Washington Redskins Play American Football in Tottenham

From one football to another, the Washington Redskins are the latest team to visit London and meet with Tottenham Hotspur to help teach kids America’s favorite sport.

Two days ago, the Washington Redskins sent Chris Baker and DeAngelo Hall overseas to North Humberland Park School in Tottenham which is next to Spurs’ new ground that is currently being built.

Related Story: Progress Continues on Tottenham's New Stadium

Both players were there to teach the students, and even Ledley King oddly enough, the basics of American football. Drills included, learning how to throw like a quarterback and running with the ball tucked inside, in-between their left or right arm and body and how to catch like a wide receiver.

Basically, the fundamentals on offense, besides blocking and snapping the ball.

Because the National Football League (NFL) and Tottenham were able to finalize a monumental 10-year partnership that will see Spurs’ brand new 61,000-seat stadium be the home of two regular season matches for the next 10 years — and a possible London-based team in the future (despite being a logisitical-nightmare) — it gives Tottenham and the NFL huge exposure in both countries.

Not surprisingly, because the United States only knows one football — American football — having a NFL team play in London gives them new fans to follow one of their 32 franchises.

The increase of supporters overseas makes it likely that they could reach an untapped market. Which would be similar for Spurs too.

Although there are many American fans who follow the Beautiful Game and the Lilywhites already, there are still many who don’t watch soccer for one reason or another.

In any event, it appears that Tottenham’s youth have taken a liking to American football and all the intricacies that go along with the sport.

Besides the offensive drills mentioned above, students took part in specific defensive lineman drills with Chris Baker and defensive back drills with DeAngelo Hall.

This would help the kids learn how to play defense after learning offense first.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper visit across the pond without Ledley King having both NFL players try their hands (or feet) on the pitch by seeing how their soccer skills are like against youth footballers.

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Overall though, these types of visits from NFL teams and the continuing progress of Spurs’ new stadium is good for Tottenham and the community. Especially for the kids of today, which Ledley King said quite well.

"“Bringing [the] NFL to Tottenham once the new stadium is built will be great for the area, especially for young people if today is anything to go by,” King said (via Spurs TV).“Kids love trying new sports and having the Redskins at their school today captured the imagination of the Northumberland Park students.”“I had the chance to speak to Chris and DeAngelo and they are looking forward to playing in London at Wembley later this year, and I let them know that although the building work is still ongoing, the new venue here in Tottenham will be a fantastic future home for their game.”"

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Tottenham’s new state-of-the-art stadium is expected to be open by 2018, in time for the 2018-19 season. At 61,000 seats it will become the biggest football ground in London surpassing that of Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium (60,042) and Chelsea’s redeveloped Stamford Bridge (60,000).