THE National Football League (NFL) took a huge step yesterday in unearthing Britain’s next NFL star with the announcement of the NFL Academy.

Endorsed by some of the biggest names in the league, the first-ever NFL Academy aims to use American football to create life-changing educational and professional opportunities for young British kids.

Opening its doors in September 2019, student athletes aged 16-18 will be granted the chance to combine education with life skills and intensive training in the sport under full-time professional coaches.

Supported by Nike and based at Barnet and Southgate College, in north London, the NFL Academy will provide students with pathways into employment, further education and even the potential opportunity to play NCAA college football in the United States.

“The Academy is a first-of-its kind initiative that will deliver against three key elements: education, character development and football,” said NFL UK managing director Alistair Kirkwood. “The inspiration for the idea was our long-term partnership with Tottenham Hotspur. As well as playing games at the new stadium, we had a desire to create something meaningful for the community on a year-round basis.

“Also, we have seen from the success of players such as Efe Obada in our Player Pathway programme that with the right kind of ambition and approach there is potential to achieve breakthrough results.”

Barnet and Southgate College will provide the students’ education and has appointed a coaching staff who will work alongside NFL UK’s development team to create the football programme. Kirkwood added: “We are very excited to be working with Barnet and Southgate College, with its excellent academic record. The role of the NFL will be to drive recognition and prestige for the programme, provide technical expertise from a football standpoint and develop the character development curriculum — details of which will follow.

“This is an opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of many young people, regardless of their experience of our sport. It is also an opportunity for us to create a pathway for players to get into the American college system and maybe even to the NFL itself.”

As the NFL continues to grow and expand in Britain – this season will see the first games playing at Tottenham’s new stadium as well as two at Wembley – the academy will look to produce burgeoning stars to play alongside, or against, Carolina Panthers’ London-raised defensive end Efe Obada and former Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles’ British-born running back Jay Ajayi; with both pledging their support for the academy and serving in ambassadorial roles.

“Being from London and having spent time with so many young athletes there, I know how much the NFL Academy will mean to them,” said Obada. “To have the chance to pursue American football while receiving an education and other life-changing skills is an awesome opportunity. The values that the sport teaches go beyond the field and can help you make more of your life. I am really excited to give the NFL Academy my support and help these young people achieve their dreams.”

Alongside the aforementioned duo as ambassadors include London-born two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora and his colleague on BBC’s NFL coverage, Jason Bell, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jnr, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice.

Other ambassadors will be announced in the future.

Mahomes said: “I am very proud to be one of the first ambassadors for the NFL Academy in the UK. Through the work of my foundation — 15 and the Mahomies — we work to give young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, greater opportunities in life. The NFL Academy’s objective in combining football and education to do just that is something I am very excited about playing a role in. I can’t wait to see it get started and I look forward to getting over to London to contribute to its success.”

Beckham Jr added: “The NFL Academy is a fantastic innovation and I feel privileged to be a part of it. I hope I can be an inspiration to young people who want to use football to make better lives for themselves and I am excited to be able to play a small part in their journey.”

Ajayi commented: “American football changed my life and I have seen it change the lives of many others. I am looking forward to helping the students at the NFL Academy reach their potential, whether it is as students or football players. Maybe I will be playing with some of them in the NFL one day!”