Glasgow could potentially be a breeding ground for a new Olympic sport according to a flag football coach. 

Andrew Gibson, chairman of the Glasgow Hornets and a defence coach for team Great Britain, has spoken about how popular the sport has become over the last decade. 

Earlier this year it was announced at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Mumbai that flag football was one of a number of new sports to be included at the games in LA in 2028.

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Glasgow Times: GB Flag Football players and Glasgow Hornets Robyn McLuskey, coach Andrew Gibson and Callum StopaniGB Flag Football players and Glasgow Hornets Robyn McLuskey, coach Andrew Gibson and Callum Stopani (Image: Gordon Terris)

Now Andrew is hoping that Glasgow will be a breeding ground for the 2028 GB Olympic team.

He said: "The news has not sunk in to be honest. It is really wild to think about doing.

"The sport has grown so much since I started playing.

"When I first started it was a niche aspect of a niche sport in the country, however, it has seen a rise in popularity thanks to some NFL backing stateside. 

"It would be great to see personally so many of those kids in our set-up become the backbone of the future GB team in LA. 

"We are really excited to see people get on board with the sport as it is something we are all passionate about."

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The sport is a 5 v 5 non-contact version of American football where 'tackles' are made by removing one of the belts on a player who is carrying the ball.

Andrew first started playing flag football in 2008 when he was a teenager after his mum told him about a class at St Margaret's High School in Airdrie. 

The now 31-year-old, from Coatbridge, says that he fell in love straight away and to now see it appear at the Olympics is something that he could only ever dream of.

Andrew, whose Glasgow Green-based club The Hornets is considered a top-three team in the UK, said: "The popularity of the sport has continued to get traction from other areas of NFL.

"Some pros within the game have started promoting it and playing it, which has caused it to be in the spotlight. 

"It is just really exciting and if I had to tell my younger self that flag football would be an Olympic sport they wouldn't believe you.

"In the past GB squads we have had around 6/7 people from all categories representing GB but I would love to see that go up when it comes to the Olympic Games.

"We always get good recognition from other teams about our coaches and players when we are away with GB.

"It is just a special feeling knowing that the journey in the sport has been worthwhile as it has been only something that we could dream of years ago."