Latest news with #SealandSeahawks
BBC News
18-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
The Principality of Sealand and its American football team
As a former World War Two sea fort, it is used to crashing waves, bitter winds and passing you are less likely to associate with the Principality of Sealand, a self-declared state 12km (eight miles) off the Essex and Suffolk coast, is an American football Sealand Seahawks, every match is an away this "micronation" has a surface area of just 0.4 hectares (one acre), there is no room for a fact, its land is solely contained to a former anti-aircraft platform in the North Sea, lived on by up to 300 Royal Navy personnel at the height of World War laid abandoned until a former British Army major Roy Bates occupied it in 1966, proclaiming himself king and giving birth to the micronation of it is ruled by his son, Prince how does this solitary, blasted-looking structure even have a sports team?Those logistics were all figured out in a Belfast bar back in 2021."I was a few Guinnesses deep and I came up with this great idea," says Mike Ireland, the team's had come across Sealand when purchasing his dad a lordship online as a joke."I said 'Let's represent this micronation that my dad is a lord of', so I approached Sealand's royal family."I don't think they took me very seriously at first." Mr Ireland, 42, has played American football since 2005, representing Chester and the Police Service of Northern managed to "cobble together 50 lads" for Sealand's first game, getting the micronation's backing after initial doubts."No-one thought it was going to be a serious event, but if someone says I can't do something, I'm going to do it," explains the police officer, who lives in Cornwall but grew up in the north-west of team's one-off matches, which take place against domestic sides, raise money for charity and empower both women and older players to lace up their boots."We have lads in their 50s who are just happy to carry on playing; I want to make this accessible for everybody," says Mr Ireland. The Seahawks also have a "nationals" side, full of promising young players ready to make a name for lack of home ground is used by Mr Ireland as an excuse to travel, with the side's escapades including trips to grounds across the UK and overseas - as well as a Popworld nightclub."Our most recent game was in Leicester, but we also play regularly in Bristol and Milton Keynes," Mr Ireland says."In fact, in Milton Keynes we have a scary good relationship with the local Popworld, as we all love dancing to Abba and drinking cocktails." About 200 people have signed up so far, from "superstar quarterbacks" to players in their 50s wanting to "prat about".Players are only signed if they are recommended by those already involved, and there is just one rule: "Don't be an idiot."Mr Ireland explains: "If you recommend someone and they're an idiot, then they get kicked out and you get kicked out for recommending them. It keeps people honest, I find."To date, only a few people have been shown the the ruler of Sealand has got in on the antics."Prince Michael came out to Palma to watch the nationals," Mr Ireland recalls. "He got on the beers with the boys and he had a grand old time."The [Bates] family are fully on board now. At first they weren't sure what to make of it, but now they realise it's a bit of a laugh; a bit of a giggle." Mr Ireland admits his passion for the "teeny, tiny micronation" splits opinion."It falls into two sides. There's the people who go 'That's really nice; it's lovely' and then there's the people who say 'It's just a jolly on the beers'," he says."But I live and breathe it. I'm proud that I can do something to give back, as American football has been great to me."I can now do something nice for other people, giving them the chance to play overseas and introducing them to people they'd never have met otherwise."Yet despite his impressive patriotism, Mr Ireland has yet to set foot on the rusting country he proudly is a dream he hopes one day will be realised."Otherwise I'll just swim there, and maybe they'll chuck me a rope," he says. Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk.
BBC News
02-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Chichester student plays American Football for Sealand micronation
A university student said his love of American Football had led him to represent a micronation off the coast of Milner balances his maters course at the University of Chichester with playing for the Sealand Seahawks – a team which represents the Principality of Sealand, a self-proclaimed independent state located on a former World War Two sea fort in the North recently represented the Seahawks in February, with the next match in Brno, Czech Republic, in November."I started playing age 14. I got into it as me and my dad used to watch it on TV," he said. "I started playing age 14. I got into it as me and my dad used to watch it on TV," he said."I did a quick Google search and found a local youth team, where I fell in love with the game and progressed until I made it on the under-19 GB squad." The physiotherapy student has been involved with the Seahawks since 2022 when he made my debut in France, and also played for the Solent Thrashers in Southampton."My university has been very accommodating to allow me to travel, play and train, as long as I was able to maintain a good work-life balance as a student athlete," he said."They provided additional one-to-one sessions if I needed help."He urged other student athletes to prioritise their health and mental wellbeing."By doing this, you will ensure your workloads aren't too much - but if they are, chat to someone," he added."The biggest thing for me was to ensure you get enough time with your family and friends," whilst doing the things you love."Dr Connor Nyberg, senior lecturer in physiotherapy at the University of Chichester, said the institution was proud of what Mr Milner had achieved, on and off the field.
