Kent Phoenix Youth American Football Club have celebrated their 10th anniversary.
The club, based at Shepway Green in Maidstone, are a major success story for the town.
Riley Watt in action for the South East Legion Picture: Gillett Media
They’ve helped numerous players on the path to Great Britain recognition and university football since breaking away from the now-defunct Maidstone Pumas to form a youth-only club.
Fittingly, in their anniversary season, they’ve broken new ground with Oliver Zarembski, a running back with South East Legion under-19s – the club’s kitted arm – becoming the first player to turn professional.
Another Legion player, o-line Riley Watt, is off to the NFL Academy at Loughborough University – the fourth player to achieve the feat after Charlie Brooker, Apollo Kagimu and Charlie Plumb.
Kent Phoenix have come a long way since a team of eight volunteers took the plunge and decided to form their own club a decade ago.
“I think it was probably a hard choice back then,” recalled founder member and former chairman Lee Parsons, who has just led the Legion to back-to-back league titles as coach.
“The reason we split from the Maidstone Pumas is because, being part of an adult system, it was hard to get any funding or money for the kids.
“We decided to focus on the kids and it’s proved to be the right decision because the Maidstone Pumas no longer exist and what we’ve done as a youth-only club has been copied across the country. There’s now quite a few.
“We never intended to be trailblazers, we just wanted to give more opportunities to kids and focus on youth sport.
Oliver Zarembski in action for Polish pro club Panthers Wroclaw Picture: Lukas Skwiot
“Our first training session, the school we booked forgot we were coming, so we had to go to a local field.”
The Phoenix, who provide flag football for younger players, soon had a home of their own after moving into Shepway Green, a local councillor having recommended the site to Ian Miles, another of the founder members.
They carried out extensive renovations to bring the dilapidated changing rooms up to standard and have gone from strength to strength at their own base.
Parsons stood down as chairman three years ago and will also leave his role as Legion coach after the national finals in order to spend more time with his family.
Reflecting on the past decade, he said: “The Legion programme really stands out for me, that and getting through Covid and still being about because a lot of clubs fell by the wayside.
“Ten years ago we had our first under-16s programme within six weeks of forming, a team ready to compete in the National League, and we had the second-best defensive team in the country that year.
“I know I’m a bit biased but I think I’ve got the best o-line in our age group in the country now. I genuinely believe that.
NFL Academy-bound Riley Watt (No.77) with South East Legion coaches Mark Irving, Ray Allen, Lee Parsons, Steve Watt and David Green Picture: Gillett Media
“This is definitely my last year but I just want the club to continue to go from strength to strength, keep progressing and getting kids playing the sport.
“It’s a growing sport and flag is part of the Olympics in 2028, so it’s going to keep growing.”
Earlier this month, Zarembski, 19, made his professional debut for an American football team in Poland.
He appeared for Panthers Wroclaw against German club Berlin Thunder in an American Football League Europe fixture.
The match, held at the 42,000-capacity Tarczynski Arena in Wroclaw, ended in a 50-12 victory for the hosts, meaning a winning start for Zarembski, who has already earned Polish international honours.
“I still haven’t fully taken in what’s happening in my life right now,” said Zarembski, who’s just finished his first year studying sports science at Loughborough University.
“Looking back at everything, it’s just unreal.”
Zarembski took up American football with the Legion at the end of 2023.
Kent Phoenix under-16 Blaze squad with coaches Luke Streeter and David Taylor
He secured a place in the team as a running back as the Phoenix won their league undefeated in just his second season before finishing third in the finals.
The chance to play professionally came ahead of schedule for Zarembski.
“I hadn’t trained with them, so the fact they put me on the field is a miracle. It was a very big stadium, with loads of people there, and it was on TV.
“I didn’t feel I played that well but I’m glad I had the experience, even for a little bit.
“Going pro was always my goal.
“I’m quite lucky that the season is happening now and not during uni but I’m hoping to go as far as I can in the sport, considering I’m only 19 and I’ve already turned pro.
“The plan is to play NFL. There’s many ways I can get there and starting in this league is definitely one of them.
“Loads of players have done that, so I’ve just got to keep working hard and see where life takes me.”
Watt, 17, heads to Loughborough next month for his first summer camp after securing a place on the NFL Academy.
Kent Phoenix’s under-11 flag team after winning the FireBowl Tournament with coaches Ethan Farrant and Robb Goble Picture: Kent Phoenix
Competition is fierce, with combines – a series of assessments – held all over the world for the limited places on offer.
Watt progressed from the London combine last December and his spot was confirmed after impressing at the final Loughborough combine in February.
“I’m absolutely buzzing,” said Watt, who started out playing flag football at Kent Phoenix just a couple of years ago.
“I can’t wait to get started. It’s going to be one of the hardest things I’ll ever do, but it’s what I want to do.
“My main goal is to try and play at the highest level I can.
“I want to play college football in America and this is the best way to do it. I’m getting seen by American coaches and schools and able to get the exposure you need, coached by some of the best coaches in the world. It’s a great opportunity.”
Watt knows his journey to the NFL Academy wouldn’t be possible without his Legion coaches, not to mention former Maidstone footballer Matt Bodkin, who has led a strength and conditioning programme for the teenager.
“The club have really have improved me as a player and definitely as a person as well,” said Watt.
“I want to thank the club and all the coaches, Lee Parsons, Ray Allen and David Green.
“They’re all volunteers and they’ve taken so much time to develop me as a player, even outside of training with all extra training they’ve done with me.
“I’d also like to thank Matt Bodkin for everything he’s done.
Kent Phoenix chair Michelle Carr, centre.
“There’s a lot of hard work ahead but everyone’s so welcoming at Loughborough. It’s like a massive family.”
The honour of being club chair in Kent Phoenix’s anniversary year has fallen to Michelle Carr.
She officially took over at the start of the season, having effectively been in post since April last year.
Carr initally came to the club as a parent three years ago.
“It’s the perfect opportunity to look back and share stories,” she said.
“It’s been nice to speak to Lee and other volunteers who were there at the beginning to find out how it all started and talk about all the success stories, players who have gone on to bigger and better things after the club gave them a platform.
“We’ve been sharing some old pictures on social media and I’m sure we’ll try and put on some kind of event in the summer, once the season has finished, to get together and celebrate the anniversary.
“It’s amazing what the club have achieved. It’s testament to those who started it in the beginning.
“There’s all these strands of the club, underpinned by the 10 years, giving us focus to move forward for the next 10 years. We want to keep growing.”