Newcastle Vikings: Victory or Valhalla
Written by Aaron Wall on 24th March 2026
After a tough season that ended in relegation, Aaron Wall gets behind the scenes access to the Newcastle Vikings as they rebuild and look for a return to the top.
Credit Aaron Wall: Head Coach Pete Nichol (Left) with Quarterback Jack Marshall (Right) at the Vikings home pitch, Druid Park
Last Season the Newcastle Vikings American Football team ended the season with a record of 1-9, finishing bottom of the Premiership North and subsequently facing relegation into Division One North. After losing their head coach in the middle of the season, the Vikings and chairman, David Robson, knew they were facing an uphill battle to find a Head Coach and secure the future of the club going forward.
The Vikings, originally founded in 2014, merged with Northumberland Lightning to become the Northumberland Vikings in 2017 and remained that way until their inaugural season in the Premiership North in 2023, where they returned to their original name, Newcastle Vikings. Their first season in the Prem saw them finish 2nd, making the playoffs where they lost to London Warriors, making them the 4th best team in the country at the time. The following season did not result in the same success. Recruitment wise and mid-season injuries began to add to the already crushing weight of playing at the highest level.
Externally, it appears that the expectation is on the Vikings to return to the Prem North.
I asked Chris ‘Tebbs’ Tebbutt, a social media journalist for DepthChartSports, on his thoughts regarding the Vikings season ahead. He said:
“I do think its likely [the Vikings get promoted]” stating that “their biggest competition is the Yorkshire Rams”
“They will be bolstered by the fact that both Northumbria Mustangs and Newcastle Raiders (University) outperformed at least my expectations of them this uniball season”
Fortunately for the Vikings, Chairman David Robson already knew of the success of the universities in the surrounding area as that is where he went shopping for a Head Coach.
Alongside former player, Connor Joyce, who played 103 games for the Vikings since it’s creation in 2014 boasting an impressive 62 interceptions in that time, the head coaching job will be shared with Northumbria Mustangs’ head coach, Pete Nichol. A pair that were involved in the Vikings undefeated promotion season in 2023.
Credit Aaron Wall: Quarterback Jack Marshall training for the upcoming season.
I sat down with Chairman David to discuss the decision to hire both men as well as his thoughts and expectations for the upcoming season.
“I mean, I definitely feel good.” David started with. “It was uncertain for a long period of time if the Vikings were going to continue really”
“This season we are getting 35 people to training which is more, I think, than we’ve had [at this point] since pre-COVID”
We also discussed the changes that had been made at the club since last year.
“A lot of them are process based, making sure we’ve got people in positions to make sure admin is sorted… making sure we’re the model club, as it were, for an amateur American football but the massive changes are the coaching staff.”
“Bringing Connor and Pete in to stabilise the club, bring their experience but also they’re popular in the region so it helps with player recruitment, and it helps create a good culture around the place.”
I also spoke to David about his expectations and predictions are for the upcoming season.
“I mean, expectations are, and this is not a view of [Connor and Pete] as coaches, but they’re not particularly high.”
“I think, you’ve got to be in for playoffs, especially with what we’ve come from.”
“I think playoffs is the aim but expectation is to stabilise the club, bring about a better culture and move on from there. [The point of this] is to stabilise the club and secure its future for the next 10 years at least”
Credit Aaron Wall: Newcastle Vikings play Nottingham Caesers during the 2025 season
Internally, there is no pressure to perform this season from management however Head Coach Pete Nichol’s record as a coach in university is something to be proud of. 2 promotions in the last 2 seasons with Northumbria Mustangs was followed up with a playoff appearance season in the Prem North of the BUCS leagues. Not only did they secure their position in the league for another year, but they also lost narrowly in overtime to an SGS team that would end up in the final that year.
I interviewed Pete to gather his thoughts on the season and why he ultimately chose to accept the Vikings Job
“Summer. It’s nicer to coach in the summer, I get to wear shorts.”
“It seemed like the club was struggling, I’ve been involved with the club for a long time with the youth team coaching and the adult team and it would be a massive shame to let [them fold].”
When questioned on how he feels about sharing the role, Pete was very positive about it, suggesting it was the reason he accepted it.
“When Connor reached out about sharing the role, that sounded more enticing” also adding “I enjoy coaching so why not do more while I still can”
I asked if he shared thoughts with the chairman in terms of their being no pressure in terms of results and Pete told me “I don’t think there’s not pressure unless you don’t want the team to do well. You have to put a certain amount of pressure on yourself, the players and everyone involved.”
Pete’s success over the university season is unmatched in the North East. When asked if that success will translate to the summer he said:
“Vikings is a different challenge.”
“You have le ss rookies so there’s less reliance on teaching everything but then it’s still trying to fit my system around the players.”
The Newcastle Vikings travel to Chester Romans on Sunday 19th April for their season opener. The absence of victory wont necessarily lead to Valhalla this season but David, along with his two new Head coach appointments will be sure to give everything they’ve got to regain their seat amongst the Gods of northern football.
