NFL in London

National Football League in London

NFL Video

Football Movies

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The NFL season is creeping closer to us, but still not close enough! Like many of you, we have been watching Football Movies throughout the summer to get us in the mood.

Here are a few movies to consider watching prior to the start of the season to get you in the mood.

Football Movies

Brian’s Song

Let’s kick it off with the only movie on the list that will have you in tears by the end of it (hopefully).

This 1971 ABC ‘Movie of the Week’ starring James Caan and Billy Dee Williams hits with all the feels, as we follow Chicago Bears player Brian Piccolo on his journey through cancer with his buddy and teammate Gale Sayers.

Taken from Sayers biography ‘I am Third’ the movie hit men so hard in the 70s, it became known as the top ‘guy-cry’ movies in male cinema history.

The TV movie was so popular back then,  ABC actually rented out some theatres to show the film in wider release. Critics have called ‘Brian’s Song’-‘the greatest TV movie ever made’, which is pretty high esteem given the TV movies of the 70s’.

Don’t take our word for it, make sure that you check out Brian’s Song for yourself. Even better, drag in a non-NFL fan and make them watch it with you. You’ll be converting like metric!

Any Given Sunday

Let’s get to the Oliver Stone of these Football Movies picks, with the 1999 classic ‘Any Given Sunday’.

Bolstered by a stellar cast including Pacino, Quaid, Diaz, Foxx, Woods, Modine, as well as some NFL greats like Jim Brown, Lawrence Taylor, Dick Butkus and even Johnny Unitas, this film was our Y2K moment of football films.

The Miami Sharks led by Tony D’Amato have loads of problems in their 2001 season, until third stringer Willie Beamen steps up to try to save the team and the season.

You really can’t go wrong with Oliver Stone in the 90s’, especially with Cameron Diaz sending us that ‘smokin’ resting bitch face.

A true NFL classic.

Remember the Titans

Another football film about race hit the big screens a year later, as the 2000 Jerry Bruckheimer production of ‘Remember the Titans’ hit us hard, and in the feels.

Based on the true story of Virginia coach Herman Boone to integrate race and football into 1970s’ America, the film is layered with an incredible cast, solid writing, and some good tunes.

Oh and did we mention Denzel? Yeah, it stars Denzel Washington and features major talent like Ryan Gosling, Will Patton, Hayden Panettiere, Kate Bosworth, and Donald Faison.

Put this on for a feel good afternoon of missing football.

North Dallas Forty

If you’re going to make a football movie about the 70s’, then you might as well head back to the 70s’ to catch the best ones.

‘North Dallas Forty’ is a ruckus of a flick based on the best-selling 1973 novel by Peter Gent.  Starring the rogue Nick Nolte and featuring country singer Mac Davis, the film feels more like a football orgy, than a slick game play.

It feels more like a natural locker room setting, with booze, drugs and girls occupying most of the men’s minds.

Also featuring some great 70’s actors of the day, including: Charles During & Dabney Coleman.

Here’s the trailer for it.

Draft Day

Ok, it’s a bit outlandish, but this 2014 film from director Ivan Reitman gives a lampoonish insight into the Draft Day antics of GM Sonny Weaver of the Cleveland Browns.

Considered a box office flop, not only did it lose money, but it was also the last film for Ivan Reitman and Jim Brown before they died. Fortunately it didn’t happen on set.

Surprised that Jennifer Garner didn’t die on set when she was romantically paired with Kevin Costner in this one, but oh well, that’s Hollywood!

It’s worth watching at least for the inconsistencies.

Some other films you might want to look at also include:

Friday Night Lights

Billy Bob in a football classic

Varsity Blues

Girls watch it for Paul Walker, guys watch it for that Ali Larter whip cream bikini scene.

What are your favourite NFL movies? Let us know!

 

Santa’s Ride

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Ho Ho Ho’s all around to our NFL in London friends and family around the world.

It’s been a crazy, messed up year, but at least we have some football back right?

Wade and Ryan might be separated by an ocean, but that hasn’t stopped them from putting out a new podcast, and video podcast so that you can see our shinning, ugly faces.

In Santa’s Ride, the guys travel the world in this vodcast, talking about the NFL, COVID, NFL fantasy, the playoffs..and of course legal weed.

Week 16 Picks

The guys are happy to share their picks with you for Week 16, even though they know that COVID, injuries and Santa might be playing a role in the outcome on Sunday.

Wade dials his picks in from Canada, while Ryan is doing daddy duty in London.

Sunday Funday

Why not join us every Sunday at the Sports Bar & Grill Old Street & Clapham.

We have loads of great offers on food, beer and friendship.

Have a Merry Christmas everyone!

North London NFL

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October is here, which means that the NFL games at Tottenham are only days away!

For many of you who have never been to London, or to a game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, we have a few tips, tricks and hints to help you plan your trip as we look at North London NFL.

Tottenham

Unlike Wembley which is located in Northwest London, Tottenham is in northeast London, and not a very quick trip if you get the stadiums  confused.

The area of Tottenham itself is pegged as ‘up and coming’ which roughly translates as ‘don’t go there at night.’

There isn’t much built up around the stadium, so if you are looking to hang around the area, or God forbid book a hotel in the are, we would say ‘NO!’. It’s not worth it.
The stadium is gorgeous and has all the food and drink you need within its dome.

Getting there is pretty straight forward, as it is served by the London overground, the tube and numerous buses. ‘White Hart Lane’ is a stop on the overground from Liverpool street, Hackney, as well as Seven Sisters Tube station. It gets pretty busy on game day, so it’s always good to have options.

Petrol Crisis

If you’re not living in Britain, you may not know that we have a petrol (gas) crisis on right now. Stations are rammed, neighbourhoods are frayed, and horn honking rules the day and night.

Driving and parking in the area isn’t advised as a result, not to mention the new construction problems, road works, and Sunday crowds which can put the kibosh on local driving.

London petrol stations are out of fuel, and those that do have it are lined up and prone to acts of idiocy and violence from pump hunters.

As a result, the price of Ubers has sky rocketed, with fares from Tottenham to central London rising over 2500% during the Anthony Joshua fight.
(taxis were going as high as £900 for a 20 minute ride).

Uber will be pricey and we’re low on drivers, tube & train stations will be packed, so look at buses and neighbourhood parking as a quick way out.

However you plan on getting around, the tube is probably your best option.

The Stadium

You will need to follow all the rules for the stadium under this new normal.

Visitors will need to be double vaxxed, show proof of this, and may be asked to leave if they fail to provide this.

For all the rules and regulations, make sure you check out here.

https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-london-games-gameday-guide

Close to

If you’re looking to be close to the stadium and not miss out on some London vibes, may we suggest the following areas to consider to stay and hang out.

Old Street-Close to Hackney, central London and the WHL (White Hart Lane), this area is always happening, and safe at night.

Finsbury Park-Located on most major travel lines, and very close to the stadium. Loads of students in this area make it a fun party place to go.

Wood Green-A diamond in the rough, this area has loads of new hotels and is only a 15 minute walk to the stadium.

Crouch End-A lovely village near Tottenham, this is close to the tubes and has excellent parking to reach the stadium. Not as busy, but a trendy, celebrity filled hood.

The Princess Alexandra

If you’re looking for a place to party before the game, and head to afterwards, consider the Princess Alexandra in Crouch End for your NFL Sunday Funday.

https://princessalexandran8.co.uk/

10 minutes from Finsbury Park station, this lovely local pub is a scant 15 minute bus ride directly to the stadium via the W3 bus.

The pub will be open early so that you can get your pregame burger and beers in, before grabbing the bus directly to the stadium.

After the game, hop back on the bus and your straight to the pub before many of your mates even make it through the queue at the White Hart Lane train station.

Best of all, the pub is open LATE on London game days, so that you can get stuck in to watch the NFL all night on their many TVs.

If you have any other questions about the NFL game at Tottenham, where to stay, or what other things you might need to know about the games, just get in touch!

Stay safe and see you Sunday at the Sports Bar & Grill Clapham, or Old Street.

 

 

Falcons Doc

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Are you hungry for more and more NFL content?
Is the preseason still not enough to fill that gaping hole in your weekend?
Are you an Atlanta fan?
Then have we got the Falcons doc for you to watch!

‘Does anyone know how to throw a football’ is not your typical NFL documentary, in that it doesn’t use any footage from the NFL.
(they’re pretty cagey when it comes to allowing people to use their content).

Instead it is a well thought out, and edited documentary available for FREE on YouTube.

Obviously done by Falcons fans, the doc takes a look at the history of the Falcons, and the struggles that they have had in trying to put together a franchise that could win a Super Bowl.

It’s well researched, and employs news articles and stock images to tell a historically interesting piece that would interest more than Atlanta Falcons fans.

Part 1 is up, and part 2 was uploaded on Sat August 21st so that you can get your fill of NFL this weekend.

Falcons fans looking forward to watching their team play the Jets at Tottenham stadium in October will have ample ammo of information to be able to impress and entertain those around them.
(or piss them off-that’s up to you).

The film is directed by fantastic documentary film maker Jon Bois.

Here’s the link to part 1.

Jets TV

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We’re living in the ‘age of content’, so it’s no surprise that NFL teams are looking to fill the void by creating their own unique footage.
Enter the New York Jets.

‘Flight 2021′ is a new, YouTube series dedicated to the start of the New York Jets 2021 season. If you’re looking to follow all things green and white in the NYC, then this Jets TV might be a good thing to check out.

With the Jets London bound to face the Falcons in 2021, UK and European fans might want to keep in touch with all of the latest Jets news, as well as fan announcements for any Jets activities that might be going on during their October trip.

While regular NFL fans might want to sleuth their own teams’ social video content schedule, those who are planning on attending the Falcons vs Jets at Tottenham stadium in October might find value in this series.

These ‘behind the scenes’ types of videos are great for fans for numerous reasons.
Firstly you get to hear team news from the team, it’s not redacted or pumped full of ads, so you get the news straight from the horses mouth.

Secondly, you actually get to see the people involved in the decision making, and you can find them on social media.
For any UK fans looking to make contact with Jets or Falcons team personal, these type of videos give you the name and position of those in the know.
While no one likes a LinkedIn ‘cold call’, using proper NFL channels might get you the info that you need.

Lastly, boredom. One thing we’ve learned from Covid is that good video content is liking a shipping container. Hard to find and difficult to fill.
While we all wait for the NFL to start up again in September, we can all take solace in the fact that there is now more football video content to watch.

Even if it is the Jets.