Our man reaches the end of the line!

Ironically, it was making the match-winning interception at the Revolution trial day that I realised that American Football probably isn't for me!

Club quarterback James Tomlinson had invited me along to the second of two 'have a go days' – to get a feel for what they are all about as the Revolution enter a new dawn in their 10th season of existence.

It was a brilliant morning. Everyone at the club was most welcoming to players of all abilities – including me, someone with the least experience possible.

But somehow I powered myself through all of the testing stations (I was a wide receiver, running back and even had a go as guard) before the little non-contact match at the end.

It passed me by, I must admit. It was in that mini-match environment that I realised the difference between myself and those who know how the game is played.

It finished all square, and we went to a form of tie-break, where the opposition's quarterback had three chances to throw a winning play.

If it was intercepted or incomplete – they lost. The ball flew at me, I caught it and started charging hell for leather before I'd even realised that the game was won – euphoria!

Tomlinson joked that I would probably dine out on my interception story for months to come - and he wasn't wrong.

But the 38-year-old, alongside new head coach Stephen Tonks, spoke at length afterwards about the game in Shropshire and the UK in general.

The Revolution suffered a tough 2015 season – they did not win a game and were relegated from the British American Football Association NFC 1 Division.

But, under Tonks and hopefully with a fresh playing roster come April, the Revolution will look to fly high again. Tonks told me about just what he believes makes a player tick.

He explained: "It's team spirit. American football is an inclusive sport; not everybody can be a starting player but everybody can contribute and that's what the appeal of the sport is to me.

"Not everybody has to be big. There are lots of different attributes – size helps in certain positions, speed helps in other positions.

"You need to think about what's going on around you and then have the heart to play – that really is important.

"Two or three of the guys that were at the trials as veterans were rookies this time last year.

"They were trying it out, seeing how they felt about it and not sure what position they'd want to play.

"A number of those guys played important roles and are now helping the new guys come through."

So what for the sport's prospects locally and nationally? The overwhelming opinion would surely be that the game could never capture the fever it has across the pond.

Tonks added: "A big thing for me this year was whether the three games that were hosted at Wembley were going to be sell-outs.

"I think what will probably happen is that a team will base some of its home games over here, whether it's Jacksonville or someone else, maybe play five games in the States and three over here.

"I think it could happen (become as big as America). But the problem is, in the UK it will be someone's second team because everyone has a favourite team over there – so that's what everyone will have to get over."

It started to become clear that this is a sport for anyone. Size, age, ability – it didn't really matter. And it was so accessible.

Tomlinson, who himself first played the game during a stint in Australia, revealed how a similar rookie day saw him become an integral member.

He said: "Rookie days are for the guys not to be on trial, but to try us out as a team and see if they fit.

"It's great to see that commitment now, but you want the same when it comes to January and the pads go on. It's one thing now but when it comes to that it's another level."

Tomlinson believes days such as this can enhance the game's popularity in this country and help people understand the game.

He said: "I think it comes down from a lack of knowledge, I think it also comes down from it being American-based, adverts and whistles, bells and dancing girls.

"A lot of people don't like that it stops after every single play – they get a bit bored. I like to think of it as full-contact chess.

"It's a tactical game. If you go down to Wembley then you've got 80,000 people there.

"You can drink beer with other fans, have banter with them as well, the whole game is a spectacle. You can't do that in football.

"You can't take your beer in and you can't sit with opposition fans."