American football coming to Bury St Edmunds - could you soon be cheering on the Bury Brewers?

It's American football's biggest event of the year this weekend - but the sport could be coming to Bury St Edmunds on a regular basis.

The town is set to get its first American football team - at least it will if Chris Wallis, a veteran of the British Gridiron scene, has his way!

While the New England Patriots and New York Giants are preparing to go head to head in Indianapolis on Sunday evening, former head coach Wallis is hard at work getting together a Bury-based team to enter the British American Football Association National League (BAFANL) at the end of 2012.

Wallis said: "Organised competitive American Football has been played in the UK since 1984, and it amazes me that Bury hasn't had a team before. There are teams in Cambridge, Ipswich and Norwich already, and Bury seems ideally located for a team as well."

But first he needs to prove to the BAFANL managing committee that there is enough interest in the area to support a team over the long term and the standards new teams are required to meet are higher than those of existing teams.

Wallis explained, "We need to recruit and register at least 30 brand new players as part of the application process. That means players that have not played for an existing BAFANL team during the 2011 season and complete newcomers to the sport.

"We want to attract players of all ages, shapes and sizes. The great thing about American Football is that it can be a sport for specialists which allows anybody, regardless of size or fitness, to contribute on the pitch."

The Nickname for the new team is yet to be decided. The obvious choice would be the Bury 'Saints'.  But the team based in Oxford already use that name, and League Rules prevent another team using it as well.

The Bury Brewers is the favoured name at the moment. But Sky Eagles, Kings, Badgers, and even Fighting Abbots are also being considered.

Wallis continued, "A winning team on the field starts with a strong management team off it so we are looking for anybody interested in helping, even if they can't play. That is the beauty of American Football, you don't have to be a player to experience the hype and excitement of the sport on game day."

The team is especially looking for a volunteer with web design experience to help get the team web site up and running as soon as possible. Wallis added, "A web site is not only a great way to raise the team profile it is also essential in attracting new players and sponsors. Before we can even start training we need to purchase footballs which could cost as much as £500 and we will be hoping attract sponsors to help the team get started."

Initial plans are to start an adult team, but Wallis would like to hear from anybody (of any age) interested in joining the team, or any other aspect of American Football. Please email coach Wallis at BurySEGridiron@aol.co.uk for further enquiries or to register your interest.