Sport In Profile UK Issue 01 | Page 26

NEWCASTLE VIKINGS NEWCASTLE VIKINGS Newcastle Vikings are a new club having been established in February 2014 and are due to become a National League team shortly. Sport in Profile Magazine caught up with the club’s Commercial Director Mick Tyler to find out how they have been getting along since forming and also what their plans are for the future. He told us, “The club is new (February 2014) although I have been involved with other clubs previously. This was an opportunity to start one in Newcastle. The mood here is good as we have a number of positive things happening at the club within the last month. Our first season has gone well as we have completed the necessary 3 “associate” games for inclusion into the BAFA National League in 2015. Youth Development is the single most important part of our club. We are established as a Community Interest Company which means that we are “not for profit” and we reinvest all income into developing American Football in the North East. The most challenging aspect is always the ability to raise enough finance to run the club, at the moment our players “pay to play” as do all American Footballers in the UK. Our first aim is to try to reduce the cost to play to as near to zero as we can as this can be a reason for some people not to play. We actively encourage anyone who wants to be involved to get on board; we have a job for everyone no matter what their particular talent. We are currently looking for a permanent home base within the city of Newcastle – we want somewhere that we can call “home”. 26 ISSUE 01