Brentford fans who have ventured to Bedfont Sports Club on a Sunday afternoon are likely to have seen Samantha Read asserting her dominance in the Bees’ defence.

Some may not know, however, that the central defender is usually coming off a game of American football on a Saturday.

She did just that over the weekend, her London Warriors beating Leeds Chargers 47-8 in the top flight of American football in England.

Despite the physical and mental demands of both sports, both on the weekends and throughout the week with training, Read insists she doesn’t let the toll of her busy schedule get on top of her.

“I don’t think my body realises it until Monday. Particularly when we’ve had a game or it’s been a physically demanding practice session, it’s just a lot of stretching and looking after your body,” says Read.

“I don’t let it affect me either side because obviously we’ve got Brentford training on the Friday night and then I go to play a game on the Saturday and then the Sunday. I just make sure I look after myself.”

Sports has always been a part of Read’s life, beginning with youth sport while growing up in Yorkshire. It wasn’t until her four-year stint at university in the United States that American football became an interest.

She was offered a football scholarship to attend university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, becoming a Green Bay Packers fan in the process. When she returned to London in 2016, Read was interested in becoming involved with American football.

“When I came back, I guess it was my little bit of America to cling on to. There was a local team and I just joined up with them to try and get some experience career-wise,” Read explains.

“Then they had a women’s team and they were like ‘come and try out’ and they never let me leave after that, so that’s how I got into it. That was with a team called the Wembley Stallions and we were quite successful. We played flag football first of all.

Photo: callm3pa

“I think we were in division two of the national league. We were quite successful then and won division two in my third year of playing there. Thankfully that team enabled me to get trials at Great Britain and then I was successful in being selected for the World Championships in 2022 to represent the country.

“From there I then transferred to my current team which is the London Warriors. We are now national champions for the second year in a row and going for that third one this season.

“It is an incredible set-up, the Warriors are one of the best organisations in the sport and I’m very lucky to be alongside the incredible athletes and coaches there.”

Read is best known as a wide receiver, however also takes the kicking duties for her side. While similar, there are some clear differences when it comes to striking a football and an American football.

“It’s actually a completely different style of kicking, you have to have your foot angled a different way, the sweet spot on the ball is so much smaller,” says Read.

“It obviously is transferrable because you’ve got that natural kicking momentum and style and it’s just tweaking it a little bit so you can be better at kicking an American football. When I’m in both seasons I swear my feet get confused sometimes.”

Despite playing at the international level with Great Britian, Read reveals the sport is completely self-funded, with players having to pay travel and accommodation costs, as well as for equipment, apparel and match fees.

“Sadly the sport isn’t well funded, across all variations of the game. The women’s team, even at the international level, have to pay their way just to compete,” she says.

While busy with playing two sports throughout the season, Read must also balance her role as operations executive at Gtech Community Stadium.

She praises the club for helping her and other athletes working at the club to balance their sporting schedules with work.

“They [Brentford] have been incredible with it, obviously my career is something that is longevity, so it’s something I’m trying to work through and progress, but also they understand the level that I play at,” she says.

“I’m not the only international athlete we have at Brentford either, so it’s just understanding the schedule and they’re very flexible about it. I have a great, understanding team within the operations department set where we work together and we look after each other.”

Looking ahead, Read has a busy period coming up, following her selection in Great Britain’s squad for their final European Championships game against Finland on Saturday 17 August.

Photo: Jari Turunen

“Club-wise we’re going for that national championship again, we’re undefeated in the regular season making the national finals in September,” Read concludes.

“Individually I have one more training camp with Great Britain before we compete in the European Championships to hopefully get that silver medal, as well as kicking off pre-season for what we aim to be a promotion-winning season for Brentford Women."