Ystrad Mynach policeman Joe Vincent was given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity take centre stage as part of the NFL team Jacksonville Jaguars at the weekend's NFL Draft.
Joe was rewarded by the Florida-based American football franchise for his work with their UK supporters network 'Union Jax' – the peak of his all-expenses paid trip to the USA coming when he announced the Jaguars' fourth-round pick of the 2014 Draft live from Radio City in New York in front of millions of viewers.
Joe's trip began when he was flown out to Jacksonville and given a private tour of the Jaguars' stadium, EverBank Field, as well as exclusive access to a Jaguars' training session where he was greeted personally by head coach Gus Bradley.
On Thursday evening, Joe then attended the Draft Party in Jacksonville along with thousands of other excited Jaguars fans who were all waiting to see which of the top College footballers their team would pick, with Blake Bortles selected as the team's first-round pick and third pick overall.
But Joe turned from viewer into the viewed when he was jetted to New York City to meet with the Jaguars management team and have the honour of announcing, live from the venue, Aaron Colvin as the Jaguars' fifth pick overall.
He said: "It was unbelievable, surreal, amazing – I can barely describe the sort of access we were getting from a professional, world-class sport team.
"I got to meet everyone I wanted to and more. It was a real once-in-a-lifetime experience which I will certainly never ever forget. I still think it will take me a few more days to get over it.
"I was absolutely trembling when I had to read out the name with thousands of fans packed into the theatre – I was so nervous I even put on an American accent – but it was an amazing thing to do in the end. I can't thank the Jaguars enough for this."
The NFL Draft, held every year, sees all 32 NFL franchises pick from the best college American Football players to help improve their rosters.
The Jaguars have a close link with the UK since they agreed to play four annual home games at Wembley Stadium from 2013-2016 and this year's mouth-watering clash with the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, 9th November is already an 84,000 sell-out. To find out more about the Jacksonville Jaguars, and for the chance to win a trip to Jacksonville to see a Jaguars game, sign-up at Facebook.com/JaguarsUK
