The following Friday, a few days after the Vikings arrived at Hanbury Manor, nearly 100 students from Brookmans Park Primary School, Cunningham Hill Schools and Oak View Primary and Nursery School formed a high-five line as Vikings took the field for the team's final session in the English countryside of 2025.
Persistent rain didn't prevent the young people from participating in a youth clinic or playing other games with Viktor and Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders. Instead, the students, again clad in Vikings T-shirts, showered enthusiasm for the sport.
James Nicholson, P.E. teacher and flag football club leader at Brookmans Park, is helping spread the understanding of and enthusiasm for American football in the UK.
Nicholson's father-in-law is from Pittsburgh, and he admitted his initial interest was motivated in part by ingratiating himself with his wife's family. He's now a "big NFL fan."
"I wanted to get kids in my school interested in the NFL, and flag is the gateway for that, particularly with it being in the [2028] Olympics and so many NFL games being hosted in London," Nicholson said. "The children got to play some of the games and are seeing the players with their pads and helmets on."