For the second straight year, local American Football team - the Border City Centurions - have qualified for the National Final in Manchester.

Having beaten off the best in the league, including; Manchester, Liverpool, Lancashire, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen - the Carlisle based squad will again contend for the UK’s top spot.

“It’s great to be able to build on last year’s success and continue to solidify our presence at the top of the league” said Nick Weston, the Centurions Head Coach.

“A lot of people thought we’d never be able to sustain our form from last year, especially against the biggest teams in the north of England and Scotland, but we flat refuse to entertain that mentality.

"As we’ve always said ‘its not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog."

It’s been almost four decades since American Football first landed in the region, but the teams of the past always struggled to get their roots down and build a successful team. -

In March 2023,  the all-new Centurions burst onto the 'Britbowl' scene with an emphatic debutant season that took them all the way to the top of the league.

This year they’ve gone from underdogs to top dogs averaging more than 40pts per game and beating teams from across the country.

READ MORE: Border City Centurions make history in debut NFFL season

The 2024 journey has now brought them back to the finals and this Sunday and a chance to go one step further than their previous trip.

The sport of flag football will be at the next Olympics in Los Angeles  Olympics meaning there is potential for local athletes to be selected for Team GB.

The Centurions continue to grow with a junior team 'rapidly' developing and a womens' side also being set up. 

Flag Football is a rapidly growing, high-skill based format of non-contact American Football.