London Olympians begin to settle into their new home

The London Olympians began their quest to add to their record 13 British titles with a hard-hitting practice at their impressive new home on Sunday.

The South London side now call Goals Beckenham North, on Copers Cope Road, home and head coach Riq Ayub could not be happier.

“We’ve been looking for a facility for about three years, for something we could be permanent with and somewhere we could call home,” Ayub said. “This is our first year, but it’s a five-year plan.”

The ground ticks many boxes the club have been looking for, including: easy access, good quality practise surfaces (grass and astroturf, good locker room facilities, good quality field to host games, classroom access, storage and a social area.

“There’s a lot of space here, it’s all on the same level, we can get things going, we don’t have to wait too long in between things,” Ayub added. “The facilities are really good.”

The Olympians reached the national semi-finals last year and Sunday’s practice, the first fully-kitted session of the close season, was well attended and intense and promises great things for the future campaign.

The club are celebrating their 30th anniversary this year, since being formed as the Streatham Olympians in 1983 and contested the first British championship game at Villa Park in 1985. Since then the Burgundy and White won 13 national titles in 14 years from 1992-2006 and won the EuroBowl, American football’s equivalent of the Champions League, in 1993 and ’94.

Ayub is convinced the new venue can help return the Olympians to winning silverware again. “This facility will upgrade us in quality and we have the opportunity to sink roots and call it home,” he said.

The Olympians are training every Sunday at 10.30 am at Goals, Copers Cope Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 1NZ and are looking to train three times a week.

For more information on the Olympians call 0795 6520466 or email manager@olympiansfootball.org or headcoach@olympiansfootball.org.