Category: Previews

PREVIEW | Blackhawks ready for round two

03 Jun
Michael Dilley All News, Flag Football, Previews , , , , ,

The Blackhawks make the short journey to Aylesbury this Saturday (4th June) for their second round of BAFA Flag Southeastern Conference games.

The games are hosted by the Aylesbury Vale Spartans as well as the Blackhawks also feature Reading Knights, London Rebels and Bishop’s Stortford High Flyers

It will be the Blackhawks’ first games against the Rebels and the Knights, and also sees Wide Receiver Ross Sherratt and Cornerback PJ Pateman make their debuts for the team.

Speaking on behalf of the Blackhawks, Jed Parisi said:

We have been training hard since our last gameday, and with Coach Papworth’s help have been working to iron out the creases.

We have a bunch of new guys who have all added something to the team. The buzz is really good and we are focused on trying to bring in our first win of the season.

Schedule

The first game of the day is due to kick at 10am, and pairs the hosts with the Reading Knights. The full schedule for the day is:

  • Aylesbury Vale Spartans vs Reading Knights
  • Bedford Blackhawks vs London Rebels
  • Bedford Blackhawks vs Reading Knights
  • Bishop’s Stortford High Flyers vs Reading Knights
  • Bishop’s Stortford High Flyers vs London Rebels
  • Aylesbury Vale Spartans vs London Rebels
Directions

The games will take place on the Fairford Leys football pitches, Andrews Way, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP17 8QQ:

Game Coverage

If you can’t make it to Aylesbury to watch the games, we will be providing regular updates via the Blackhawks Twitter and Facebook pages.

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

  • App Store
  • Google Play Store

PREVIEW | Birmingham Bulls (H)

02 Jun
Michael Dilley All News, Previews, Senior Football , , ,

The Eagles’ third home game of the 2016 season takes place this weekend as we welcome the Birmingham Bulls to Bedford International Athletics Stadium in the Midlands Football Conference.

The Bulls were founded in 1983 and played their first competitive games a year later.

They won their first Conference in 1985 after going 12-0 in the AFL Midlands Division, and in 1986 won their first of four National Championships (1988, 1991, 1995).

The Bulls have made the play-offs 21 out of 31 times in their history – although only once since 2006 – and have been BritBowl runners up five times (1989, 1994, 1996, 1999 and 2000).

Last season they went 4-6 in Southern Football Conference 1 which included two defeats against the Eagles: 21-14 at Erin Go Bragh in April and 23-18 in the return game at BIAS in July.

They lost their season opener this year away from home against the Sandwell Steelers (18-14) on 17th April and also went down 20-13 against the Doncaster Mustangs at home two weeks later.

In their most recent game they lost 37-34 in a thriller against the Nottingham Caesars in which they lead until the closing stages. Following the Saxons forfeiting their season they have had a few weeks off to prepare for today’s game, as they look to pick up their first win of the season.

The Eagles meanwhile come into the game on the back of a 14-0 home defeat against the Steelers a fortnight ago to slip to 3-3 for the season so far, and need a win to keep alive any faint hope of a making a late charge for a play-off place.

Team News

The Eagles have no new injury concerns heading into the game, so will only be without long-term injury victims defensive back Vasco Dias (knee), offensive lineman James Busby (leg) and defensive lineman Anthony Ogunleye (shoulder).

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In this week’s Programme

This week’s programme cover features Interim Head Coach Darren Hill.

Inside we hear from Chairman Neale McMaster, Coach Hill, Offensive Captain Ross Hubbard and Rookie of the Week Joey Foggan.

We also have a feature on our visitors the Birmingham Bulls, 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:

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

  • App Store
  • Google Play Store

PREVIEW | Sandwell Steelers (H)

19 May
Michael Dilley All News, Previews, Senior Football , , ,

The Eagles’ second home game of the 2016 season takes place this weekend as we welcome the Sandwell Steelers to BIAS in the Midlands Football Conference.

It is the second meeting between the two sides this season, after Sandwell ran out 24-6 victors last month at Tipton Academy.

Since then they have also beaten local rivals the Birmingham Bulls (18-14) and Nottingham Caesars (6-0), and last week lost for the first time so far this season, 6-3 away to the Doncaster Mustangs.

The Eagles bounced back from the opening day defeat by digging out a 13-12 win over the Mustangs, but then lost the home opener to the Nottingham Caesars a week later.

Team News

Eagles QB Zach Wodaege is fully fit for the first time this season, as is Wide Receiver Alex Smith.

Wide Receiver Kevin Vasquez makes his return from special Team America business and Running Back Richard Thompson is expected to make his debut.

On defense new signings Julian Ikeme (LB) and Mal Stevenson (DL) will also make their debuts after transferring from the London Blitz and Peterborough Saxons respectively.

Long-term injury victims Vasco Dias (DB), James Busby (OL) and Anthony Ogunleye are all out.

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In this week’s Programme

This week’s programme cover features Defensive Back Chris Parr.

Inside we hear from Chairman Neale McMaster, Interim Head Coach Darren Hill, Defensive Captain Gareth Pullen and Rookie of the Week Matthew Greet.

We also have a feature on our visitors the Sandwell Steelers, 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:

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

  • App Store
  • Google Play Store

PREVIEW | Blackhawks to make BAFA debut this weekend

12 May
Michael Dilley All News, Flag Football, Previews , , , , ,

The Blackhawks travel to East London this weekend for their first BAFA Flag Southeastern Conference games of the season.

The games, which take place on Saturday, are hosted by the Victoria Park Panthers and as well as the Blackhawks feature the West Essex Showboats and Aylesbury Vale Panthers.

The only previous encounter between the Blackhawks and any of the teams involved came during the Blackhawk Bowl in February, where the Spartans were victorious over the young ‘Hawks 32-0.

Wide Receivers Connor Stratford, Ryan Moulding and Ross Sherratt all make their debuts for the Blackhawks this weekend as does Cornerback Cody Hinton, and speaking on behalf of the team Jake Cooper says he can’t wait to get the season started:

Along with the rest of the squad I am itching to kick off our debut season in the BAFA Flag Leagues.

Having worked with the majority of the squad for around half a year I have a great deal of faith that this collaboration of players could in time become something incredibly special.

We have players on the roster who have natural ability in abundance, although this may not appear in the pre-season tournament scorelines.

The players have got their heads down and worked week in week out on the lessons learned during those tournaments, and although we are up against arguably the three leading teams in the division this weekend we are looking forward to the challenge.

Schedule

The first game of the day will kick off at 10am, and pairs the Blackhawks up against the hosts. The full schedule for the day is:

  • Victoria Park Panthers vs Bedford Blackhawks
  • West Essex Showboats vs Bedford Blackhawks
  • West Essex Showboats vs Victoria Park Panthers
  • Aylesbury Vale Spartans vs Bedford Blackhawks
  • Victoria Park Panthers vs Aylesbury Vale Spartans
Directions

The games will take place on the old section of Wanstead Flats: Harrow Road, E11 3QD:

Game Coverage

If you can’t make it to Wanstead to watch the games, we will be providing regular updates via the Blackhawks Twitter and Facebook pages.

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

  • App Store
  • Google Play Store

PREVIEW | Nottingham Caesars (H)

21 Apr
Michael Dilley All News, Previews, Senior Football , , ,

The Eagles’ first home game of the 2016 season takes place this season as we welcome the Nottingham Caesars to BIAS in the Midlands Football Conference.

After two difficult seasons in the Premier Division the Caesars returned to Division One last year, and posted a much-improved record of 4-5-1 in the BAFANL 1 Northern Conference which included a 26-20 defeat to fellow MFC1 opponents the Doncaster Mustangs.

Their 2016 campaign has kicked off positively thanks to a 23-12 victory over the Peterborough Saxons a fortnight ago, and they will be looking to continue their bright start against an Eagles team that has mixed fortunes to date.

Following a disappointing opening day defeat against the Sandwell Steelers the Eagles dug out a 13-12 win over the Mustangs last weekend, and head into the game with renewed confidence.

Team News

Eagles QB Zach Wodaege was expected to return against the Mustangs last week but is a gametime decision this time around due to the knee injury he picked up during pre-season.

Defensive Back Kevin Kong returns to the squad for the first time this season and Offensive Lineman John Phillips is also back in contention after missing the Doncaster game.

Cody Hausenbuiller is available again but fellow Wide Receiver Matthew Hamilton is out with a hamstring injury.

Anthony Ogunleye misses the game after dislocating his shoulder in the season opener at Sandwell, and long-term injury victims Vasco Dias (DB) and James Busby (OL) are also both still out.

In this week’s Programme

image

This week’s programme cover features Defensive Lineman Andy Larwill.

Inside we hear from Chairman Neale McMaster, Darren Hill ahead of his first home game as Interim Head Coach, Offensive Captain Danny Cousins and Rookie of the Week Miguel Alvarez-Frias.

We also have a feature on our visitors the Nottingham Caesars, a Q&A with Caesars Assistant Head Coach Vanden Warner, a Spectator Guide and more.

The programme is free with admission (£2 each for adults, free for under-18s and free for anyone who has downloaded our mobile app for iOS and Android).

Directions

Our home games are played at Bedford International Athletics Stadium, Barkers Lane, Bedford MK41 9SB:

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

  • App Store
  • Google Play Store