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Leigh Day paralegal to make NFL history in front of millions

Farringdon-based wannabe lawyer responsible for picking the fortunes of National Football League teams A London paralegal with a penchant for American football will make history next weekend by announcing two picks on behalf of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2015 live National Football League (NFL) Draft. Leigh Day paralegal and American football fanatic George Bedford will announce the Jaguars' sixth and seventh round draft picks having won a competition run by the team. London is the first city outside of the US to play a part of the NFL Draft and the game will be broadcast via Sky Sports News in the UK and the NFL Network in the US on 2 May. 'I was astonished to hear I had been picked,' said Bedford. 'I would say I was speechless but due to the excitement I was actually talking a lot!' The NFL Draft, a staple of the NFL season since 1936, sees the best 256 college American Football players picked by all 32 NFL franchises over seven rounds. The event plays a major part in each team's preparation for the new season and creates a media frenzy as followers of each team wait to see which new talent will be brought into their team's roster. The Jaguars are the only NFL team to have made an annual commitment to playing one game in London, and have visited the capital since 2013. Given said commitment, the team wanted to honour its UK fan base further by offering one fan the chance to play a key role by making the live TV announcement from London. 'Ever since the Jaguars committed to playing in London I became interested in them and I've just become more of a fan as they've continued to come back and do more in London. It's great that they're continuing to involve their UK fans - I'm just the really lucky one,' added Bedford. The young lawyer has long held an interest in the sport having played for Lancaster University American Football team, the Lancaster Bombers, as a student. That passion means Bedford hasn't yet given up his dream of himself being drafted one day. 'Being realistic, this might be the closest I ever get to the draft and I'm delighted to play a key role in such a major NFL event,' he admitted. The NFL Draft is a major weekend in the NFL calendar when all 32 teams compete over seven rounds to select the best college players. The draft attracted 45.7 million TV viewers in 2014 and will broadcast its first three rounds in a glitzy ceremony in Chicago this year. Bedord told SJ he would not be flying the Leigh Day flag as the NFL have 'rather strict uniform requirements' but, with a worldwide audience, the College of Law graduate and former Hill Dickinson paralegal may well be placing himself in front and centre of the shop window for firms looking for future trainees. John van der Luit-Drummond is deputy editor for Solicitors Journal john.vanderluit@solicitorsjournal.co.uk | @JvdLD

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