Category: Senior Football

Easter Egg Delivery

26 Mar
Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football , ,

Eagles players, coaches and officials paid a visit to Milton Keynes and Bedford Hospitals over the last couple of days to deliver Easter Eggs to the Children’s Wards.

We visited Ward 5 at Milton Keynes Hospital on Thursday (24th March) and the Riverbank Ward in Bedford this morning (Easter Saturday) to hand out the eggs, which had been donated by the Club.

Speaking on behalf of the Club afterwards, Michael Dilley said:

We always enjoy delivering eggs to our local hospitals and are very pleased to be able to do it again this year.

We’re also really happy to be able to show our appreciation to the staff on the wards, who do a fantastic job.

The Eagles kick off the 2016 season away to Sandwell Steelers on Sunday 10th April. Kick-off at Tipton Academy is 1.30pm.

The first home game of the season at Bedford International Athletics Stadium on Barkers Lane, Bedford takes place two weeks later on Sunday 24th April against Nottingham Caesars, kicking off at 12pm.

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Club Statement | Will White

Eagles
23 Mar
Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football ,

On Monday (21st March) it was brought to the Committee’s attention that a series of allegations had been made against Head Coach Will White, associated with his business dealings.

Following lengthy discussions with those involved, the Committee and Will agree that it would be in the best interests of all parties for him to step away from all team-related activities for the foreseeable future, until such time as these issues are resolved.

While it is important to stress that Will denies any wrongdoing, the focus of the Club needs to be on preparing for the new season, and with that in mind Darren Hill has been named Interim Head Coach.

There will be no further statements from the Club at this time.

Focus On | 2016 Team Captains

15 Mar
Michael Dilley All News, Features, Senior Football , , ,

Yesterday we caught up with Chris Parr, Danny Cousins, Ross Hubbard and Gareth Pullen to hear their thoughts on being voted team captains for the 2016 season. Here’s what they had to say…

Chris Parr

Chris Parr

Cornerback Chris Parr was named the Eagles MVP in 2014, and is a former Milton Keynes Pathfinders Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Special Teams Player of the Year.

He was also a member of the Great Britain Lions squad in 2013, and was University of Northampton Sportsperson of the Year in the same year:

The Club has had a really good winter both on and off the field and it has been fantastic to be involved.

Being named a captain for the Eagles is an honour and alongside the other captains I look forward to leading us in 2016.

Danny Cousins

Danny Cousins

Offensive Lineman Danny Cousins is a second-year player with the Eagles having joined the club ahead of last season, and was named 2015 Rookie of the Year:

I’m very proud to be named as a captain for the Eagles this season, particuarly as it was voted on by my team mates, which makes the honour even greater.

Ross Hubbard:

Ross Hubbard

Former Loughborough Aces and Tamworth Phoenix wide receiver Ross Hubbard is another second-year player with the Eagles, having joined the club in 2015:

It’s always special and bigger when it comes from your team mates.

I’m looking forward to being one of the leaders of such a dedicated group of guys.

Gareth Pullen

Gareth Pullen

Linebacker Gareth “Tish” Pullen is a returning captain, having previously captained the team in 2014 and 2015.

He was named the Eagles’ Defensive MVP in 2015, Player’s Player of the Year in 2014, and is a former Bedfordshire Blue Raiders MVP, Player’s Player and Defensive MVP:

To be voted captain is a true honour, especially being put forward by my peers, those I respect really means the world to me.

As we gain momentum towards our 2016 campaign it is a truly exciting time to be an Eagle.

The first game of the season takes place on Sunday 10th April (1.30pm) when the Eagles travel to face the Sandwell Steelers. The first home game of the year is against the Nottingham Caesars two weeks later, kicking off at midday.

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2016 Captains Named

14 Mar
Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football , , , , , , ,

Linebacker Gareth Pullen, Cornerback Chris Parr, Wide Receiver Ross Hubbard and Offensive Lineman Danny Cousins have been named Captains for the 2016 season.

Defensive Captains Pullen and Parr are vastly experienced players and joined the Eagles in their inception, with Pullen being named 2015 Defensive MVP. Offensive Captains Hubbard and Cousins meanwhile are both second-year players with the Eagles, Cousins being named 2015 Rookie of the Year.

Commenting on the appointments, Offensive Coordinator Neale McMaster said:

Since our inception in 2013 our coaching staff have picked the captains based on commitment, personality and leadership abilities, and this year marks the first time the players have voted for the club captains themselves.

I’m absolutely delighted with the choices. I think these guys are clear leaders in the locker room, and people the players can look up to. They lead the players not just by performance, but by example.

I’m also very proud of each of these four players, who have really developed themselves as well as their game over the last two years, and I feel confident will be able to leave their mark on the team.

Defensive Coordinator Darren Hill added:

This is just reward for the tremendous effort they have put in both on and off the field and I have no doubt the players have made the right choice.

The first game of the season takes place on Sunday 10th April (1.30pm) when the Eagles travel to face the Sandwell Steelers. The first home game of the year is against the Nottingham Caesars two weeks later, kicking off at midday.

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Steelers trip switched to Sunday

11 Mar
Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football , ,

The opening game of the season, away to Sandwell Steelers, has been moved to Sunday 10th April.

The game was originally scheduled to take place under the lights at Tipton Sports Academy on Saturday 9th April, but will now kick-off at 1.30pm the following day.

It is the first ever meeting between the two sides and is followed a week later by another first as we travel to South Yorkshire to face the Doncaster Mustangs for the first time.

The first home game of the season takes place on Sunday 24th April, when we welcome Nottingham Caesars to BIAS, and two weeks later we make the short journey to Peterborough to take on the Saxons.

The return game with the Steelers takes place at BIAS on Sunday 22nd May, and after a short break we have back-to-back games in June at home to the Birmingham Bulls (Sunday 5th June) and the return game at the Caesars (Sunday 12th June).

The regular season is rounded off by three games in July; home to Peterborough Saxons on Sunday 3rd July, home to Doncaster Mustangs on Sunday 17th, and away to Birmingham Bulls on 31st July.

Ouse Valley Eagles 2016 Regular Season Schedule

Sunday 10th April @ Sandwell Steelers
Sunday 17th April @ Doncaster Mustangs
Sunday 24th April vs Nottingham Caesars
Sunday 8th May @ Peterborough Saxons
Sunday 22nd May vs Sandwell Steelers
Sunday 5th June vs Birmingham Bulls
Sunday 12th June @ Nottingham Caesars
Sunday 3rd July vs Peterborough Saxons
Sunday 17th July vs Doncaster Mustangs
Sunday 31st July @ Birmingham Bulls

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March Camp this weekend

10 Mar
Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football , ,

As part of the Senior team’s preparations for the 2016 season, the third and final non-residential training camp of the pre-season takes place this weekend at Bedford International Athletics Stadium.

The weekend kicks off at 8.30am on Saturday morning with a welcome meeting in the BIAS committee room, before the team splits to work on special teams installations.

A lids-only practice session follows heading into lunch, before a review of the film from the recent Kent Exiles scrimmage, second practice session and positional film review in the afternoon and evening.

Sunday starts with another install review and lids-only practice, and ramps up after lunch with a final positional film review and practice in full pads.

We are always on the lookout for new players, coaches and commercial partners. If you would be interested in joining one of our teams in any capacity please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Eagles March Camp Timetable

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2016 Schedule Confirmed

29 Feb
Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football , , , , ,

The 2016 regular season schedule has been confirmed, and sees the Eagles kicking off under the lights at Sandwell Steelers on Saturday 9th April.

It is the first ever meeting between the two sides and is followed a week later by another first as we travel to South Yorkshire to face the Doncaster Mustangs for the first time.

The first home game of the season takes place on Sunday 24th April, when we welcome Nottingham Caesars to BIAS, and two weeks later we make the short journey to Peterborough to take on the Saxons.

The return game with the Steelers takes place at BIAS on Sunday 22nd May, and after a short break we have back-to-back games in June at home to the Birmingham Bulls (Sunday 5th June) and the return game at the Caesars (Sunday 12th June).

The regular season is rounded off by three games in July; home to Peterborough Saxons on Sunday 3rd July, home to Doncaster Mustangs on Sunday 17th, and away to Birmingham Bulls on 31st July.

Ouse Valley Eagles 2016 Regular Season Schedule

Saturday 9th April @ Sandwell Steelers
Sunday 17th April @ Doncaster Mustangs
Sunday 24th April, 12pm vs Nottingham Caesars
Sunday 8th May @ Peterborough Saxons
Sunday 22nd May, 12pm vs Sandwell Steelers
Sunday 5th June, 12pm vs Birmingham Bulls
Sunday 12th June @ Nottingham Caesars
Sunday 3rd July, 12pm vs Peterborough Saxons
Sunday 17th July, 12pm vs Doncaster Mustangs
Sunday 31st July @ Birmingham Bulls

Kick off times for all away games are to be confirmed.

2016 PLAY-OFF STRUCTURE

For the 2016 season the top eight teams in Division 1 will progress to the play-offs, which will consist of the top two teams in each of the three conferences (NFC1, MFC1, SFC1) plus the two third-placed teams with the best record.

These play-offs will be ranked nationally, and in the first round will see:

#1 hosting #8
#2 hosting #7
#3 hosting #6
#4 hosting #5

The National Bowl finalists will both be promoted to the Premier Division, and will be inserted on a regional basis. This permits two teams from the same conference being promoted if they are able to earn a Bowl spot.

2016 BAFA NL STRUCTURE (DIVISION 1 EXPANSION)

Following a league restructure the Eagles will be playing in Midlands Football Conference (MFC) 1.

Each team faces each conference opponent home and away to make up a ten-game regular season schedule, meaning that unlike in 2015 there are no inter-conference games.

North Football Conference 1 (NFC1)
– Clyde Valley Blackhawks
– Edinburgh Wolves
– Gateshead Senators
– Manchester Titans
– West Coast Trojans
– Yorkshire Rams

Midlands Football Conference 1 (MFC1)
– Birmingham Bulls
– Doncaster Mustangs
– Nottingham Caesars
– Ouse Valley Eagles
– Peterborough Saxons
– Sandwell Steelers

South Football Conference 1 (SFC1)
– Bury Saints
– Colchester Gladiators
– Hertfordshire Cheetahs
– Kent Exiles
– Solent Thrashers
– Sussex Thunder

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Gallery | Kent Exiles scrimmage

28 Feb
Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football , , ,

Selection of photos from the pre-season scrimmage between the Eagles and Kent Exiles at Bedford International Athletics Stadium on Sunday 28th February 2016.

Pictures by Gergo Toth Photo / 2G Creative. Prints available at www.gergotothphoto.co.uk.

Gallery | February Camp

28 Feb
Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football , ,

Selection of photos from the Eagles Senior Camp, 20th and 21st February 2016. All photos courtesy of Neil Duffy.

McMaster on “terrific” February camp

22 Feb
Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football , , , ,

Offensive Coordinator Neale McMaster was very pleased with how the team has come together during this off-season’s training camps so far.

The second non-residential camp of the winter took place in Bedford this past weekend, and was attended by over 50 players across the two days.

Commenting on the sessions, McMaster said:

Offensively, I thought we had a terrific second camp, not just in terms of installing plays, but coming together as a team and a family.

We’ve spent a lot of time together as an offense over the past two camps – over 36 hours – and I really started to notice a difference on Sunday evening’s practice.

We’ve developed the offense and guys have picked it up so quickly, we’ve made the leap now from correcting basic playbook knowledge to correcting technique and minor details, and that normally doesn’t happen until later in the season so it’s pleasing to see that happening so early.

In particular I’ve been impressed with how well our senior players have taken to mentoring our younger rookies, and how much our rookies have progressed in a few camps.

That kind of bond is what makes championship teams, and I’m hoping to see a big performance from our offense in what should be a good test against the Kent Exiles on Sunday.

This weekend the team welcome Kent Exiles to Bedford International Athletics Stadium for a controlled scrimmage, which gives rookies and first-year players valuable game day experience, and an opportunity to embed what has been learnt during the pre-season so far.

As a result of this weekend’s scrimmage there is no practice for the senior team on Sunday. Youth Team training will take place at BIAS on Sunday afternoon between 1 and 3pm.