events like this are a fantastic way to introduce children to the sport, and it’s brilliant to see the league growing and welcoming even more players this year. Hopefully, today has given some of these young people a real passion for flag football and the Minnesota Vikings."
Joe Rush, Minnesota Vikings Director of Youth Football, added: "Building a pathway for young people to get involved in flag football is a key part of our work, and it’s great to be back in Newcastle for a third year of activity. With the league now in its second year and expanding to include U15 teams, we’re proud to be giving more young people across the North East the opportunity to play and develop their skills."
Keisha Wyatt, Minnesota Vikings Director of International Marketing, said: "We know the Vikings have passionate fans across the UK, and it’s great to be back in Newcastle to continue building our relationship with the local community. We hope that by bringing the sport to the North East, we can welcome even more people into the Vikings family and create new fans along the way."
The Vikings hold marketing rights in the UK through the NFL’s Global Markets Program, which allows the franchise to develop deeper connections with fans across the country and engage with the team.
