Neale McMaster – Ouse Valley Football

SENIOR | McMaster to step down as Head Coach

Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football Neale McMaster

Eagles Head Coach Neale McMaster has announced that he will be stepping down at the end of the season.

Following a successful playing career in Scotland with the University of Glasgow Tigers and East Kilbride Pirates, McMaster moved south of the border in 2012 and joined the Bedfordshire Blue Raiders initially as a player, before becoming Offensive Line coach ahead of the 2013 season.

He became Chairman of the newly-formed Eagles following the merger between the Blue Raiders and Milton Keynes Pathfinders, and was named Offensive Coordinator by former Head Coach Will White.

In Neale’s three seasons as OC the Eagles posted a combined 19-11 record which included a record 75-6 win against the Ipswich Cardinals in 2014 and play-off appearances in 2014 and 2015.

He became senior team Head Coach ahead of the 2017 season going 4-6 in his debut year, and has an overall record as HC of 6-11 heading into this weekend’s visit to Solent Thrashers.

Speaking on the decision, Neale said:

“After 5 years with Ouse Valley, 3 as Chairman and 2 as HC, I’ll be stepping away from the club after this season. We have had a progressively worse winning %, year on year, within that 5 years, so it’s time for someone else to step up and drive the club forward.

“What I am pleased about is that I’m leaving a tremendous group of guys, who are very tight knit, and love a bit of hard graft, so whoever takes over will be in a very fortunate position.

“Whilst our winning percentage hasn’t been great, I remain incredibly proud of what we have accomplished at OVE, and will fondly remember my time with them.”

SENIOR | 2017 Captains Named

20 Mar

Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football captains, Danny Cousins, Fabrizio Gargiulo, Gareth Pullen, Justin LaRoda, Neale McMaster

The Eagles captains for the 2017 season have been confirmed following a vote by the players.

Gareth Pullen has been named Team Captain, Danny Cousins is the new Offensive Captain, Ross Hubbard is Defensive Captain and Fabrizio Gargiulo is Special Teams Captain.

Linebacker Gareth “Tish” Pullen is a returning captain, having previously captained the team in 2014, 2015 and 2016. He was named the Eagles’ Defensive MVP in 2015 and 2016, Player’s Player of the Year in 2014, and is a former Bedfordshire Blue Raiders MVP, Players Player and Defensive MVP:

Offensive Lineman Danny Cousins is in his third year with the Club. He won the Rookie of the Year Award in his first season, and was named Joint Players Player of the Year in 2016.

Ross Hubbard is also in his third year with the Eagles and is the current Joint Players Player, Most Valuable Player and Offensive MVP, having played Tight End in previous seasons.

Linebacker Fab Gargiulo is a vastly experienced player in his first year with the Club, having joined from the London Blitz.

Commenting on the appointments, Head Coach Neale McMaster said:

“I’m incredibly proud of these guys for being leaders to their team-mates, but also love the team for recognising the hardest working guys on our team as the people they want to follow.

“There’s a number of guys that they could have selected, but the players chose to single them out.

“There isn’t a finer person to have as Team Captain than Gareth, he is the epitome of what we look for as an Eagle.

“Danny as Offensive Captain is a great choice as he really understands football, and works well with Justin, who is our vocal leader on offense to really push the whole unit forward.

“Ross continues to be recognised by his teammates as a leader and having moved from offense to defense, has maintained his high standards and pushes people continuously.

“Having Fab as our Special Teams Captain is a huge statement by the players, as I don’t think you’ll find anyone more passionate about special teams in the UK. He has instilled a real pride in a unit we expect to produce a lot of points this year, and obviously the players are buying into it.”

The first game of the season takes place on Sunday 9th April away to South Wales Warriors. The first home game of the year is against the Solent Thrashers on Sunday 21st May.

Running Backs Coach Wanted

05 Jan

Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football BAFANL, Coach, Eagles, Neale McMaster, RB

The Eagles Senior team are looking for a Running Backs coach to join Head Coach Neale McMaster’s backroom staff for the 2017 season.

The successful candidate will be qualified to BAFCA Level 1 (or be willing to obtain that qualification almost immediately), and will have previous experience of playing or coaching the position.

They will work with our existing team of coaches to develop our players and each other, as the team looks to build on last season’s 4-6 record in BAFANL Midlands Football Conference 1.

If you are interested in this position please contact Coach McMaster via neale.mcmaster@oveagles.com.

2017 Senior team coaches named

08 Dec

Michael Dilley All News, Come and Try, Senior Football Andy Cox, BAFANL, Burger Swanepole, Eagles, Gary Villiers, Kevin Kong, Lawrence LaMontagne, Martin Day, Neale McMaster, Nick Tilbury

Eagles Head Coach Neale McMaster has unveiled his 2017 coaching team ahead of next month’s rookie sessions.

The Eagles are very fortunate to have an extremely dedicated group of coaches, who work hard at all levels of the game to ensure that our players are not just the best American Football players they can be, but are also striving to be the best people they can be.

As announced last month, McMaster will take on Defensive Coordinator duties alongside Offensive Coordinator Nick Tilbury, and the duo will be assisted by Gary Villiers (Special Teams), Andy Cox (Offensive Line), Martin Day and Lawrence LaMontagne (Wide Receivers), Burger Swanepole (Defensive Line) and Kevin Kong (Defensive Backs).

Our aim as a club is to put five players a year through their Level 1 coaching badge, and to secure funding to allow all coaches to attend conventions and clinics to promote their learning.

There is currently a vacancy for a Running Backs coach. If you would be interested in taking on the position please get in touch.

Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator – Neale McMaster

He became Chairman of the newly-formed Eagles following the merger between the Blue Raiders and Milton Keynes Pathfinders, and was named Offensive Coordinator by former Head Coach Will White.

In Neale’s three seasons as OC the Eagles posted a combined 19-11 record which included a record 75-6 win against the Ipswich Cardinals in 2014 and play-off appearances in 2014 and 2015, and he is also a part of the coaching setup with the Great Britain Lions.

Offensive Coordinator – Nick Tilbury

After a senior playing career that also took in spells with the MK Pioneers, Chiltern Cheetahs, London Mets, Herts Stags, Cambridgeshire Cats, Bedfordshire Blue Raiders and the Saxons, Tilbury transitioned into a coaching role with Peterborough and was part of the staff that took them to the Division 2 Final in 2015.

Following promotion to the BAFANL Midlands Football Conference 1 the Saxons were unable to complete the 2016 season, but Tilbury wanted to remain involved in football, and jumped at the chance to join then-OC McMaster’s coaching staff in the latter half of the season.

Special Teams Coordinator – Gary Villiers

Gary grew up in South London and was forced to play rugby at school. He discovered American Football in the early 80s when Channel 4 started showing regular highlights. Around 84/85, aged 17, Gary found a team forming in a park in Bexley, went along and played unkitted for about a season before The Bexley Barons were finally formed as a kitted team.

Gary played as Fullback and Slot Receiver for a couple of years before switching to defensive-end. Gary then moved on to East Kent (then Kent) Cougars, also briefly with Barracuda and Olympians II. He retired from playing in 1995 after breaking shoulder and had nothing to do with Britball again for 18 years! However, he became increasingly interested in US College Football during that time, eventually studying coaching techniques and philosophies more seriously.

After a move to St Neots, he decided one wet Sunday in early 2013 to see if his local team the Bedfordshire Blue Raiders needed any help and was quickly adopted as Defensive Line Coach assisting Coach Ramsay. Gary found the experience really rewarding and fun so signed up to qualify with BAFCA as a Level 1 coach.

Following that season, Gary was offered the opportunity to coach at Cambridge University with the Pythons where he coached all lineman on both sides of the ball and worked alongside Coach Fuller as Defensive Coordinator, before being named Head Coach ahead of the 2015/16 season.

Offensive Line Coach – Andy Cox

Andy grew up in Daventry and was always actively involved in sport, representing his school at football, rugby and hockey as well as captaining the cricket team. Outside of school it was American Football that grabbed his attention, playing for The Weedon Warriors.

Now working as a Business Analyst, he graduated from the University of East Anglia in 1991 with a B.Sc. (Hons) degree in Physics, and three years of playing for the UEA Pirates American Football team culminated in an appearance in College Bowl V.

In his last two years at UEA, Andy also represented the Norwich Devils, and joined the Eagles ahead of the 2016 season as Offensive Line Assistant Coach.

Wide Receivers Coach – Lawrence LaMontagne

A vastly experienced player and coach who has been involved in the sport since joining the Luton Flyers in the mid-80s.

“LT” spent his playing days with the Bedford Bombardiers, Leicester Panthers, Sheffield, PA Knights and Coventry Jets as at Defensive End, and after retiring from playing has coached with the Jets, Southend, Blue Raiders and Essex Spartans.

Wide Receivers Coach – Martin Day

A one-time Bedfordshire Blue Raider and Lincolnshire Bomber QB, Day has been associated with the Eagles since the merger, spending the majority of his time at Tight End.

He is moving into coaching during the 2017 season whilst recovering from ACL reconstruction surgery.

Defensive Line Coach – Burger Swanepole

Burger is a diehard Patriots fan and all round NFL fanatic. He graduated with a BSc Sports Coaching Science from Worcester University in 2011 where he was also a member the then Worcester Cardinals, and after a rebranding to the Worcester Royals.

Burger took on a Coaching role as Defensive Back Coach whilst studying, where he also gained his British American Football Coaching Level 1, and joins the Eagles for the 2017 season.

Defensive Backs Coach – Kevin Kong

Growing up in Bedford, Kevin was always interested in sports but it wasn’t until Super Bowl XXXIX that he found his true passion, where his now-beloved Philadelphia Eagles lost to ~~a bunch of cheating b…~~ the New England Patriots.

Choosing Loughborough University for their prestigious American Football programme, he started his journey as a Corner Back and eventually earned a place as a starting Safety.

He was one of the original members of the Bedfordshire Blue Raiders and eventually joined the Ouse Valley Eagles when moving back to the area.

Having played for 10 years Kong believes it is time to share what he has learned, and hopefully have a laugh on the way.

NEWS | Defensive and Offensive Coordinators confirmed

22 Nov

Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football BAFANL, coaches, DC, Neale McMaster, Nick Tilbury, OC

The Eagles’ Senior team coaching line-up for 2017 is taking shape ahead of the start of preseason training in January with the naming of new Defensive and Offensive Coordinators.

Head Coach Neale McMaster will take on Defensive Coordinator duties, and former Eagles QB and Peterborough Saxons coach Nick Tilbury will look after the offense.

Commenting on his appointment, Tilbury said:

I’m very much looking forward to the challenge of trying to improve a very effective Offense from last season.

We have a strong returning core and if we can mesh new players and tweaks together effectively, we will have a good season.

The Club expect to be able to announce the rest of Coach McMaster’s staff in the coming days.

NEWS | McMaster named new Head Coach

20 Sep

Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football BAFANL, Eagles, Neale McMaster

The Club are delighted to announce that Neale McMaster has been named the new Head Coach of the senior team.

McMaster takes over from Interim HC Darren Hill who took the reins shortly before the start of the 2016 season, and says he is looking forward to the challenge:

I am incredibly proud and honored to be named the third Head Coach of the Eagles.

It’s a role I take with great excitement. I know the standards the club expects, I know what the goals are and I can’t wait to get started and help the club achieve those goals.

I’m taking charge of a team that for the first time is expecting to return more than 75% of its players from last year, which gives us a much better platform to start from than in previous seasons, and by focusing on culture and developing people as well as just ‘players and coaches’, I’m sure we can exceed our expectations early and be consistent in that.

He became Chairman of the newly-formed Eagles following the merger between the Blue Raiders and Milton Keynes Pathfinders, and was named Offensive Coordinator by former Head Coach Will White.

As a result of his appointment as HC he will be stepping down from Chairman duties with immediate effect, with Vice Chairman Mark Chilton taking temporary charge until the AGM in November.

On his appointment, the Committee released a joint statement:

Nellie is one of brightest young coaches in the country and we look forward to working closely with him in his new role.

We would like to thank him for his efforts and dedication as Chairman, during which time we have firmly established ourselves as one of the leading Clubs in the area, and have expanded to include Flag and Youth teams.

We would also like to thank Darren Hill for his hard work as Interim Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator, and wish him all the best for the future.

Keep up-to-date with the latest news, squad details and events with out new mobile app for iOS and Android:

Hill delighted with performance against the Caesars

16 Jun

Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football Darren Hill, Neale McMaster, Nottingham Caesars

Interim Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator Darren Hill was a very happy man following Sunday’s win over the Nottingham Caesars.

The Eagles won the game at Harvey Hadden Stadium 40-19 to hand the hosts only their second defeat of the season, and speaking afterwards Coach Hill praised the Caesars, who broadcasted the game via their CaesarsTV service:

First of all I would like to thank the Caesars; they have a great team and an excellent set-up and whilst the weather unfortunately meant the game couldn’t be transmitted live, their coverage of the game is second to none and a great advert for the sport in the UK.

Heading into the game the Eagles were heavy underdogs having lost three straight and were given no hope by most people outside the club, and Hill was happy to see things finally click for his side:

I think we were the only people not surprised by the result on Sunday. We have known all season what this team is capable of and although results so far haven’t been what we had hoped for, we always knew we were capable of a performance like that.

Both the O and D were excellent but I would like to single out the offensive line for the hard work they have put in and it showed on Sunday; they dominated from start to finish, allowing us to have by far our best running and passing production of the season.

Similarly our D are now penetrating well and getting pressure on the QB. Our secondary put in another outstanding effort with another five-pick performance.

To hold the high-flying Nottingham offense to only two TDs on the day was a great achievement but our offense won us the game, picking up huge running yards and outpacing the Caesars secondary.

Offensive Coordinator Neale McMaster added:

All in all I’m absolutely delighted with that result. 395 yards of total offense with over 200 yards rushing says it all. #GIRFUY

You can watch the game in full here:

Due to the Saxons withdrawing from competition the Eagles are not back in action again until Sunday 17th July, against the Doncaster Mustangs at Bedford International Athletics Stadium.

Kick-off is midday, with admission £2 each for adults (for which you receive a free programme) or free for under-18s.

Keep up-to-date with the latest news, squad details and events with out new mobile app for iOS and Android:

Hill and McMaster on Caesars defeat

27 Apr

Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football BAFANL, Darren Hill, Neale McMaster, Nottingham Caesars

Interim Head Coach Darren Hill and Offensive Coordinator Neale McMaster have been reflecting on Sunday’s defeat against the Nottingham Caesars.

The Eagles went down 26-6 against the Caesars in what was the team’s third game in successive weekends, and Coach Hill was the first to admit to being a little disappointed with how the season has started:

Sunday saw us complete the third straight game in a row and it’s fair to say it has been a rough start to the season so far.

After three successful training camps we were hoping to come out firing on all cylinders but we’ve come up short so far with only one win and two losses.

Our run game has improved each week and we now have two weeks to study the game film and make adjustments as we look forward to the rest of the season, starting away at Peterborough.

McMaster agrees, and wants his offense to relax and express themselves more:

Sunday ends the toughest part of our season, having played three games on the bounce without any opportunity to practice in between.

We didn’t develop the momentum on offense we were hoping to, and we’ve suffered from being a young team as everyone gets very uptight during games – they aren’t playing with the freedom and expression they should be.

That lead to a performance like Sunday’s where we moved the ball well and didn’t have many three and outs, but we made mistakes at key points and poor execution throughout the game kept us out of any contention.

The positives are we’re expecting several players back from injury after the weekend and our injuries from the game don’t seem to be too bad, so we should be at full strength before Peterborough. I’m confident well be able to rectify the problems moving forward.

The game against the Saxons takes place on Sunday 8th May at Thorney Rugby Club, kicking off at 2.30pm.

Keep up-to-date with the latest news, squad details and events with out new mobile app for iOS and Android:

McMaster on the Mustangs

19 Apr

Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football BAFANL, Doncaster Mustangs, Neale McMaster

Offensive Coordinator Neale McMaster was pleased with the progression of his offense’s running game in Sunday’s win over the Doncaster Mustangs.

The Eagles beat the Mustangs 13-12 at the Keepmoat Stadium on Sunday, in a game which saw plenty of turnovers – including five interceptions by the Eagles defense.

Speaking after the game McMaster said:

It was a tough defensive battle and ultimately our defense won us the game, something that I think will stand us in good stead moving forward.

We showed some progression on offense from last week, and our running game looks to be consistently good, which is a huge jump from last season.

The Eagles are back in BAFANL action this Sunday with a home games against the Nottingham Caesars. It will be the team’s third game is successive weeks, but Coach McMaster says he can see definite positives in the tough early schedule:

The benefit to playing three games in a row is that we can develop some momentum and team chemistry, and I think these two away trips have definitely helped in those regards.

These are the core elements of a championship side, and I firmly believe if we keep improving, that’s exactly what we will be.

Kick off for the game at Bedford International Athletics Stadium is midday, with admission priced at £2 each for adults (for which you receive a free programme) or free for those under-18.

Admission is also free for anyone who as downloaded our mobile app for iOS and Android.

McMaster on Sandwell

13 Apr

Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football BAFANL, Neale McMaster, Sandwell Steelers

Offensive Coordinator Neale McMaster believes Sandwell’s ability to make adjustments was the deciding factor during Sunday’s opening day defeat.

The Eagles went down 24-6 at last season’s Division Two champions, and speaking afterwards McMaster said:

We always knew Sandwell were going to pose certain challenges with what they do on defense.

I thought we matched them physically, but they won the mental battle and ultimately that cost us. Their staff adjusted better.

We’ve still got nine games left, and I fully expect well be able to turn things around quickly, starting this weekend at Doncaster.

The Eagles return to BAFANL action this Sunday, away to Doncaster Mustangs. Kick off at the Keepmoat Stadium is 2.30pm.

Keep up-to-date with the latest news, squad details and events with out new mobile app for iOS and Android:

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Tag: Neale McMaster

Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator – Neale McMaster

Offensive Coordinator – Nick Tilbury

Special Teams Coordinator – Gary Villiers

Offensive Line Coach – Andy Cox

Wide Receivers Coach – Lawrence LaMontagne

Wide Receivers Coach – Martin Day

Defensive Line Coach – Burger Swanepole

Defensive Backs Coach – Kevin Kong