The Times of India

King Charles III had an unexpected encounter with American football during his visit to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London. The 76-year-old monarch, known more for his royal engagements than sporting prowess, took a brief but spirited lesson in throwing a football like a quarterback.

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Thankfully, the infamous "tush push" was not part of the royal demonstration.

King Charles III Tries His Hand at American Football During Tottenham Visit

The visit, which took place on Wednesday, was part of a community event organized by Tottenham Hotspur and the NFL. As part of the initiative, the King interacted with several prominent figures from the football world. He was given throwing advice by Phoebe Schecter, captain of Britain’s women’s flag football team, before attempting a pass himself.

WATCH: Joyous King Charles Visits Tottenham Hotspur Football Club

Among those present was Efe Obada, the British-Nigerian defensive end who has played for the Washington Commanders over the past three seasons. Obada, who had the honor of handing the King the football, shared his observations on the royal’s skills.“His technique wasn’t immaculate, I wanted him to get a little closer to the target so he could get it in but he was having a great time and got a good reception,” said Obada. Despite the imperfections, he credited the King for his enthusiasm, stating that he “got stuck in” and brought great energy to the moment.Tottenham Hotspur has been an official partner of the NFL, hosting several games each season at their state-of-the-art stadium. Through this collaboration, The Huddle Project was launched, an initiative aimed at uplifting children and young people across the Tottenham area.

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As part of the visit, King Charles met students from the London Academy of Excellence Tottenham, a prestigious sixth-form institution that operates within the stadium's campus.The King’s presence underscored the strong UK-NFL connection, which has only grown over the years. Tottenham Hotspur’s partnership with the NFL goes beyond the game, focusing on community development, local businesses, and social causes—a mission well-aligned with the royal family's advocacy efforts.Also Read: No Doubts, no regrets: How Jalen Hurts rewarded the Eagles’ trust with a Super Bowl winApart from football, the King also took a moment to pose for photos with Spurs' star player Son Heung-min, further highlighting the fusion of American and British sports cultures within the club’s outreach programs.

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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There's that old saying: when you find the house, you just know. That might be said about the NFL and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It doesn't just check the right boxes-there's ample natural light, double glazing, and spacious locker rooms-but takes it all to another level with its inventive Skywalk, that tourists can take in and which is akin to a high-end kitchen island.

Incredibly exciting upgrades and continued Celebration

The stadium has improved its facility systems since the first time it opened in the October of 2019, including a Formula 1-backed go-karting layout hidden underneath the complex.The NFL housewarming parties do not seem to dwindle but get louder and more boisterous with nine games already played and more on schedule.Also Read - How NFL Players Invest

A mini Super Bowl atmosphere

"We want to bring that mini Super Bowl back to London every time we come here," said NFL UK general manager Henry Hodgson.

This weekend marks Tottenham's 10th regular-season NFL game, perhaps the most iconic clash yet: No. 1 overall picks Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears and Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars going head-to-head.

Building Community through International Events

Home to NFL games, the stadium saw its first taste of NFL Flag Continental Series: Europe. "It's not just about the NFL game anymore," said Afia Law, head of international flag football development at the NFL, as she talks about the program which gathers young players from several countries to play and be competitive.

The partnership between the NFL and Tottenham has anchored a commitment to the growth of sport in the UK. Hodgson further said that in this vision, a multi-purpose venue that will serve both the NFL and Tottenham Hotspur was aimed for. The relationship already increased from annual games into community initiatives, enlarging the footprint of the game of football in Europe.

Celebrating long-standing relationships

This season will be the 17th as the NFL hosts regular-season games in London.

The league has installed Tottenham with the title of its official UK home. The deal has been extended through to the 2029/30 season and claims to reflect a shared commitment to grow both brands.

Exposure and opportunities power a revolution in people's lives

It has hosted not only NFL games but scouting combines and academy matches, thereby giving emerging talent the chance to truly showcase their class. Also Read - Record Breaking Viewership of NFL

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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Jamie Vardy heading in the equaliser for Leicester City (Reuters Photo)

In a surprising turn of events, Jamie Vardy, who had been expected to miss the match due to a pre-season injury, came off the bench to score the equalizer for Leicester.

Pedro Porro's first-half goal for Tottenham was not enough to secure victory against newly-promoted Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Monday. Despite creating numerous chances, Spurs were unable to capitalize on their opportunities, leaving manager Ange Postecoglou frustrated with his team's profligacy.

In a surprising turn of events, Jamie Vardy, who had been expected to miss the match due to a pre-season injury, came off the bench to score the equalizer for Leicester.The 37-year-old striker's header was a testament to his enduring goal-scoring instincts, particularly against Tottenham, having now scored nine Premier League goals in 17 appearances against them.Tottenham's failure to convert their chances proved costly, as they were left to rue their missed opportunities and lack of composure in front of goal.

The result highlighted the need for Postecoglou's side to be more clinical in their finishing if they are to achieve their objectives this season.Postecoglou's inaugural season at Tottenham concluded with the club securing a fifth-place finish. The Australian manager's unwavering dedication to an aggressive, offensive style of play ultimately proved detrimental, as it cost the team a spot in the Champions League.

Tottenham's performance was once again hindered by a combination of subpar finishing and a lack of defensive concentration.Dominic Solanke, who recently joined the club from Bournemouth in a transfer that could potentially reach £65 million ($84 million), was particularly at fault during his debut match."Disappointing night for us. First half excellent and controlled the game but wasteful in front of goal. Once Leicester scored, the crowd lifted and we lost our composure," Postecoglou said.

"It was an issue we had last year as well. We need to keep working hard and be a bit more ruthless in front of goal. At times we made poor decisions. The dominance is great but if you don't score it is meaningless. We have to be stronger in our mindset in the front third. To be that wasteful is disappointing. We just weren't clinical."Leicester have secured their return to the Premier League following their Championship victory, concluding their brief one-season hiatus from the top flight.

As speculation swirls about potential points deductions due to alleged financial rule breaches, newly appointed manager Cooper faces the urgent task of ensuring a strong start to the campaign. Relegation avoidance is the primary objective, and the team's resolute performance in this match serves as a promising beginning to that end."I was as fit as a fiddle until I got to about 65 minutes if I'm honest!" Vardy said.

"Tottenham are a really good team but we have them too much respect. We started getting after them and it changed the momentum."When we are at the top of our game we can give anyone a run for their money."Tottenham nearly took the lead in the opening stages when Rodrigo Bentancur's shot was cleared off the line by Wilfred Ndidi, and Brennan Johnson's powerful follow-up was saved by Mads Hermansen.Solanke directed a diving header straight at Hermansen, while Cristian Romero narrowly missed the target with a header from Porro's cross.

Solanke challenged Hermansen again with another headed effort, and Tottenham's persistent pressure paid off in the 29th minute.James Maddison delivered a perfectly weighted cross into the Leicester box, and Porro's well-timed run allowed him to guide a header into the far corner from 12 yards out.Maddison almost provided another assist moments later with a superb cross that Johnson fired narrowly wide.Solanke missed a golden opportunity early in the second half, firing his shot directly at Hermansen, who also managed to parry Bentancur's attempt from close range.

Tottenham paid the price for their profligacy in the 57th minute when Leicester scored with their first shot on target. The Spurs defenders were caught napping as Vardy was left unmarked in the six-yard box to head in Abdul Fatawu's cross. It was exactly the kind of sloppy goal that bedevilled Tottenham during their swoon in the closing weeks of last season.Vardy nearly capitalized on more disorganized defending from Tottenham, latching onto Bobby Decordova-Reid's pass, but he couldn't find the precision needed to beat Guglielmo Vicario.

Bentancur was left lying face down on the field following a clumsy collision. He received medical attention for seven minutes, which included being administered oxygen, before being carried off on a stretcher to be assessed for a possible concussion.The incident left Tottenham visibly unsettled. In stoppage time, Vicario had to dive to his left to push away a header from Boubakary Soumare. Richarlison then missed a close-range header, summing up the away team's erratic performance throughout the match.

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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