Meanwhile in Maryland, on America’s Mid-Atlantic coastline, a future, shining light of American Sports is honing his skills as Sean Endicott, current coach of the Nottingham Caesars Juniors, is but a mere youngster, watching college basketball with his parents.

Fast-forward slightly to his own college years and Endicott is making a pathway of his own, in that of sports journalism, covering both basketball, and the now-Washington Football Team (formerly Redskins).

Jumping forward again and he’s now, well was until injury sidelines him in recent times, has been playing American Football, on British shores.

That injury though, granted a long-term one, has afforded time in which to focus on the coaching side of his game, whilst the sports journalism, well that’s now technology journalism instead – change is as good as the rest, or so they say.

Harking back though, to those days with his parents back in Maryland, Endicott said: “One of my first memories is of going to the University of Maryland to watch the basketball with my parents.

“Although I never watched much of those early games as I was asleep by half-time (he was four-years-old) so mum would take me out to the car and she’d listen to the rest on the radio.

“I’d be asleep, on the backseat, whilst we waited for dad to come out afterwards.”

Although America’s most beautiful game (apologies to baseball, basketball, college football and ice hockey aficionados) only took off on this side of the Atlantic in the mid-eighties; Endicott, like many since, was unaware if the presence of American Football when he landed.

As big as any sport stateside, both college, and the NFL on the whole, play a big part in the everyday life of American citizens, including that of the Endicott family.

A Washington fan himself, understandable with a Head Coach as legendary as Joe Gibbs leading them to three Super Bowl rings, four Conference championships, and a place in the Hall of Fame from during the heady days of the eighties and early nineties; his parents meanwhile, they’re partial to Green Bay (Packers), whilst there’s also an affinity for their college side, the Wisconsin Badgers, three-time national champions.

Having been with the Caesars now for some three years, Endicott only found out about the game here when studying at Nottingham Trent University.

“I didn’t know that there was a team here (Nottingham), let alone in the country overall,” continued Endicott.

“There’s some really good teams in the Notts area and yes, there’s some powerhouses, we’re trying to emulate that here.”

Over the past eighteen months or so, with it being as tough as it has been for so many, those connected to the Caesars included, then a recent return to action has been of great benefit.

Divisional matches have seen success after success and, even a cross-divisional reverse to the #2 ranked Manchester Titans failed to dampen spirits at the club.

“The Caesars did really well against the Titans and they deserve a lot of credit, respect for that,” added Endicott.

“We knew that, in facing them (Titans), that it would be a long, hard slog, but, to be able to stay within a score of them for a long period of the game, was fantastic.

“It was a breath of fresh air to play against a team of that calibre, that magnitude.”

Now however, with that knee injury in mind, and a pandemic having curtailed the majority of the past two years, Endicott’s focus is on the Caesar’s brand, the Caesars future, and their ever-growing, Caesars Juniors set-up.

It is a set-up that, although as with everyone, everywhere, has been hindered by the pandemic, it has also helped the Caesars, in a roundabout way.

“It’s been really interesting here, with the Caesars Juniors, over the past eighteen months,” states Endicott.

“We’ve got around 25, core players, who turn up every week, but only a handful with game experience, so we know what we need to do at this level.

“There’s always room for improvement but I’m proud of those which we have here, with everyone stepping up, and putting in a good shift.

“More as our roster is a really young age, but that also means that pretty much the entire squad can come back next year and will have had a year of experience behind them.

“Right now however, we’re starting to see an influx of interest for next year, and we’re only year two of a five-year plan.

“So, in order to move forward, we’ll continue building those relationships with the schools, and of course the universities, on both a sporting, and academic level, to help them succeed in what they’re wanting to do in life.

“We’re always recruiting though, including mid-season, you have to be able to do that, and strike while that iron is hot.”

Anyone interested in joining the Nottingham Caesars Juniors, check out their socials on Facebook and Twitter, and drop them a message, Sean Endicott and his team would love to hear from you, talk you through it all, and help you to aid in building a bright future, a Caesars future.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @CaesarsFootball Sean Endicott building for the future.