After this month’s Superbowl saw high viewership in Britain, the world is gearing up for more exposure to the classic American sport in 2028 when it makes its Olympic debut.

At the heart of this movement in Carlisle is Nick Weston, chair of the Border City Centurions, a flag football team that has quickly become one of the country’s most competitive.

Subscribe to the News & Star today and get the latest news, sports, and entertainment delivered straight to your device.

Mr Weston has been involved in British American football since the late 1980s, when the sport was still in its infancy in the UK, as he explained: “I first got into the sport in 1989 when I joined the Carlisle Kestrels, which was one of the first teams to bring American football to Cumbria.

“Back then, we were just a bunch of guys who loved the National Football League (NFL) and wanted to try playing it ourselves.”

The Carlisle Kestrels played a full-contact version of the game, competing in local leagues as British American football started to take root.

Despite a promising start, the Kestrels and many other teams struggled to sustain themselves as funding, facilities, and recruitment became major challenges.

“In those days, it was hard to keep a team going. There wasn’t the same exposure as there is now. We were learning everything from scratch.”

(Image: Border City Centurions)

Even as the Kestrels faded, Mr Weston’s passion for the game remained.

He moved into coaching and worked his way up to the highest levels of the sport, eventually becoming a coach for Great Britain’s women’s national contact team, taking them to the world championships.

His involvement at the international level gave him an even broader perspective on the sport’s development: “When you coach at that level, you see how seriously other countries take it.

“American football is a huge deal in Germany, for example.

“They have professional leagues, youth development systems – it’s on a different level.”

While contact American football remained a niche sport in the UK, a new format was emerging that would change everything – flag football.

Flag football, a non-contact version of the game similar to tag rugby, has been played casually for years but has exploded in popularity since being announced as an official Olympic sport for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Nick Weston with wife Thea Weston attending an American football game at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London (Image: Nick Weston/Meta)

“Flag football is completely different from the full-contact game,” Mr Weston explained.

“It’s fast, high-scoring, and incredibly inclusive.

“You don’t need expensive equipment, and anyone can play – male or female, young or old.”

Recognising the sport’s potential, Mr Weston co-founded the Border City Centurions in Carlisle, a team that has twice reached the national finals in its first two seasons.

READ MORE: Border City Centurions extend perfect start to National Flag Football League season

They currently compete in Division 1 but have their sights set on promotion to the Premiership, which would place them among the country’s elite teams.

(Image: Border City Centurions)

“If we make it to the Premiership, it’s a massive deal.

“It puts our players on the radar of the national team selectors, and with flag football now an Olympic sport, that’s a pathway to the biggest stage of all.”

While the senior team is thriving, Mr Weston is also focused on the next generation.

The Centurions have partnered with Carlisle Youth Zone to launch a junior flag football programme, offering completely free training sessions to encourage young players to get involved.

“If you want to grow a sport, you have to make it accessible.

“That’s why we’ve made sure it’s completely free for kids to play.

“No kit costs, no sign-up fees, just turn up and play.”

The junior team has already attracted strong numbers, and Mr Weston believes it is essential to ensure the sport has a long-term future in Carlisle.

The Centurions have also received support from local sponsors, including Denton Tyres and Walkabout, which have helped cover costs such as equipment, league entry, and facilities.

One of the biggest reasons for flag football’s growth is its safety compared to contact sports like rugby and American football, as Mr Weston said: “We’ve had a lot of players come over from rugby because they want to avoid the head injuries.

“More and more people are being drawn towards games where they don’t get their heads hit.”

(Image: Border City Centurions)

In addition to growing the senior men’s and junior boy’s teams, Mr Weston hopes to launch a women’s flag football team in Carlisle within the next year.

“We already have some fantastic female players in the region who play at GB level, so we want to build a team around them,” he said.

As the Olympics approach, the spotlight on flag football will only continue to grow.

READ NEXT: Amazing discovery of a Viking age hall in Cumbria

With the Border City Centurions already making waves on the national stage, Carlisle is quickly becoming a key hub for the sport in the UK.

“This is the fastest-growing sport in the country right now, and we’re making sure Carlisle is right at the centre of it.

“Flag football is here to stay, and we’re just getting started.”