Blackhawks Youth Practice
Senior Team Practice
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Second rookie session this Sunday
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Open to those wanting to play for the Senior Team (18+), the second of two dedicated rookie sessions takes place this Sunday (15th January) from 11am to 1.10pm at Bedford International Athletics Stadium, Barkers Lane, Bedford.
American Football has never been more popular in the UK and is one of the fastest growing sports in the country. If you’ve always fancied having a go why not come down and see how you get on?
If you are coming this weekend there are a few things you’ll need to bring with you:
- Water (recommended 2L but the more the better). We know it’s quite stop start, but practices are tough going!
- Rugby or football boots as we train on grass
- Shorts/Joggers or similar
- Top of some kind: sweatshirt, t-shirt or similar
- Gumshield
- You may want to bring a towel and shower things
A full training session will take place next Sunday (22nd January) followed by the first of four mini-camps a week later. Click here for further details on the preseason schedule.
Directions
First rookie session this Sunday
![](https://i2.wp.com/www.ovfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Tackle.jpg?resize=870%2C435)
Open to those wanting to play for the Senior Team (18+), our first of two dedicated rookie sessions takes place this Sunday (8th January) from 11am to 1.10pm at Bedford International Athletics Stadium, Barkers Lane, Bedford.
American Football has never been more popular in the UK and is one of the fastest growing sports in the country. If you’ve always fancied having a go why not come down and see how you get on?
If you are coming this weekend there are a few things you’ll need to bring with you:
- Water (recommended 2L but the more the better). We know it’s quite stop start, but practices are tough going!
- Rugby or football boots as we train on grass
- Shorts/Joggers or similar
- Top of some kind: sweatshirt, t-shirt or similar
- Gumshield
- You may want to bring a towel and shower things
A second rookie session will be taking place at the same next Sunday (15th January), and that will be followed up by a full training session a week later. Click here for further details on the preseason schedule.
Directions
PREVIEW | Doncaster Mustangs (H)
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The Eagles’ fourth and final home game of the 2016 season takes place this Sunday as we welcome the Doncaster Mustangs to Bedford International Athletics Stadium in the Midlands Football Conference (12pm).
TThe Mustangs were formed in 2002 by Mark Blyth, Doug McLean and James Berry, who had grown tired of driving to Merseyside to coach and play for the Nighthawks each weekend.
In the team’s second year they won the BAFL Division 2 title following an undefeated season which culminated in a 32-13 win over the Chiltern (now Hertfordshire) Cheetahs at the Don Valley Stadium in the bowl game.
The team made it back to the play-offs in 2005, and in 2007 moved to the newly-opened Keepmoat Stadium.
After three seasons in the Premier Division North between 2012 and 2014 where they posted successive records of 6-3-1, 6-4 and 0-9, the Mustangs were relegated to the restructured Northern Football Conference 1.
Last season the Mustangs went 4-6 to finish eighth in NFC 1, which included a strong finish to the campaign that saw them win their last three games.
Their first game of the season was the 13-12 defeat against the Eagles on 17th April, and they picked up their first win two weeks later against the Birmingham Bulls (20-13).
Since then they beat the impressive Sandwell Steelers 6-3, lost at the Nottingham Caesars (16-12) before getting their revenge at home (36-19).
In their last two games they completed the double over the Bulls thanks to a convincing 30-12 win at the Keepmoat, but in their last game went down 48-0 away to the Steelers.
After Peterborough pulled out of the league Sunday is the Mustangs’ last game of the season, and a win should be good enough to secure a play-off place.
The Eagles meanwhile come into the game on the back of an impressive 40-19 victory over the Nottingham Caesars last month to move to 4-4 for the season, with a place in the play-offs still a possibility.
Team News
The Eagles will be without Kevin Kong, Miguel Alvarez-Frias, Nathaniel Ashby and Oliver Lattimer, as well as long-term injury victims defensive back Vasco Dias (knee), offensive lineman James Busby (leg) and defensive lineman Anthony Ogunleye (shoulder).
In this week’s Programme
This week’s programme cover features Chairman and Offensive Coordinator Neale McMaster.
Inside we hear from McMaster, Interim Head Coach Darren Hill and Rookie of the Week Nathan Spencer.
We also have a feature on our visitors the Doncaster Mustangs, a Spectator Guide and more.
The programme is free with admission (£2 each for adults or free for under-18s).
Directions
Our home games are played at Bedford International Athletics Stadium, Barkers Lane, Bedford MK41 9SB.
The Bedford River Festival is taking place this weekend which means there may be some road closures in place around the Embankment, so please ensure you leave extra time to get to BIAS for the game:
Keep up-to-date with the latest news, squad details and events with out new mobile app for iOS and Android:
2015 AGM Minutes
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The 2015 Club Annual General Meeting took place yesterday (Sunday 15th November) at Bedford International Athletics Stadium (BIAS).
The meeting covered a review of the club’s financial position for 2015, a review of the club’s performance on and off the field during the year, an exciting announcement regarding the future of Youth and Flag football in the region, a walk through of the results of the Annual Survey and a discussion around the us of team buses to away games in the future.
Also covered were proposed changes to the Club Constitution and the all-important election of a new committee for the 2016 season which saw the following people appointed:
– Vice Chairman: Mark Chilton
– Treasurer: Nick Chapman
– Gameday Manager: Paul Smyth
– Secretary: Jenny Chilton
– Ordinary Member: Michael Dilley
– Ordinary Member: Jack Judge
– Ordinary Member: Gareth Pullen
To download the the public version of the AGM presentation please click on the link: 2015-AGM-v1.4-Public.pptx
AGM This Sunday
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The Ouse Valley Eagles Annual General Meeting takes place this Sunday (15th November) from 1.15pm – 3pm at Bedford International Athletics Stadium (BIAS).
All Eagles club members, coaches, committee, friends, family and supporters are welcome to attend the AGM. This includes all teams under the Ouse Valley Football Banner.
Agenda
The Agenda for the meeting is as follows:
– 2015 Financial Review
– 2015 Club Review
– 2015 Survey Results
– Constitutional Amendments
– Committee Elections
– Points for Discussion
– Team Buses (raised by N McMaster)
Voting
All registered players, coaches, committee members and staff over the age of 18 will be eligible to vote. To be clear, while we’d love to see rookies and players returning to the team after a break of several years and who are not registered along to attend, you won’t be eligible to vote.
What if I can’t go – can I still vote?
If you can’t make the meeting, you can ask someone to be your proxy. This means that you can ask someone to vote on your behalf, but you have to let us know in advance.
Positions up for election
All committee positions will be up for election at the meeting, except for the role of Chairman which has a two-year term and was elected last year. The positions up for election are:
– Vice Chairman (two year role)
– Treasurer (two year role)
– Gameday Manager (one year role)
– Secretary (one year role)
– 4 x Ordinary Members (one year role)
By the terms of the Club Constitution, all persons intending to stand must give notification of their intent prior to the AGM. All nominations also have to be proposed by two team members – one of whom must be a committee member.
All roles involve a significant amount of commitment. Prospective committee members will need to to attend fortnightly meetings via Google Hangouts on a regular basis, attend team events, own the delivery of specific pieces of work and have the time available carry out any tasks required.
There are lots of other ways to help out the team that don’t involve being on the committee, so if you’d like to get involved in other ways, please get in touch.
Items for discussion
If you would like to formally request an item be raised or discussed at the AGM please let us know at least seven days in advance, i.e. before 1pm on Sunday 8th November.
Head Coach Questions
The Head Coach will be unavailable for the AGM due to other coaching commitments, but if you have any questions about the teams on the field please send them to neale.mcmaster@oveagles and we will make sure we have answers for you at the AGM.
Notice of Annual General Meeting
![Eagles](https://i1.wp.com/www.ovfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/logo_color.jpg?resize=870%2C435)
The Ouse Valley Eagles Annual General Meeting will take place on Sunday 15th November, from 1.15pm – 3pm at Bedford International Athletics Stadium (BIAS).
Who can attend
All Eagles club members, coaches, committee, friends, family and supporters are welcome to attend the AGM. This includes all teams under the Ouse Valley Football Banner.
Agenda
We’ll try and keep things short and snappy and the focus will be on giving you a chance to ask questions rather than listen to us talking at you. On the day we will cover a brief finance update, a review of the 2015 season, take questions, and then at the end we’ll cover elections to the committee for the year(s) ahead.
Voting
All registered players, coaches, committee members and staff over the age of 18 will be eligible to vote. To be clear, while we’d love to see rookies and players returning to the team after a break of several years and who are not registered along to attend, you won’t be eligible to vote.
What if I can’t go – can I still vote?
If you can’t make the meeting, you can ask someone to be your proxy. This means that you can ask someone to vote on your behalf, but you have to let us know in advance.
Constitutional amendments
We are currently reviewing our constitution to make sure it’s in good shape. If we decide any amendments are needed, we’ll post these up ahead of the AGM for your consideration.
Positions up for election
All committee positions will be up for election at the meeting, except for the role of Chairman which has a two-year term and was elected last year.
The positions up for election are:
Vice Chairman (two year role)
Treasurer (two year role)
Gameday Manager (one year role)
Secretary (one year role)
4 x Ordinary Members (one year role)
Vacant roles and nominations
The following committee members have declared their intention to re-stand:
Mark Chilton – Vice Chairman
Paul Smyth – Gameday Manager
Jenny Chilton – Secretary
Gareth Pullen – Ordinary member
Nate Ashby – Ordinary member
If you or anyone you know would like to stand for one of the above positions, please review the role descriptions below, and message the Chairman directly via neale.mcmaster@oveagles.com.
By the terms of the Club Constitution, all persons intending to stand must give notification of their intent prior to the AGM. All nominations also have to be proposed by two team members – one of whom must be a committee member.
All roles involve a significant amount of commitment. Prospective committee members will need to to attend fortnightly meetings via Google Hangouts on a regular basis, attend team events, own the delivery of specific pieces of work and have the time available carry out any tasks required.
There are lots of other ways to help out the team that don’t involve being on the committee, so if you’d like to get involved in other ways, please get in touch.
Items for discussion
If you would like to formally request an item be raised or discussed at the AGM please let us know at least seven days in advance, i.e. before 1pm on Sunday 8th November.
Head Coach Questions
The Head Coach will be unavailable for the AGM due to other coaching commitments, but if you have any questions about the teams on the field please send them to neale.mcmaster@oveagles and we will make sure we have answers for you at the AGM.
Winter/Spring Schedule Confirmed
![Eagles](https://i1.wp.com/www.ovfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/logo_color.jpg?resize=870%2C435)
As part of the Senior team’s objective of gaining promotion to the Premier Division within our first four seasons, the Club are pleased to announce our off-season schedule for all prospective players for 2015/2016.
In a change from the traditional practice schedule, starting at the end of November the team will take part in “Team Lifts” at Gold’s Gym in Bedford on Sunday mornings, before heading to Bedford International Athletics Stadium (BIAS) for a shorter practice session.
From January, weekend Camps will take place once a month at BIAS focusing on installations, targeted practice sessions and film reviews.
Subject to the release of the regular season schedule, weekends throughout April will be dedicated to pre-season games, and will be announced once confirmed.
Team Lifts and Camps are mandatory for all team members, with practices in between being optional but highly recommended.
Further details will be released shortly, but all camp costs will be included within players subs (which are not expected to rise for the 2016 season).
Ouse Valley Eagles (Senior Team) Winter/Spring Practice Schedule:
Ouse Valley Eagles (Senior Team) Example Camp Schedule:
If you are interested in joining the Eagles then our third rookie session of the month takes place this Sunday at Lealands High School in Luton, starting at 11am.
To register your interest, please visit the relevant Event Page on Facebook or feel free to turn up on the day of the session: