Under Pressure

Vernon Kay

After watching his first Superbowl on TV, 13-year-old Vernon discovered a lifelong passion for American Football. He even played for his local team the Manchester Allstars, but when his career took an unexpected turn into television, dreams of making it big in the world of pads and helmets disappeared. 22 years later Vernon wants to get the Allstars back together for one last game - playing against the UK's top University American Football team. But in the hands of professional coaches, will his older mates cope with training, tackles and touchdowns as they approach their 40s? And as Vernon travels to the States to see what it really takes to be an NFL player, does he wish his life had turned out differently? From the highs of Vernon's initial pitch over a pint and a dream fulfilled as the Allstars run out in pads for the first time in 20 years on Wembley's hallowed turf, to the lows of reality biting as the middle aged team suffer bruised ribs and dislocated shoulders, the Allstars journey back to the pitch is filled with dramatic, emotionally-charged moments. Will Vernon and his band of beer-bellied brothers stand a chance of being victorious? And will age, weight and experience triumph over the finely tuned athletes half their age?